Summary of HRES 46

Bill Number: HRES 46

Title: Amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to exclude employees of the offices of Members who serve on certain committees of the House from the allotment of the number of employees of the office who may hold security clearances processed by the Office of House Security if such employees are members of the armed forces who hold a security clearance issued by the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Status: Submitted in House

Introduced: January 15, 2025

Classification: Resolution

Primary Sponsor: Cory Mills

Purpose and Intent

HRES 46 aims to amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to facilitate the employment of armed forces members who hold security clearances issued by the Department of Defense. The bill intends to streamline the process for these individuals to work in the offices of Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners who serve on specific committees, thereby enhancing the capacity of these offices to handle sensitive information.

Key Provisions

1. Exclusion from Employee Allotment:

   • The bill proposes that employees of a Member's office who are members of the armed forces and possess a Department of Defense security clearance will not count against the office's allotment of employees eligible for security clearances processed by the Office of House Security.

2. Security Clearance Levels:

   • The security clearance level for these employees will be limited to:
     • The level of clearance they hold from the Department of Defense, or
     • The highest clearance level that the office can sponsor for its employees, whichever is lower.

3. Applicable Committees:

   • This provision applies to Members, Delegates, or Resident Commissioners serving on the following committees:
     • Subcommittee on Defense of the Committee on Appropriations
     • Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations
     • Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs of the Committee on Appropriations
     • Committee on Armed Services
     • Committee on Foreign Affairs
     • Committee on Homeland Security
     • Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence

Impact

• Who is Affected:

  • This bill primarily affects Members of Congress who serve on the specified committees and their office staff, particularly those who are active members of the armed forces with existing security clearances.

• Potential Benefits:

  • By allowing armed forces members with security clearances to be employed without counting against the office's security clearance allotment, the bill aims to enhance the operational efficiency of congressional offices that deal with national security and defense matters.

Legislative Actions

• January 15, 2025: The bill was referred to the House Committee on Rules and submitted in the House.

Conclusion

HRES 46 seeks to amend existing rules to better accommodate armed forces members with security clearances in congressional offices, thereby potentially improving the handling of sensitive information within key legislative committees. The bill reflects an effort to leverage the expertise of military personnel in the legislative process, particularly in areas related to defense and national security.