,i #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #dbd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #aj1 #bjai,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi 7for himself and ,mr4 ,rogers of ,alabama7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb to improve the management and administration of the security clearance processes throughout the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,department of ,homeland ,security ,clearance ,management and ,administration ,act4 #b4 ,security clearance management and administration 7a7 ,in general ,title ,,vii of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting before section #gja 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #cda7 the following3 ,a ,headquarters ,activities 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following new subtitle3 ,b ,security ,clearances #gaa4 ,designation of national security sensitive and public trust positions 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall require the designation of the sensitivity level of national security positions 7pursuant to part #adjj of title #e1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or similar successor regulation7 be conducted in a manner consistent with respect to all components and offices of the ,department1 and consistent with ,federal guidelines4 7b7 ,implementation ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall require the utilization of uniform designation tools throughout the ,department and provide training to appropriate staff of the ,department on such utilization4 ,such training shall include guidance on factors for determining eligibility for access to classified information and eligibility to hold a national security position4 #gab4 ,review of position designations 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,july #f1 #bjai1 and every five years thereafter1 the ,secretary shall review all sensitivity level designations of national security positions 7pursuant to part #adjj of title #e1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or similar successor regulation7 at the ,department4 7b7 ,determination ,if during the course of a review required under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary determines that a change in the sensitivity level of a position that affects the need for an individual to obtain access to classified information is warranted1 such access shall be administratively adjusted and an appropriate level periodic reinvestigation completed1 as necessary4 7c7 ,congressional reporting ,upon completion of each review required under subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall report to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate on the findings of each such review1 including the number of positions by classification level and by component and office of the ,department in which the ,secretary made a determination in accordance with subsection 7b7 to-- 7#a7 require access to classified information2 7#b7 no longer require access to classified information2 or 7#c7 otherwise require a different level of access to classified information4 #gac4 ,audits ,beginning not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,inspector ,general of the ,department shall conduct regular audits of compliance of the ,department with part #adjj of title #e1 ,code of ,federal ,regulations1 or similar successor regulation4 #gad4 ,reporting 7a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary shall annually through fiscal year #bjbd submit to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate a report on the following3 7#a7 ,the number of denials1 suspensions1 revocations1 and appeals of the eligibility for access to classified information of an individual throughout the ,department4 7#b7 ,the date and status or disposition of each reported action under paragraph 7#a74 7#c7 ,the identification of the sponsoring entity1 whether by a component1 office1 or headquarters of the ,department1 of each action under paragraph 7#a71 and description of the grounds for each such action4 7#d7 ,demographic data1 including data relating to race1 sex1 national origin1 and disability1 of each individual for whom eligibility for access to classified information was denied1 suspended1 revoked1 or appealed1 and the number of years that each such individual was eligible for access to such information4 7#e7 ,in the case of a suspension in excess of #ahj days1 an explanation for such duration4 7b7 ,form ,each report required under subsection 7a7 shall be submitted in unclassified form and be made publicly available1 but may include a classified annex for any sensitive or classified information if necessary4 #gae4 ,uniform adjudication1 suspension1 denial1 and revocation ,not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this section1 the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,homeland ,security ,advisory ,committee1 shall develop a plan to achieve greater uniformity within the ,department with respect to the adjudication of eligibility of an individual for access to classified information that are consistent with the ,adjudicative ,guidelines for ,determining ,access to ,classified ,information published on ,december #bi1 #bjje1 or similar successor regulation4 ,the ,secretary shall submit to the ,committee on ,homeland ,security of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,homeland ,security and ,governmental ,affairs of the ,senate the plan4 ,the plan shall consider the following3 7#a7 ,mechanisms to foster greater compliance with the uniform ,department adjudication1 suspension1 denial1 and revocation standards by the head of each component and office of the ,department with the authority to adjudicate access to classified information4 7#b7 ,the establishment of an internal appeals panel responsible for final national security clearance denial and revocation determinations that is comprised of designees who are career1 supervisory employees from components and offices of the ,department with the authority to adjudicate access to classified information and headquarters1 as appropriate4 #gaf4 ,data protection ,the ,secretary shall ensure that all information received for the adjudication of eligibility of an individual for access to classified information is consistent with the ,adjudicative ,guidelines for ,determining ,access to ,classified ,information published on ,december #bi1 #bjje1 or similar successor regulation1 and is protected against misappropriation4 #gag4 ,reference ,except as otherwise provided1 for purposes of this subtitle1 any reference to the ,department includes all components and offices of the ,department4 4 7b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table of contents of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb is amended-- 7#a7 by inserting before the item relating to section #gja the following new item3 ,subtitle ,a--,headquarters ,activities 2 and 7#b7 by inserting after the item relating to section #gjg the following new items3 ,subtitle ,b--,security ,clearances ,sec4 #gaa4 ,designation of national security sensitive and public trust positions4 ,sec4 #gab4 ,review of position designations4 ,sec4 #gac4 ,audits4 ,sec4 #gad4 ,reporting4 ,sec4 #gae4 ,uniform adjudication1 suspension1 denial1 and revocation4 ,sec4 #gaf4 ,data protection4 ,sec4 #gag4 ,reference4 4