Bills · HR 4137
IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS
House BillHR 4137Government Operations and Politics
Transparency in Security Clearance Denials Act
INTRO JUN 25· LAST ACTION JUN 25
READING
3MIN
COSPONSORS
1
READER REACTIONS0 TOTAL
NO VOTES YET · BE THE FIRST
- Introduced only
LEGISLATIVE PROGRESS
STEP 2 / 8Introduced
In Committee
Reported
Passed House
Passed Senate
Conference
To President
Became Law
WHAT THE BILL DOES
AI-writtenThis bill matters because it aims to bring more transparency to a crucial but often opaque part of government employment: security clearance decisions. Security clearances are essential for many federal jobs, especially in foreign affairs, and a denial can significantly impact someone's career. By requiring the State Department to publicly report on denials, suspensions, revocations, and appeals, the bill could help ensure fairness, reduce the potential for bias, and improve accountability in the process.
If this bill becomes law, Congress and the public would gain insights into whether certain groups are disproportionately affected by adverse clearance decisions and how consistently departmental rules are applied. Without it, the process remains largely internal, making it harder for outside bodies to identify and address any systemic issues or inconsistencies in how these vital decisions are made, impacting both individual careers and public trust in government hiring practices.
KEY PROVISIONS
4AI-extractedPROVISION 01
Requires the Secretary of State to submit an annual report to specific congressional committees regarding adverse security clearance adjudications.
This provision creates a recurring mechanism for congressional oversight of the State Department's security clearance process.
PROVISION 02
Mandates the report to include the number of individuals who received unfavorable outcomes, the number of appeals, and the success rate of those appeals.
This provides quantitative data to assess the volume of adverse decisions and the effectiveness of the appeals system.
PROVISION 03
Requires the report to describe the considerations and criteria used by the Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security for making security clearance decisions.
This aims to clarify the standards and reasoning behind security clearance adjudications, promoting consistency and understanding.
PROVISION 04
Stipulates that the data be disaggregated by position, ethnicity, national origin, race, and gender, if available.
This provision is crucial for identifying potential disparities or biases in the security clearance process across different demographic groups and job roles.
SPONSORSHIP
1 + 1
D· California
YRS IN OFFICE
11
BILLS LED
46
COSPONSOR BREAKDOWNBIPARTISAN · 0%
DEM 1 REP 0 IND 0
ACTION TIMELINE
2 EVENTSJUN 25
Introduced in House
JUN 25
Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
BILL INFO
TypeHouse Bill
NumberHR 4137
Congress119th
StatusIn Committee
IntroducedJun 25, 2025
Last actionJun 25, 2025
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IN COMMITTEE· 119TH CONGRESS · FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE · INTRODUCED JUN 25, 2025
House BillHR 4137Government Operations and Politics
Transparency in Security Clearance Denials Act
INTRODUCED JUN 25, 2025· LAST ACTION JUN 25, 2025
PASSAGE CHANCES
—%
READING
3 min
COSPONSORS
1
COMPLEXITY
Moderate
