WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation introduced by Representative Steve Knight (CA-25), known as the Securely Expediting Clearances through Reporting Transparency Act, H.R. 3210, or SECRET, passed the House today with a unanimous, bipartisan vote.

“Too many of our skilled workers are being set aside by government agencies in other jobs because of these backlogs that affect their ability to work,” Knight said. “We should not be punishing those who are skilled and willingly choosing to serve their country in national security positions because of bureaucratic red tape.”

The SECRET Act requires a quarterly report on the size of the security clearance investigation process backlog and the average length of time it takes to carry out security clearance investigations.

The information provided on the average time for investigations is to be separated by clearance level and whether or not it is a new or periodic investigation.

“National security programs have always been at the center of California’s 25th district,” Knight said. “This bill comes directly from the concerns of constituents in my district as they struggle to keep these jobs secured. In order to protect our nation and the job opportunities it provides to secure those protections, we need to fight for a better and more transparent system to get rid of these overriding backlogs.”

This Act was introduced directly as a result of conversations with defense employers and employees in the 25th District. It passed the Committee with bipartisan support, with original co-sponsor and Democratic co-lead Rep. Gerald Connolly (VA-11) in the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

The legislation now heads to the Senate.