Tampa Republic

Representatives Laurel Lee (R-FL) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), along with nine House colleagues, have called on House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and leaders of the Committee on House Administration to mandate training on the proper handling of classified information for all members of Congress starting with the 119th Congress in January 2025. Currently, new and returning Congress members may opt-in to receive just one hour of training.

The representatives sent a letter stating, "While Members of Congress possess expertise in various domains, most have never had the reason to handle classified information prior to joining Congress. Regular and frequent training on how to work with classified information is therefore imperative for every member."

In an op-ed published by Fox News on January 31, 2023, Houlahan, an Air Force veteran, expressed surprise that upon entering Congress in 2018, she "simply had to sign a card that instantly granted me clearance at similar levels to what I had worked so hard to earn decades before. No briefings or training, no nothing." She continued, "Those of us who are elected and serve in the executive and legislative branches must be cleared in a manner similar to all others who manage our nation’s most sensitive information. We must be trained in the same way and have similar standards of accountability to which we are held -- breaches of similar magnitude in the military are career-enders."

The letter calls for members to receive training under the Office of House Security (OHS), overseen by the House Sergeant at Arms, before accessing any classified information. It also suggests integrating this training into orientation sessions for newly elected members while making it readily available for returning members.

Find the full letter here.