PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Congressional Research Service
Version 49 · Public Law · May 22, 2018
Securely Expediting Clearances Through Reporting Transparency Act of 2018 or the SECRET Act of 2018 (Sec. 3) This bill requires the National Background Investigations Bureau (NBIB) within the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to report on its backlog of security clearance investigations. The report must include a backlog mitigation plan identifying the cause of, and making recommendations to remedy, the backlog.
(Sec. 4) The Executive Office of the President must report on the process for conducting and adjudicating security clearance investigations for the President's staff.
(Sec. 5) The OPM must report on the costs of maintaining comprehensive background investigations capability within both the NBIB and the Department of Defense, compared to the costs of sustaining a single government-wide background investigations enterprise.
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(Sec. 6) The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) must report on: (1) the status of implementing government-wide continuous evaluation programs, (2) efforts by federal agencies to meet requirements for reciprocal recognition to access classified information, and (3) whether the schedule for processing security clearances should be modified.
(Sec. 7) The ODNI and the OPM must review and make recommendations to Congress and the President, as appropriate, to issue guidance to assist agencies in determining: (1) position sensitivity designation, and (2) the appropriate background investigation to initiate for each position designation. The President must report on any issues identified in, and the number of position designations revised as a result of, the review.
People & committees
Rep. Knight, Stephen [R-CA-25] · R–CA
Legislative record
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Became Public Law No: 115-173.
Became Public Law No: 115-173.
Signed by President.
Signed by President.
Presented to President.
Presented to President.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment)
Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment)
Mr. Russell asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's Table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H3760-3761)
Message on Senate action sent to the House.
Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent. (text: CR S1768-1769)
Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.(text: CR S1768-1769)
The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent.
Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S1768-1770)
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 264.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-185.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Reported by Senator Johnson with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 115-185.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H6327)
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H6327)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3210.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H6327-6328)
Mr. Mitchell moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 188.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-258.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. H. Rept. 115-258.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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