H.R. 3626

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP88G01332R001100110021-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 23
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 2011
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: January 13, 1986
• Content Type: MEMO

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, Date
ROUTING AND TRANSMITTAL SUP 14 JAN 1986
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DO NOT use this form as a RECORD of approvals, concurrences, disposals,
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EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT
ROUTING SUP
TO:
ACTION
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DATE
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3637
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The Director of Central Intel
VVashIngton, D. C. 20505
Igence
Executive Registry 1
86-
0132x/1
13 January 1986
MEMORANDUM FOR: Chairman, SECOM
FROM: DCI
SUBJECT: H.R. 3626
Will you you draft a response to this note
which I can send to Congressman Wortley
who is the sponsor of the bill and his
Chief of Staff who is my nephew.
William J. Casey
Attachment:
Note from Lawrence Casey
w/attachments (H.R. 3626, etc.)
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/7;
1 2 DEC 1985
Lawrence W. Casey
Chief of Staff
George C. Wortley 229 Cannon HOB
Member of Congress Washington, D.C. 20515
27th District, New York [phone]
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?99TH CONGRESS H. R. 3626
1ST SESSION
To establish the National Commission on Classified Information and Security
Clearance Procedures.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 24, 1985
Mr. WORTLEY (for himself, Mr. BOEHLERT, Mr. EMERSON, Mr. FISH, Mr.
GALLO, Mr. GARCIA, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. LAGOMARSINO, MT. LEWIS Of Cali-
fornia, Mr. MCCANDLESS, Mr. MOLINARI, Mr. NIELSON Of Utah, MT. RUDD,
and Mr. DENNY SMITH) introduced the following bill; which was referred
jointly to the Committees on Government Operations and the Permanent
Select Committee on Intelligence
A BILL
To establish the National Commission on Classified Information
and Security Clearance Procedures.
1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
4 This Act may be cited as the "National Commission on
5 Classified Information and Security Clearance Procedures".
6 SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.
7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.?There is established a commis-
8 sion to be known as the National Commission on Classified
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2
1 Information and Security Clearance Procedures (hereinafter
2 in this Act referred to as the "Commission").
3 (b) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.?The pro-
4 visions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not
5 apply to the Commission.
6 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF COMMISSION.
7 (a) INVESTIGATION.?The Commission shall investi-
8 gate-
9 (1) the standards and procedures used by each
10 Federal authority to issue security clearances and to
11 classify information;
12 (2) the procedures used by each Federal authority
13 to ensure that all persons to whom a security clearance
14 has been issued continue to meet the standards
15 required for such clearance;
16 (3) the extent to which current standards and pro-
17 cedures for classifying information cause more informa-
18 tion to be classified than is required by the national
19 security; and
20 (4) the dangers posed to the national security by
21 the growth in the number of persons holding security
22 clearances.
23 (b) RECOMMENDATIONS.?The Commission shall make
24 the following recommendations:
OR 3626 IH
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1 (1) It 'shall recommend to each branch of the Fed-
2 eral Government uniform standards and procedures for
3 issuing all security clearances. Such standards and pro-
4 cedures shall be designed to ensure that neither the
5 number of security clearance holders nor the qualifica-
6 tions for holding a security clearance will threaten the
7 national security.
8 (2) It shall recommend to each branch of the Fed-
9 eral Government a uniform procedure for ensuring that
10 any person holding a security clearance continues to
11 meet the standards required for such clearance.
12 (3) It shall recommend to each branch of the Fed-
13 eral Government uniform standards and procedures for
14 classifying documents. Such standards and procedures
15 shall be designed to prevent classifying documents
16 whose classification is not necessary to the national
17 security and to prevent the needless duplication of doe-
18 uments which do warrant a security classification.
19 SEC. 4. MEMBERSHIP.
20 (a) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.?The Commission
21 shall be composed of 17 members as follows:
22 (1) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the
23 United States.
24 (2) 4 Members of the House of Representatives, 2
25 to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Repre-
OR 3626 III
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1 sentatives and 2 to be appointed by the minority leader
2 of the House of Representative.
3 (3) 4 Members of the Senate, 2 to be appointed by
4 the majority leader of the Senate and 2 to be appointed
5 by the minority leader of the Senate.
6 (4) 8 individuals appointed by the President from
7 persons whose education, training, or experience spe-
8 cially qualify them to serve on the Commission. Not
9 more than 4 members appointed under this paragraph
10 may be of the same political party.
11 A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled in the manner in
12 which the original appointment was made.
13 (b) SECURITY CLEARANCES.?No one may be appoint-
14 ed to the Commission who does not hold the security clear-
15 ance necessary to carry out the duties of the Commission as
16 set out in section 3.
17 (C) CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP.?If any member
18 of the Commission who was appointed to the Commission as
19 the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
20 or as a Member of the Congress leaves such office, he may
21 continue as a member of the Commission for not longer than
22 the 30-day period beginning on the date he leaves such office.
23 (d) TERMS.?Members shall be appointed for the life of
24 the Commission.
0111 3626 111
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1 (e) BASIC PAY.?Members of the Commission shall
2 serve without pay.
3 (f) QUORUM.-9 members of the Commission shall con-
4 stitute a quorum.
5 (h) CHAIRMAN.?The Chairman of the Commission
6 shall be the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
7 States. The Vice Chairman of the Commission shall be elect-
8 ed by the members of the Commission. The term of office of
9 the Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be for the life of the
10 Commission.
11 (i) MEETINGS.?The Commission shall meet at the call
12 of the Chairman or Vice Chairman.
13 SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.
14 (a) DIRECTOR.?The Commission shall have a Director
15 who shall be appointed by the Commission.
16 (b) STAFF.?The Commission may appoint such addi-
17 tional personnel as it considers appropriate.
18 (C) APPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN CIVIL SERVICE
19 LAWS.?The Director and staff of the Commission may be
20 appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United
21 States Code, governing appointments in the competitive serv-
22 ice, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of
23 chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title
24 relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates,
25 except that no individual so appointed may receive pay in
MIR 306 IR
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1 excess of the annual rate of basic pay payable for GS-18 of
2 the General Schedule.
3 (d) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.?The Commission
4 may procure temporary and intermittent services under sec-
5 tion 3109(b) of title 5 of the United States Code, but at rates
6 for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the
7 annual rate of pay payable for GS-18 of the General Sched-
8 ule.
9 (e) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.?Upon request of
10 the Commission, the head of any Federal agency is author-
11 ized to detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of
12 such agency to the Commission to assist the Commission in
13 carrying out its duties under this Act.
14 (f) SECURITY CLEARANCES.?No one shall serve as the
15 Director, or on the staff, of the Commission who does not
16 hold the security clearance necessary to perform the duties of
17 his position.
18 SEC. 6. POWERS OF COMMISSION.
19 (a) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.?The Commission may,
20 for the purpose of carrying out section 3 of this Act, hold
21 such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such
22 testimony, and receive such evidence, as the Commission
23 considers appropriate. The Commission may administer oaths
24 or affirmations to witnesses appearing before it.
?1111 3626 III
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1 (b) PUBLIC ACCESS TO COMMISSION MEETINGS AND
2 HEARINGS.?Notwithstanding section 552b of title 5, United
3 States Code, a Commission meeting or hearing may be closed
4 to the public when the Commission, in open session and with
5 a majority present, determines by rollcall vote that all or part
6 of the remainder of the meeting or hearing on that day shall
7 be closed to the public because disclosure of testimony, evi-
8 dence, or other matters to be considered would endanger the
9 national security.
10 (C) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.?Any
11 member or agent of the Commission may, if so authorized by
12 the Commission, take any action which the Commission is
13 authorized to take by this section.
14 (d) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.?The Commission
15 may secure directly from any department or agency of the
16 United States information necessary to enable it to carry out
17 this Act. Upon request of the Chairman or Vice Chairman of
18 the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall
19 furnish such information to the Commission.
20 (e) GIFTS.?The Commission may accept, use, and dis-
21 pose of gifts or donations of services or property.
22 (f) MAILs.?The Commission may use the United States
23 mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as
24 other departments and agencies of the United States.
.HR 3626 111
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1 (g) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.?The Ad-
2 ministrator of General Services shall provide to the Commis-
sion on a reimbursable basis such administrative support
4 services as the Commission may request.
5 (h) SUBPOENA POWER.-
6 (1) The Commission may issue subpoenas requir-
7 ing the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the
8 production of any evidence that relates to any matter
9 which the Commission is empowered to investigate by
10 section 3. Such attendance of witnesses and the pro-
11 duction of such evidence may be required from any
12 place within the United States.
13 (2) If a person issued a subpoena under paragraph
14 (1) refuses to obey such subpoena or is guilty of contu-
15 macy, any court of the United States within the judi-
16 cial district within which the hearing is conducted or
17 within the judicial district within which such person is
18 found or resides or transacts business may (upon appli-
19 cation by the Commission) order such person to appear
20 before the Commission to produce evidence or to give
21 testimony relating to the matter under investigation.
22 Any failure to obey such order of the court may be
23 punished by such court as a contempt thereof.
24 (3) The subpoenas of the Commission shall be
25 served in the manner provided for subpoenas issued by
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1 a United States district court under the Federal Rules
2 of Civil Procedure for the United States district courts.
3 (4) All process of any court to which application
4 may be made under this section may be served in the
5 judicial district in which the person required to be
6 served resides or may be found.
7 (i) IMMITNITY.?No person shall be excused from at-
8 tending and testifying or from producing books, records, cor-
9 respondence, documents, or other evidence in obedience to a
10 subpoena, on the ground that the testimony or evidence re-
11 quired of him may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a
12 penalty or forfeiture; but no individual shall be prosecuted or
13 subjected to any penalty or forfeiture by reason of any trans-
14 action, matter, or thing concerning which he is compelled,
15 after having claimed his privilege against self-incrimination,
16 to testify or produce evidence, except that such individual so
17 testifying shall not be exempt from prosecution and punish-
18 ment for perjury committed in so testifying.
19 SEC. 7. REPORT.
20 The Commission shall transmit a final report to the
21 President, to each House of the Congress, and to the Su-
22 preme Court of the United States not later than one year
23 after appropriations are first made for the Commission. The
24 final report shall contain a detailed statement of the findings
OAR 3626 1H
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1 and conclusions of the Commission, together with whatever
2 recommendations it makes pursuant to section 3.
3 SEC. 8. PUBLIC ACCESS TO COMMISSION DOCUMENTS.
4 Notwithstanding section 552(a) of title 5, United States
5 Code, the records, reports, transcripts, minutes, appendixes,
6 working papers, drafts, studies, agenda, or other documents
7 which were made available to or prepared for or by the Corn-
8 mission may be withheld from public inspection when the
9 Commission, in open session and with a majority present,
10 determines by rollcall vote that disclosure of such documents
11 would endanger the national security.
12 SEC. 9. TERMINATION.
13 The Commission shall cease to exist 30 days after sub-
14 mitting its final report pursuant to section 7.
0
*KR 3626 HI
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DECEMBER 11, 1985
CURRENT COSPONSORS
H.R. 3626, NATIONAL COMISSION ON CLASSIFIED IkFORMATION
AND SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
Hon. Robert Badham
Hon. Joe Barton
Hon. Mario Biaggi (D)
Hon. Tom Bliley
Hon. Sherwood Boehlert
Hon. John Bryant (D)
Hon. Dan Burton
Hon. Gene Chappie
Hon. William Clinger
Hon. Dan Daniel (D)
Hon. Joe DioGuardi
Hon. Brian Donnelly (D)
Hon. Bill Emerson
Hon. Hamilton Fish
Hon. Webb Franklin
Hon. Dean Gallo
Hon. Robert Garcia (D)
Hon. Fen Gilman
Hon. Newt Gingrich
Hon. Ken Gray (D)
Hon. Judd Gregg
Von. John Grotberg
Hon. Frank Horton
Hon. Bill Hughes (D)
Hon. Duncan Hunter
Hon. Earl Hutto (D)
Hon. Jack Kemp
non. Gerald Kleczka (D)
Hon. Joe Kolter (D)
Hon. Bob Lagomarsino
Hon. Norman Lent
Hon. Jerry Lewis
Hon. Tom Lewis
Hon. Bob Livingston
Hon. Trent Lott
Hon. Al McCandless
Hon. Bill McCollum
Hon. Ray McGrath
Hon. Clarence Miller
Hon. Guy Molinari
Hon. Stephen Neal (D)
Hon. Howard Nielson
Hon. Ron Packard
Hon. John Porter
Hon. Harry Reid (D)
Hon. Marge Roukema
Hon. Eldon Rudd
Hon. Fernand St Germain (D)
Hon. Denny Smith
Hon.
Hon.
Hon.
Hon.
Hon.
Hon.
Gerald Solomon
Don Sundquist
Tom Tauke
Lindsay Thomas (D)
Tim Valentine (D)
Bill Young
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GEORGE C. WORTLEY 2211 C.I.c1 2...c
w.....cto, DC 70111
171H DISTRICT, KA, '05'12021 223-3701
COMMITTEES,
BANKING. FINANCE AND
URBAN AFFAIRS
SUBCOMPAITTEES:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SUPERViSION, REGUIATION AND
INSURANCE
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
OVERSIGHT AND RENEGOTIATION
SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGING
TASK FORCE ON WOMEN AND
SOCIAL SECURITY
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
October 11, 1985
Dear Colleague:
Congress of th Unitd etats
town of Represtntottes
Vashington, DC 20515
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
AND
SECURITY CLEARANCES
0.11MCTOM.CM
1203 Flea.' Bu.kome
S.m.cum NY 13210
(315)123-M7
2111 G
C140-TI....40, NY 13037
(3)5) 1574027
It's painfully clear that Federal agencies are having problems protecting
sensitive security information. Procedures for classifying security information
and materials, and issuing security clearances vary among government entities.
More than 53 percent of the Federal work Zorce (not including employees in such
highly sensitive agencies such as the CIA and National Security Agency) have
some level of security clearance. It's es*:imated that more than 4 million
Americans, federal workers and private sEctor citizens, hold clearances..
A comprehensive review of classification and security clearance procedures is in
order. The seriousness and complexity of the problem require the establishment
of a National Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearances. The
commission would make a thorough investigation of the problem in all branches
and at all levels of Federal government and report to Congress on its findings
and recommendations. This would allow us to deal with this problem in a
responsible, comprehensive manner, rather than as erratic, after-the-fact
responses to breaches of security.
I plan to introduce legislation on October 22 to establish the National
Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearances. Congressmen
Emerson, Fish, Garcia, Gilman, Lagomarsino, Lewis (CA), McCandless, Molinari and
Rudd have joined me as cosponsors. If you wish to be an original cosponsor;
please notify me or have your staff contact Larry Casey or Carmel Fisk at X53701
before close of business October 21.
A summary of my proposal's provisions is printed on the reverse side of this
letter.
Sincerely,
George C. Wortley
Membet of Congress
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National Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearances
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS
Commission Membership: 17 members, including Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
4 Members of the House, 2 to be appointed by the Speaker, 2 to be appointed by
the Minority Leader; 4 Members of the Senate, 2 to be appointed by the Majority
Leader and 2 by the Minority Leader, and 8 members appointed by-the President,
not more than 4 of the same political party.
The Chief Justice shall chair the Commission. The Vice Chairman shall be
elected by Commission members.
Commission's Investigative Duties: Determine standards and procedures used by
each Federal authority to issue security clearances and to classify information;
Investigate procedures to ensure that all persons who have been issued
clearances continue to meet clearance standards; Determine if current standards
and procedures for classifying information cause more information to be
classified than national security requires; Identify dangers posed to national
security by the growth in the numbers of persons holding security clearances.
Recommendation Responsibilities: Recommend uniform standards and procedures for
issuing security clearances; Recommend uniform procedure that ensures that any
person holding a security clearance continues to maintain standards required for
clearance; Recommend to each branch of the Federal government standards and
procedures for classifying information and documents. Standards and procedures
shall be designed to prevent classifying information and documents not sensitive
to national security requirements.
Commission Term: The Commission shall transmit its final report to the
President, the Congress and the Supreme Court not later than 1 year after
appropriations are first made for the Commission. The Commission shall cease to
exist 30 days after submitting its final report.
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20: 226-3701
CCIAIlAiTTEES
BANKING, FINANCE AND
URBAN AFFAIRS
SUBCOWAiTTFES
FiN?NC?L INSTITUTIONS
SUPERVISION REGULATION AND
INSURANCE
ICONOPAIC STAIDLIZATION
NOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPIAEN1
OVERSIGHT AND RENEGOTIATION
SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGING
TASK FORCE ON WOMEN AND
SOCIAL SECURITY
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
October 29, 1985
Dear Colleague:
Congress of the Unitd ctats
bone of Rtprtstntathms
Washington, BC 20515
'269 't?Lf??,
S???,...,1 NT '2260
2'S F22-6662
2F6 I,II S?Mi-
0-?^1,?*,.0 ':1,032
3,5 i87-6027
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
AND SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
I am writing once again to encourage your cosponsorship of H.R. 3626, to
establish a National Commission on Classified Information and Security
Clearance Procedures.
-- In spite of progress under Executive Order 12356, which established the
Information Security Oversight Office to monitor information classification
programs in. the executive branch, "overclassification" remains a problem.
-- Negligence and unclear guidelines in the handling of classified
information often results in it being too easily accessed by too many people.
-- According to findings of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations, our current security clearance system cannot adequately ensure
the continued integrity and reliability of the 4.2 million Americans who today
hold security clearances.
-- The workload of the Defense Investigative Service increased by 44%
between 1973 and 1984, while total human resources during this same period of
time were reduced by 15%.
A lot of work and study have been devoted to improving our classifying and .
security clearance systems, providing a sound base upon which the National
Commission can build. The problem is that all of these various efforts need to
be pulled together so that we can get a comprehensive view of how the systems
actually work, how each affects the performance of the other, and what needs to
be done to have a more coherent and dependable means of protecting our national
security information from espionage.
A summary of my proposal to establish a National Commission on Classified
Information and Security Clearance Procedures is printed on the reverse side of
this letter. If you would like to cosponsor H.R. 3626 or would like additional
information, please contact me or have your staff contact Larry Casey or Carmel
Fisk at x53701.
George C. Portley
/Member of Congress
CURRENT COSPONSORS
Barton
Fish
Lagomarsino
Molinari
Boehlert
Gallo
Lewis (CA)
Nielson
Clinger
Garcia
McCandless
Rudd
Emerson
Gilman
McGrath
Denny Smith
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National Commission on Classified Information
and
Security Clearance Procedures
SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS
Commission Membership: 17 members, including rhief Justice of the Supreme Court;
4 Members of the House, 2 to be appointed by the Speaker, 2 to be appointed by
the Minority Leader; 4 Members of the Senate, 2 to be appointed by the Majority
Leader and 2 by the Minority Leader, and 8 members appointed by the President,
not more than 4 of the same political party.
The Chief Justice shall chair the Commission. The Vice Chairman shall be
elected by Commission members.
Commission's Investigative Duties: Determine standards and procedures used by
each Federal authority to issue security clearances and to classify information;
Investigate procedures to ensure that all persons who have been issued
clearances continue to meet clearance standards; Determine if current standards
and procedures for classifying information cause more information to be
classified than national security requires; Identify dangers posed to national
security by the growth in the numbers of persons holding security clearances.
Recommendation Responsibilities: Recommend uniform standards and procedures for
issuing security clearances; Recommend uniform procedure that ensures that any
person holding a security clearance continues to maintain standards required for
clearance; Recommend to each branch of the Federal government standards and
procedures for classifying information and documents. Standards and procedures
shall be designed to prevent classifying information and documents not sensitive
to national security requirements.
Commission Term: The Commission shall transmit its final report to the
President, the Congress and the Supreme Court not later than 1 year after
appropriations are first made for the Commission. The Commission shall cease to
exist 30 days after submitting its final report.
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27T11 DISTRICT. NEW YORK
COLINITITEES:
BANKING. FINANCE AND
URBAN AFFAIRS
SUBCOMMITTEES:
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
SUPERVISION. REGULATION ANO
INSuPUPACE
ECONOMIC STABILIZATION
HOUSING AND COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
OVERSIGHT AND RENEGOTIATION
SELECT COMMITTEE ON AGING
TASK FORCE ON WOMEN AND
SOCIAL SECURITY
STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
November 13, 1985
Dear Colleague:
Congros of thc lanitcd Stats
14ouoe of Iltpusentadus
Vashington, DC 20515
H.R. 3626
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
AND SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
-cc 6 7
1202)225-3701
11111111?CT
1269 flot..t Bunome
3,114C141. NY 132110
13151423-5157
24$ G 37111(7
GNM11.1160. NY 13037
13161W-1027
The recent leak of classified information regarding the Libyan Government of
Colonel Qadhafi is symptomatic of the weaknesses in current procedures for
handling classified information and granting security clearance procedures. I
am attaching a statement I made on the House floor regarding this incident and
the need for a comprehensive review of our current systems to protect national
secrets.
The numerous incidents of security lapses of the past couple of years concern me
very deeply. Consequently, I began to look into our current systems for
protecting sensitive information to see what weaknesses may have contributed to
these lapses. It soon became apparent that there were serious problems in the
coordination, consistency, and enforcement of these systems. Limited
improvements have been made, but the whole system needs an overhaul.
To meet this need, I have introduced H.R. 3626, to establish a National
Commission on Classified Information and Security Clearance Procedures. I
encourage you to join me in this effort by cosponsoring this bill.
If you would like to cosponsor H.R. 3626 or would like additional information,
please contact me or have your staff contact Larry Casey or Carmel Fisk at
x53701.
Sincer y,
Wortley
Member ?f Congress
CURRENT COSPONSORS
Barton
Gallo
Lewis (CA)
Nielson
Boehlert
Garcia
McCandless
Porter
Clinger
Gilman
McGrath
Rudd
Emerson
Gingrich
Molinari
Denny Smith
Fish
Lagomarsino
Neal
Valentine
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Vol. 131
WASHINGTON, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1985 No. 150
Congressional 'Record
LEAK OF ALLEGED CIA PLAN
AGAINST COLONEL QADHAFI
(Mr. WORTLEY asked and was
given permission to address the House
for 1 minute and to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. WORTLEY. Mr. Speaker, ac-
cording to press reports, someone has
apparently violated the trust placed in
them and leaked classified informa-
tion and materials regarding a plan to
destabilize the Libyan Government of
Colonel Qadhafi.
Colonel Qadhafi actively supports
and sponsors terrorism in other na-
tions and is an aggressor against his
neighbors. In my opinion, a plan to
combat his activities?even if it means
destabilizing his government?would
be no more than a justifiable response
to the terror, pain, and suffering he
has caused in his own nation, the
Middle East, and several other coun-
tries around the world.
But, Mr. Speaker, regardless of
whether or not the infamous source
provided accurate information, it is ex-
tremely disturbing that sensitive
policy options cannot be discussed
without the possibility?and even the
probability?of some disgruntled indi-
vidual leaking information. This is nei-
ther an appropriate nor an honorable
way for participants in policy formula-
tion to express their opposition to
policy decisions.
The person responsible for the leak
should be found and punished. The
majority of people with access to sen-
sitive information argue their posi-
tions in an honest manner and behave
responsibly if, in the end, the policy
decision goes against their advice. But
a single leaker can jeopardize a policy
and the entire system of policy formu-
lation. Without corrective action, the
effect could be paralysis. I congratu-
late the administration on its determi-
nation to find the source of the leak.
This incident contributes to serious
concerns about the adequacy of the
current system of protecting sensitive
information. I firmly believe it is time
for us to take a long and hard look at
this problem and have introduced HIR.
3626, to establish a National Commis-
sion on Classified Information and Se-
curity Clearance Procedures for this
purpose. I urge my colleagues to co-
sponsor this bill and support action On
it.
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THE HONORABLE GEORGE C. WORTLEY
EXTENSION OF REMARKS
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATION BILL, 1986
October 30, 1985
Mr. Speaker, the report language of the Department of Defense Appropriation
bill contains a statement in support of the $25 million provided in the Defense
Authorization bill to reduce the backlog of security clearance investigations.
It also expresses support for the proposal that the Defense Investigative
.Service charge for performing investigations in order to help reduce unnecessary
requests for security clearances.
Both actions are positive. But they are not enough.
Two events currently in the news highlight the failings of current systems
in protecting vital security information. The first is the Walker spy case.
The second is the discovery of classified material in DoD furniture sent to a
federal prison for repair. The first incident illustrates problems with our
security clearance and reinvestigation procedures, and the second indicates
problems with the way classified material is handled.
In the case of the classified material, various officials seem to be busy
passing the buck or explaining away the lapse in security. This raises two
questions: if the information wasn't that sensitive, why was it classified, and
if it was sensitive, why wasn't it handled with more care? What guarantee do we
have that more sensitive material is handled with any more care?
The point is that both our classification and security clearance systems
need to be thoroughly reviewed so that we can get a comprehensive view of how
the systems actually work -- or don't work --, how each affects the performance
of the other, and what needs to be done to have a more coherent and dependable
means of protecting our national security information from espionage and
carelessness.
The wide-ranging and complex nature of this problem requires a
comprehensive approach. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3626, a bill I
have introduced to establish a National Commission on Classified Information and
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THE HONORABLE GEORGE C. WORTLEY
NATIONAL COMMISSION
ON
CLASSIFIED INFORMATION AND SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCEDURES
December 2, 1985
Mr. Speaker, this country is experiencing a distressing rash of security
breaches. In 1985 alone, more than 10 people have been charged with passing
sensitive security information to foreign agents, four of them in the last two
weeks.
The scope of the problem is extensive. The military, the CIA, the National
Security Agency, the FBI, government contractors, and the legislative branch
have all had people involved in jeopardizing our national security secrets.
It is time we took a comprehensive and critical look at the two primary
means of protection: classification of information and security clearance
procedures.
For that purpose, my bill, H.R. 3626, establishes a National Commission on
Classified Information and Security Clearance Procedures. It will have one year
in which to make a government-wide study of these systems and submit
recommendations on how to improve them.
Over 4 million Americans have some level of security clearance. Combined
with the massive volume of classified information, the potential for espionage,
leaks and just plain carelessness is frightening. Current efforts to address
various weaknesses in our current protective systems are not enough. We need a
broad-based coordinating group to discern the problems, focus attention on them,
and recommend corrective action.
Haphazard, piecemeal legislation will provide -- at best -- incomplete
solutions. I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the comprehensive and coherent
approach embodied in H.R. 3626.
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