JON TESTER sien raven United States Senate tao ‘November 9, 2015 The Honorable Ron Johnson Chairman U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 ‘The Honorable Thomas R. Carper Ranking Member U.S, Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510 Dear Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Carper, Given the recent troubling reports about serious lapses in the security clearance process, I strongly urge the Homeland Security and Goveramental Affairs Committee to hold a hearing on the security clearance process. As you know, after the Navy Yard Shooting and Edward Snowden leaks, I began actively pursuing reforms to the security clearance process as Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Federal Programs and the Federal Workforce. I held hearings with officials from the Office of Personnel Management-Federal Investigative Services (OPM- FIS), the Department of Defense, Government Accountability Office, and Inspector General of the Office of Personnel Management, among others, in order to determine what reforms were necessary. ‘These hearings uncovered a lack of oversight and information sharing that wasted taxpayer dollars and jeopardized our national security. As a result of those hearings, I introduced the Security Clearance Oversight and Reform Enhancement Act, which increased accountability and oversight into how the government conduets background investigations and awards security clearances. Now law, this bill has brought increased transpareney into the security clearance process and has even helped uncover other critical vulnerabilities at OPM, specifically related to investments in cybersecurity and information technology. A few of the necessary reforms highlighted by this weekend's 60 Minutes segment can be fixed through legislation this Committee has already approved. The Security Clearance Accountability, Reform, and Enhancement Act of 2015, is still waiting to be discharged out of ‘our Committee with report despite the Committee marking up the bill over six months ago. This bill would permanently remove background investigation employees from their positions if they were found to have intentionally compromised an investigation. The bill also prevents future Bozeman a 06) 86-4450 (aoe) 7 — Missours 1406) 252-0550 (406) 726-2008, (406) 452-9585 (406) 449-5401 (406) 257-3360‘The Honorable Ron Johnson ‘The Honorable Thomas R. Carper November 9, 2015 Page 2 instances of case “dumping”, as background investigation contractor USIS was accused of doing, by preventing contractors from conducting the final quality review of their own work. While many needed reforms have already been implemented or considered, there is clearly more work to be done to improve the security clearance process and our national security. ‘The remaining weaknesses of government information systems, personnel, and processes related to personnel security clearances require further examination. It is for that reason that I request the Chairman and Ranking Member call a hearing that fully examines the security clearance process. This is a national security issue and a government accountability issue. Congress and this ‘Committee must not sit idle. Thank you for your consideration of this request. qr ae Jon Tester United States Senator