WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Laurel Lee (R-FL) were joined by nine House colleagues in urging House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries as well as leaders of the Committee on House Administration to provide training on the proper handling of confidential information for all members of Congress beginning with the 119th Congress in January 2025. Presently, new and returning Congress members may opt in to receive just one hour of training. 

In the letter, Houlahan and Lee stated, “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, who is 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, and for training to be integrated into orientation sessions for newly elected members while readily available for returning members.

Find the full letter here and below.

Dear Speaker Johnson and Leader Jeffries, Chairman Steil and Ranking Member Morelle:

We respectfully request that you consider strongly encouraging and expanding opportunities for all Members of Congress to receive training on the proper handling of classified information, beginning in the 119th Congress.  

In today's world of complex challenges and evolving threats, it is crucial for our elected representatives to have access to classified information because such information is essential for effectively carrying out our oversight and legislative responsibilities. Simply having access to this information is not enough, Members must also be proficient in managing that classified intelligence as well.  

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.  

Past inadvertent or irresponsible releases of vital intelligence have occurred during open hearings, press scrums, conferences, or via other extemporaneous utterances. These incidents underscore the importance of training Members on the proper handling of classified information, the unauthorized release of which can compromise the work of our national security professionals and threaten the safety of our citizens at home and abroad.  

To prepare for the incoming 119th Congress, we strongly encourage Members to receive training under the Office of House Security (OHS), overseen by the House Sergeant at Arms, before accessing classified information. This training should be integrated into orientation sessions for newly elected members and be readily available and encouraged for returning members, alongside already established training refresher courses offered on various topics throughout the year.  

Additionally, advanced training options should be available and encouraged for committee Members and leaders who are regularly in contact with classified information on committees of jurisdiction such as the House Committee on Armed Services, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, House Committee on Homeland Security, House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and relevant subcommittees of the House Committee on Appropriations (Defense, State and Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water).  

The training curriculum should encompass but not be limited to critical topics such as classification levels and markings, proper storage protocols, legal obligations, and best practices for safeguarding sensitive data. In addition, Members should be taught the different resources available to them through House security and various committees on which they sit.  

Furthermore, we recommend clearer and regular guidance from briefers regarding the classification status of information presented to Congress members. Articulating guidelines and markings will aid informed decision-making and mitigate inadvertent disclosures, reinforcing the solemn Oath of Secrecy taken by all Members to protect national security.  

Thank you for considering our recommendations. We urge you to prioritize the modernization of House Member training, reinforcing our commitment to national security for Members of Congress in the 119th Congress. This initiative leverages existing House Security resources and aligns with principles of transparency, accountability, and national security that are fundamental to our democracy.  

We look forward to hearing from you and working with you on this urgent matter.  

Sincerely,  

Houlahan is an Air Force veteran, an engineer, a serial entrepreneur, an educator, and a nonprofit leader. She represents Pennsylvania’s 6th Congressional District, which encompasses Chester County and southern Berks County. She serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. She is the recipient of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Abraham Lincoln Leadership for America Award which “recognizes members who demonstrate the bipartisan leadership and constructive governing necessary to move our country forward” and the Congressional Management Foundation’s 2022 Democracy Award for best Constituent Services in Congress. 

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