News: Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) and Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) are requesting that House leadership beef up training programs to ensure members properly handle classified information.
The bipartisan duo, along with nine colleagues, said in a Wednesday letter to Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that “regular and frequent training on how to work with classified information” is “imperative for every member.”
The letter, exclusively obtained by Punchbowl News, calls for incoming members to undergo training during their orientation before being allowed to access classified information. The members propose that the Office of House Security would handle these sessions.
In addition, these trainings should “be readily available and encouraged for returning members,” the bipartisan group writes.
Here’s a key section from the letter, which emphasizes the dangers of House lawmakers running afoul of classified information rules:
Houlahan and Lee also request that members of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security, Intelligence and Appropriations committees receive advanced training due to the high level of classified information they deal with.
Currently, no training on handling classified information is required for lawmakers.
Houlahan and Lee serve together on the task force investigating the assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump.
