Congresswoman Kat Cammack calls for immediate House vote on Resolution requiring background checks for all Congressional staff

Press release from U.S. Representative Kat Cammack

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Kat Cammack (FL-03) today called on the House to immediately bring H.Res. 500 to the floor for a vote. The resolution would strengthen security standards for congressional staff by requiring criminal background checks and public disclosure of foreign government payments, contracts, and citizenship.

The renewed push comes as congressional staff security has drawn renewed public attention, underscoring the need for stronger vetting and transparency standards in the House of Representatives.

“Congressional staff handle Americans’ most sensitive personal information every day, from Social Security numbers on casework files to veterans’ records,” said Congresswoman Cammack. “Americans are shocked when they learn that those staffers face no required background check. Federal employees across the executive branch are vetted before they ever get a badge. Not here. That should concern every member of Congress, regardless of party.”

Introduced by Rep. Cammack earlier this Congress, H.Res. 500 would amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to:

• Require background checks for House employees;
• Require disclosure if a House employee has received payments from, or entered into contracts or agreements with, a foreign government during the three years before beginning House employment;
• Require disclosure if a House employee is a citizen or national of a foreign country;
• Require those disclosures to be filed with the Clerk of the House and made publicly available; and
• Apply these disclosure requirements to both current House employees and new hires.

Rep. Cammack noted that despite introducing the resolution, efforts to move it forward have repeatedly stalled.

“I introduced H.Res. 500 more than a year ago to fix this,” Rep. Cammack continued. “First, I was told it needed 100 cosponsors before it could be considered. Then I was told background checks couldn’t be done. Then I was told that disclosures couldn’t be published. The excuses keep changing, while the security risk stays the same.”

Rep. Cammack also called on Americans to urge their Representatives to support the resolution.

“The solution is already written. Now the House needs to act. The American people have a right to know who is working on their behalf. Call your Representative and tell them to support H.Res. 500.”

The full text of H.Res. 500 is available here.