January 29, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 18 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages H1261-H1263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                DHS FIELD ENGAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 504) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
require the Department of Homeland Security to develop an engagement 
strategy with fusion centers, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 504

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``DHS Field Engagement 
     Accountability Act''.

     SEC. 2. ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WITH FUSION CENTERS.

       Section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 
     124h) is amended by--
       (1) redesigning subsections (j) and (k) as subsections (k) 
     and (l), respectively; and
       (2) inserting after subsection (i) the following new 
     subsection:
       ``(j) Fusion Center Information Sharing Strategy.--Not 
     later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
     subsection, the Secretary shall develop and update at least 
     once every five years a strategy for Department engagement 
     with fusion centers. Such strategy shall be developed and 
     updated in consultation with the heads of intelligence 
     components of the Department, the Chief Privacy Officer of 
     the Department, the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil 
     Liberties of the Department, officials of fusion centers, 
     officers designated as Homeland Security Advisors, and the 
     heads of other relevant agencies, as appropriate. Such 
     strategy shall include the following:
       ``(1) Specific goals and objectives for sharing information 
     and engaging with fusion centers--
       ``(A) through the direct deployment of personnel from 
     intelligence components of the Department;
       ``(B) through the use of Department unclassified and 
     classified information sharing systems, including the 
     Homeland Security Information Sharing Network and the 
     Homeland Secure Data Network, or any successor systems; and
       ``(C) through any additional means.
       ``(2) The performance metrics to be used to measure success 
     in achieving the goals and objectives referred to in 
     paragraph (1).

[[Page H1262]]

       ``(3) A five-year plan for continued engagement with fusion 
     centers.''.

     SEC. 3. OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS FIELD PERSONNEL 
                   SUPPORT TO FUSION CENTERS.

       (a) Performance Metrics.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary for 
     Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland 
     Security shall--
       (1) consider the effectiveness of existing processes to 
     identify and prepare field personnel for deployment to 
     support fusion centers and internal mechanisms to ensure 
     oversight and accountability of such field personnel, 
     including field personnel assigned to one center and field 
     personnel assigned to multiple centers; and
       (2) publish and disseminate performance metrics, taking 
     into account, as appropriate, regional and threat diversity, 
     for--
       (A) field personnel from the Office of Intelligence and 
     Analysis assigned to an individual fusion center;
       (B) field personnel from the Office of Intelligence and 
     Analysis assigned to multiple fusion centers; and
       (C) regional Directors of the Office of Intelligence and 
     Analysis to ensure accountability for monitoring all field 
     personnel under the supervision of such Regional Directors.
       (b) Training.--In consultation with the Chief Information 
     Officer of the Department of Homeland Security, the Under 
     Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department 
     shall develop and implement a formalized training module for 
     fusion center personnel regarding the classified Homeland 
     Secure Data Network of the Department, or any successor 
     system.
       (c) Fusion Center Defined.--In this section, the term 
     ``fusion center'' has the meaning given such term in section 
     210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h).

     SEC. 4. DHS COMPONENT USAGE OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY 
                   INFORMATION NETWORK.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Chief Intelligence Officer of 
     the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the 
     Chief Information Officer of the Department, shall--
       (1) develop policies and metrics to ensure effective use by 
     components of the Department of the Department's unclassified 
     Homeland Security Information Sharing Network, or any 
     successor system; and
       (2) develop policies for posting unclassified products on 
     the Homeland Security Information Sharing Network, or any 
     successor system.
       (b) Technical Enhancements.--The Chief Information Officer 
     of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with 
     the Chief Intelligence Officer of the Department, shall 
     assess and implement, as appropriate, technical enhancements 
     to the Homeland Security Information Sharing Network (HSIN) 
     to improve usability, including search functionality, data 
     analysis, and collaboration capabilities.

     SEC. 5. REPORT.

       Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit to 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select 
     Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and 
     the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 
     and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a 
     report on the implementation of the following:
       (1) The fusion center information sharing strategy required 
     under subsection (j) of section 210A of the Homeland Security 
     Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h), as added by section 2 of this 
     Act, based on performance metrics developed pursuant to such 
     strategy.
       (2) Field personnel deployed to fusion centers (as such 
     term is defined in section 210A of the Homeland Security Act 
     of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h)) in accordance with section 3, based 
     on performance metrics developed pursuant to such section.
       (3) Policies that seek to ensure the effective use of the 
     Homeland Security Information Sharing Network in accordance 
     with section 4, based on the metrics developed pursuant to 
     such section.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
New York (Miss Rice) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Higgins) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague on the other side of 
the aisle, Mr. Bacon, for reintroducing the DHS Field Engagement 
Accountability Act.
  One of the core responsibilities of this committee is to ensure 
collaboration and information-sharing among Federal, State, local, 
Tribal, and territorial partners. That is how we protect our cities 
from any and all terrorist threats, whether it is one that comes from a 
foreign organization or a homegrown, lone-wolf attacker.
  One example of our commitment to this comprehensive approach is the 
committee's long history of bipartisan support for the Department of 
Homeland Security's 79 fusion centers located across the country. These 
centers are meant to connect the dots at the local level. They are 
information-sharing hubs that facilitate coordination and the sharing 
of resources between Federal, State, and local law enforcement 
officials.
  However, a 2016 review found that DHS does not have a strategic 
engagement plan for these 79 fusion centers. H.R. 504 will help fill 
that void. This important legislation will require DHS to develop a 
departmentwide strategy for engaging and sharing information with 
national fusion centers.
  Additionally, this measure requires DHS to develop metrics that will 
help hold fusion center staff accountable for their performance.
  This legislation also requires DHS to improve the classified and 
unclassified information-sharing systems that are used by fusion 
centers to ensure that information is shared properly and in accordance 
with Department standards. Specifically, H.R. 504 would require that 
all information-sharing policies are developed and maintained by the 
Department's experts on privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.
  The recent shooting in Pittsburgh and the spate of pipe bombs that 
were mailed across the country last year are potent reminders of how 
important it is for local law enforcement agencies to be equipped with 
the resources and information they need to combat urgent threats. In 
short, events like these exemplify the growing need for well-informed 
and well-maintained fusion centers.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my House colleagues to support this legislation, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 504, the DHS Field Engagement 
Accountability Act.
  The Committee on Homeland Security has long supported the role and 
mission of locally owned fusion centers across the United States. These 
hubs for assessing and sharing threat information are important links 
for the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and other Federal, 
State, and local stakeholders.
  The legislation before us today directs the Department of Homeland 
Security to develop a forward-looking strategy to improve engagement 
efforts with fusion centers and establish metrics for both DHS 
personnel and technology deployed to fusion centers.
  Clear performance metrics for fusion center personnel are needed to 
ensure fusion center directors understand what to expect from DHS 
personnel detailed to their centers. This effort will also allow DHS to 
better track the value fusion centers are providing to the national 
information-sharing environment.
  Lastly, the bill addresses a need for improvements to DHS information 
sharing utilized by fusion centers and other stakeholders by requiring 
training modules and feedback mechanisms.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative   Don Bacon for his work on this 
legislation and his overall commitment to Federal, State, and local 
information sharing.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have no more speakers, and I am 
prepared to close after the gentleman from Louisiana closes.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the 
gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), the cosponsor of this bill.
  Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Louisiana and I 
thank the gentlewoman from New York for their leadership today.

[[Page H1263]]

  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the bill, H.R. 504, that I 
authored. It is called the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act.
  The purpose of this legislation is to provide transparency, 
predictability, and technology improvements to the 79 State and locally 
owned fusion centers across the United States. This bill fixes several 
shortfalls that were identified by recent inspection findings.
  I was able to visit the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, known 
as NIAC, my home State's fusion center, in January of this last year. 
The NIAC was established in 2007 and serves as a critical information-
sharing conduit between the State of Nebraska and the Federal 
Government to the benefit of all 93 counties in Nebraska.
  While the NIAC currently has outside support from DHS, not all fusion 
centers are in the same situation throughout our country, and that 
needs to be fixed. To address this shortfall, H.R. 504 requires the 
Department to engage an engagement strategy for how to best coordinate 
information sharing, technology, and personnel resources with fusion 
centers. Additionally, the bill requires DHS to develop clear and 
robust performance metrics for the personnel assigned to fusion centers 
to provide needed accountability.

  In addition to personnel, DHS also provides fusion centers with 
access to databases and information-sharing programs for classified and 
sensitive information. H.R. 504 includes several provisions to address 
improvements in training and technology needed for these systems, 
including a requirement that DHS components share appropriate 
intelligence products with fusion centers.
  The sharing of counterterrorism and other homeland security 
information with State and local officials is vital in our efforts to 
protect the homeland. In the past few years, there have been 
significant improvements in DHS' support for key stakeholders. The DHS 
Field Engagement Accountability Act builds on this progress by holding 
DHS more accountable for supporting fusion centers and making the 
improvements needed to truly utilize them as a resource for the Federal 
Government.
  This is a commonsense bill that passed the House last Congress. With 
another strong showing of bipartisan support from the House, I am 
confident that we will be able to work with our colleagues in the other 
Chamber to enact this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, 
and I am prepared to close.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Rogers, and 
Congressman Bacon for bringing this bill to the floor.
  I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 504, to improve DHS' 
coordination and information-sharing activities with State and local 
fusion centers across the country, thereby making the homeland security 
intelligence enterprise more robust.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Miss RICE of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 504, which passed the House on suspension last 
Congress, would help ensure that fusion centers throughout the country 
have access to the resources necessary to keep our homeland safe and 
secure.
  By directing the Department to develop a strategy for its fusion 
centers, the bill seeks to enhance DHS' overall ability to fulfill its 
core mission. Additionally, H.R. 504 would ensure that DHS' 
information-sharing policies include strong privacy and civil liberty 
safeguards.
  Regardless of the target or the underlying ideology behind a 
terrorist plot, State and local law enforcement entities need a clear 
line of communication with their Federal counterparts.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 504, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from New York (Miss Rice) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 504.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________