Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 678, and I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Arizona (Ms. McSally). I rise in strong support as a cosponsor of H.R. 678, the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017. Since coming to Congress, I have worked to enhance and secure intelligence information sharing among both domestic and international partners. A key mechanism to fostering such information sharing has been the development of a network of fusion centers across the Nation. These centers allow Federal intelligence and homeland security information to be shared with State and local law enforcement and other key stakeholders. For fusion centers to realize their full promise, it remains critical that personnel assigned to fusion centers be able to access Department of Homeland Security information, data, and personnel. In the course of conducting oversight of fusion centers, the committee has learned that not enough State and local analysts and officials assigned to these centers have the TS/SCI clearances necessary to foster the timely sharing of homeland security information and intelligence. {time} 1530 H.R. 678 would authorize the DHS to sponsor such State and local analysts for security clearances. Last Congress, this bill passed unanimously by our committee. I urge the passage of H.R. 678, the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017.…”