Political Quotes

“I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3598, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2015. First of all, let me compliment Mr. Barletta for his bill. Those of us who have been around kind of know the confusion that exists among fusion centers throughout the country, and any effort to streamline that confusion is much appreciated. Mr. Speaker, this bipartisan bill seeks to update the law to reflect the evolution of the Department of Homeland Security's National Network of Fusion Centers as well as the relationship of the Department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis with the fusion centers in the network. H.R. 3598, as introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta), clarifies that fusion centers are State- and locally owned and operated and requires the Department's Office of Intelligence and Analysis to provide support to centers in its network through the deployment of appropriate personnel and providing access to information. Importantly, H.R. 3598 also adds several new responsibilities to the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis related to grant guidance, coordinating nationwide suspicious activity reports, and ensuring that fusion centers are the focal points for sharing information.…”