Don Bacon: “I thank my colleagues and friends from New Mexico and Texas for their leadership today and guidance to the floor. I rise…”

“I thank my colleagues and friends from New Mexico and Texas for their leadership today and guidance to the floor. I rise in support of H.R. 504, the DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act, which will improve the management, integration, transparency, and overall mission performance of the 79 State and local fusion centers across our country. Creating a robust and mature information-sharing relationship between the Department of Homeland Security and State and local law enforcement is vital for our Homeland Security. Since the September 11, 2001, attacks, State and local fusion centers have become key stakeholders in the homeland security of our country, and it is an important mission. Yet, despite their importance, the Government Accountability Office has observed that a lack of standardization in manpower, data systems, and training has hurt their effectiveness. H.R. 504 is focused on setting the conditions to better allow our fusion centers to accomplish the mission for which they were created and funded. My home State fusion center, the Nebraska Information Analysis Center, or NIAC, is the information exchange gateway for State, local, and Federal authorities serving all of the 93 counties in Nebraska. NIAC collects, analyzes, and shares information on crime and terrorism with Federal, State, local, and Tribal law enforcement organizations and with other public and private entities as appropriate.…”