IV

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 227

Expressing the sense of Congress that the technology program at the National

Institute of Justice of the Department of Justice, should be designated

as the national focal point for law enforcement technology programs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 27, 1996

Mr. SCHIFF (for himself, Mrs. SCHROEDER, Mr. BOEHLERT, Ms. HARMAN,

Mr. HEINEMAN, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. KENNELLY, and Mr. WAMP) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress that the technology program at the National Institute of Justice of the Department of Justice, should be designated as the national

focal point for law enforcement technology programs.

Whereas law enforcement is primarily a function carried out

by over 17,000 State and local jurisdictions, the Federal

Government has a legitimate role in supporting State and

local law enforcement;

Whereas most State and local law enforcement agencies do

not have the resources to invest in many of the functions

that are necessary to promote the development of new

technologies for law enforcement such as research and

development, testing and evaluation, or the development
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and enforcement of standards for law enforcement equipment and technology;

Whereas the jobs of dedicated officers in law enforcement

have become more dangerous and complex as criminals

have increasing knowledge of and access to advanced

technologies;

Whereas many State and local law enforcement agencies lack

state-of-the-art technical tools to ensure officer safety,

protect the public, and do their jobs more effectively and

efficiently;

Whereas a critical problem in the criminal justice research

community is the inadequate evaluation of law enforcement technologies and programs;

Whereas it is difficult for individual State and local law enforcement agencies to find, evaluate, and procure new

technologies that might meet their needs;

Whereas the National Institute of Justice has already been

asked by Congress to support law enforcement activities

at Federal, State, and local levels;

Whereas the National Institute of Justice technology program

is successfully developing and catalyzing the development

of new technologies for law enforcement in many areas,

including officer safety, equipment, investigative tools,

and forensics;

Whereas the National Institute of Justice has created the

National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology

Centers, which work closely with State and local law enforcement; and

Whereas the National Institute of Justice has created partnerships with the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the National Aeronautics and Space
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Administration to leverage already existing technologies

for adaptation to law enforcement: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the National Institute of Justice technology

4 program should ensure that Federal agencies are not

5 duplicating one another’s work;

6 (2) the National Institute of Justice technology

7 program should develop a nationwide database to

8 provide information on law enforcement equipment

9 and technologies to State and local law enforcement

10 agencies;

11 (3) the National Institute of Justice technology

12 program should promote testing and evaluation of

13 law enforcement equipment and technologies and

14 make available a list of product failures and short15 comings;

16 (4) the National Institute of Justice technology

17 program should promote establishment of standards

18 for law enforcement equipment and technologies;

19 (5) the National Institute of Justice technology

20 program should maintain the National Law Enforce21 ment and Corrections Technology Center system as

22 the main clearinghouse for the research, develop23 ment, testing, evaluation, and dissemination of law

24 enforcement technologies and standards;
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1 (6) the National Institute of Justice technology

2 program should develop a program to improve

3 forensics technology and work with the Nation’s

4 crime labs;

5 (7) the National Institute of Justice should be

6 designated as the law enforcement partner in sur7 plus Federal property and equipment transfer pro8 grams;

9 (8) if working with the private sector, the Na10 tional Institute of Justice should be authorized to

11 waive Government patent rights and assign exclusive

12 use of a license; and

13 (9) the National Institute of Justice should be

14 exempted from many of the requirements of the

15 Federal Advisory Committee Act.

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