H. Res. 851 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

November 17, 2009. 

Whereas the Department of Justice’s Law Enforcement Assistance Administration created SEARCH in 1969 as a 

10-State project to demonstrate whether it was feasible 

to exchange criminal history records on an automated 

and nationwide basis; 

Whereas SEARCH not only demonstrated the feasibility of 

an automated nationwide system of sharing criminal 

records, but also, through partnership with the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 

State agencies and other organizations, helped to establish the national criminal history record information system; 

Whereas SEARCH is a nonprofit organization created by and 

for the States, governed by a Membership Group comprised of one gubernatorial appointee from each of the 

States and territories; 

Whereas SEARCH’s guiding vision is to ensure ‘‘Accurate 

and timely information, supported by well-deployed information and identification technology, enables the justice 

and public safety decision-maker to administer justice in 

a manner that promotes individual rights and public safety’’; 
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•HRES 851 EH 

Whereas SEARCH provides training and technical assistance 

to help the criminal justice community combat high-technology crimes, gather valuable information in investigations, and link the Nation’s law enforcement agencies 

through policy and technical solutions; 

Whereas SEARCH helps agencies effectively implement information sharing technology to make accurate, more informed, immediate, and appropriately secured decisions 

about criminal justice and security issues, and to administer justice in an efficient and effective manner; 

Whereas SEARCH has pioneered the development of both 

technology and policy solutions for justice implementation 

of biometric technologies, thereby enabling electronic fingerprints to become a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective 

identification authentication process and further supporting information sharing and collaboration among and 

between agencies; 

Whereas SEARCH has made a profound contribution, working with the Department of Justice, to develop successive 

generations of privacy and security policies that are now 

reflected in both Department of Justice regulations and 

Federal legislation; 

Whereas SEARCH has played a critical role in the development of systems such as the Interstate Identification 

Index (III), the National Instant Criminal Background 

Check System (NICS), commonly called the Brady check 

system, the National Fingerprint File (NFF), the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System 

(IAFIS), and key standards for information sharing and 

interoperability, such as the National Information Exchange Model (NIEM); 
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•HRES 851 EH 

Whereas SEARCH’s work with the Departments of Justice 

and Homeland Security helps the Nation’s justice and 

public safety communities plan, develop, implement, test, 

and manage interoperable communications solutions; and 

Whereas SEARCH has had many accomplishments over its 

40-year history to help practitioners in criminal justice, 

public safety, and first response use information to plan 

for, predict, prevent, and interdict criminal events, terrorism, and disasters: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes 

and honors SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice 

Information and Statistics, on the occasion of its 40th anniversary for accomplishments to promote information sharing 

and identification solutions for first responders and law enforcement officers, and for the protection of privacy and citizens’ rights. 

Attest: 

Clerk.