Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-678
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McSally, Martha [R-AZ-2]
Introduced: 2017-01-24
Policy area: Emergency Management
Subjects: Aviation and airports

Border security and unlawful immigration

Computers and information technology

Congressional oversight

Customs enforcement

Department of Homeland Security

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government studies and investigations

Homeland security

Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information

Intergovernmental relations

Law enforcement administration and funding

Law enforcement officers

State and local government operations

Technology assessment

Terrorism

Transportation safety and security

U.S. territories and protectorates
Latest action: action_date: 2017-02-01
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2017-01-24
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct an assessment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel assigned to fusion centers established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. (A fusion center serves as a focal point within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.)</p> <p>The assessment must include information on:</p> <ul> <li> the roles and responsibilities of DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers and analysts, reports officers, and regional directors deployed to such centers; </li> <li> federal resources provided to each center;</li> <li>an analysis of the optimal number of personnel the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should deploy to such centers;</li> <li>fusion centers located in jurisdictions along land and maritime borders of the United States and the degree to which deploying personnel from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to such centers would enhance the integrity and security at such borders; and</li> <li> fusion centers located in jurisdictions with large and medium hub airports and the degree to which deploying personnel from the Transportation Security Administration to such centers would enhance aviation security.</li> </ul> <p>The bill expresses the sense of Congress that any program established by DHS's Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to provide eligibility for access to information classified as Top Secret for state, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers shall be consistent with the need-to-know requirements pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526.</p> <p>The Under Secretary must report on:</p> <ul> <li>the process by which the Under Secretary determines a need to know to sponsor Top Secret clearances for analysts in fusion centers;</li> <li>the effects of such Top Secret clearances on enhancing information sharing with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners;</li> <li>the cost for providing such Top Secret clearances for such analysts, including training and background investigations; and</li> <li>the operational security protocols, training, management, and risks associated with providing such Top Secret clearances.</li> </ul> <p>The Under Secretary shall assess information systems used to share homeland security information between DHS and fusion centers in the network and make appropriate upgrades. </p> <p>The Under Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each Network fusion center regarding the type of information fusion centers will provide to DHS and whether such information may be subject to public disclosure.</p> <p>Fusion centers are required to assist, review information from, and disseminate information to territorial governments. </p>

action_date: 2017-01-31
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct an assessment of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel assigned to fusion centers established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002. (A fusion center serves as a focal point within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information between the federal government and state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners.)</p> <p>The assessment must include information on:</p> <ul> <li> the current deployment of such personnel to each fusion center;</li> <li>the roles and responsibilities of DHS's Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers and analysts, reports officers, and regional directors deployed to such centers; </li> <li> federal resources provided to each center;</li> <li>an analysis of the optimal number of personnel the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should deploy to such centers, including a cost-benefit analysis comparing deployed personnel with technological solutions to support information sharing;</li> <li>fusion centers located in jurisdictions along land and maritime borders of the United States and the degree to which deploying personnel from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to such centers would enhance the integrity and security at such borders; and</li> <li> fusion centers located in jurisdictions with large and medium hub airports and the degree to which deploying personnel from the Transportation Security Administration to such centers would enhance aviation security.</li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 3) The bill expresses the sense of Congress that any program established by DHS's Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to provide eligibility for access to information classified as Top Secret for state, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers shall be consistent with the need-to-know requirements pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526.</p> <p>The Under Secretary must submit to specified congressional committees a report on:</p> <ul> <li>the process by which the Under Secretary determines a need to know to sponsor Top Secret clearances for appropriate state, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers;</li> <li>the effects of such Top Secret clearances on enhancing information sharing with state, local, tribal, and territorial partners;</li> <li>the cost for providing such Top Secret clearances for such analysts, including training and background investigations; and</li> <li>the operational security protocols, training, management, and risks associated with providing such Top Secret clearances.</li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 4) The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the Chief Information Officer of DHS and representatives from the National Network of Fusion Centers, shall conduct an assessment of information systems used to share homeland security information between DHS and fusion centers in the Network and make appropriate upgrades to such systems. Such assessment shall include:</p> <ul> <li>an evaluation of the accessibility and ease of use of such systems by Network fusion centers;</li> <li>a review to determine how to establish improved interoperability of departmental information systems with existing information systems used by Network fusion centers; and</li> <li>an evaluation of participation levels of departmental components and offices of information systems used to share homeland security information with Network fusion centers. </li> </ul> <p>(Sec. 5) The Under Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each Network fusion center regarding the type of information fusion centers will provide to DHS and whether such information may be subject to public disclosure.</p> <p>(Sec. 6) The Homeland Security Act of 2002 is amended to require fusion centers to assist, review information from, and disseminate information to territorial governments.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 678 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To require an assessment of fusion center personnel needs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017 . 2. Fusion center personnel needs assessment Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of Department of Homeland Security personnel assigned to fusion centers pursuant to subsection (c) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ), including an assessment of whether deploying additional Department personnel to such fusion centers would enhance the Department’s mission under section 101(b) of such Act and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The assessment required under this subsection shall include the following: (1) Information on the current deployment of the Department’s personnel to each fusion center. (2) Information on the roles and responsibilities of the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers, intelligence analysts, senior reports officers, reports officers, and regional directors deployed to fusion centers. (3) Information on Federal resources, in addition to personnel, provided to each fusion center. (4) An analysis of the optimal number of personnel the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should deploy to fusion centers, including a cost-benefit analysis comparing deployed personnel with technological solutions to support information sharing. (5) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions along land and maritime borders of the United States, and the degree to which deploying personnel, as appropriate, from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security at such borders by helping Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate, and interdict persons, weapons, and related contraband that pose a threat to homeland security. (6) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions with large and medium hub airports, and the degree to which deploying, as appropriate, personnel from the Transportation Security Administration to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security of aviation security. 3. Program for State and local analyst clearances (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that any program established by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to provide eligibility for access to information classified as Top Secret for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers shall be consistent with the need to know requirements pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 ( 50 U.S.C. 3161 note). (b) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The process by which the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis determines a need to know pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 to sponsor Top Secret clearances for appropriate State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. (2) The effects of such Top Secret clearances on enhancing information sharing with State, local, tribal, and territorial partners. (3) The cost for providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers, including training and background investigations. (4) The operational security protocols, training, management, and risks associated with providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. 4. Information technology assessment The Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Chief Information Officer of the Department and representatives from the National Network of Fusion Centers, shall conduct an assessment of information systems (as such term is defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code) used to share homeland security information between the Department and fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers and make upgrades to such systems, as appropriate. Such assessment shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of the accessibility and ease of use of such systems by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (2) A review to determine how to establish improved interoperability of departmental information systems with existing information systems used by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (3) An evaluation of participation levels of departmental components and offices of information systems used to share homeland security information with fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. 5. Memorandum of understanding Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each fusion center in the National Network of Fusion Centers regarding the type of information such fusion centers will provide to the Department and whether such information may be subject to public disclosure. 6. Amendments Section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ) is amended— (1) in subsection (d), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (2) in subsection (e), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial ; (4) in subsection (i)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking and tribal and inserting tribal, territorial ; and (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting territorial, after tribal, ; and (5) in subsection (j)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial . 7. Definitions In this Act: (1) Fusion center The term fusion center has the meaning given such term in subsection (j) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ). (2) National Network of Fusion Centers The term National Network of Fusion Centers means a decentralized arrangement of fusion centers intended to enhance individual State and urban area fusion centers’ ability to leverage the capabilities and expertise of all such fusion centers for the purpose of enhancing analysis and homeland security information sharing nationally.

Passed the House of Representatives January 31, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 678 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 24, 2017 Ms. McSally (for herself, Mr. Barletta , Mr. McCaul , and Mr. King of New York ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security A BILL To require an assessment of fusion center personnel needs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017 . 2. Fusion center personnel needs assessment Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of Department of Homeland Security personnel assigned to fusion centers pursuant to subsection (c) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ), including an assessment of whether deploying additional Department personnel to such fusion centers would enhance the Department’s mission under section 101(b) of such Act and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The assessment required under this subsection shall include the following: (1) Information on the current deployment of the Department’s personnel to each fusion center. (2) Information on the roles and responsibilities of the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers, intelligence analysts, senior reports officers, reports officers, and regional directors deployed to fusion centers. (3) Information on Federal resources, in addition to personnel, provided to each fusion center. (4) An analysis of the optimal number of personnel the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should deploy to fusion centers, including a cost-benefit analysis comparing deployed personnel with technological solutions to support information sharing. (5) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions along land and maritime borders of the United States, and the degree to which deploying personnel, as appropriate, from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security at such borders by helping Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate, and interdict persons, weapons, and related contraband that pose a threat to homeland security. (6) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions with large and medium hub airports, and the degree to which deploying, as appropriate, personnel from the Transportation Security Administration to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security of aviation security. 3. Program for State and local analyst clearances (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that any program established by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to provide eligibility for access to information classified as Top Secret for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers shall be consistent with the need to know requirements pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 ( 50 U.S.C. 3161 note). (b) Report Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The process by which the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis determines a need to know pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 to sponsor Top Secret clearances for appropriate State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. (2) The effects of such Top Secret clearances on enhancing information sharing with State, local, tribal, and territorial partners. (3) The cost for providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers, including training and background investigations. (4) The operational security protocols, training, management, and risks associated with providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. 4. Information technology assessment The Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Chief Information Officer of the Department and representatives from the National Network of Fusion Centers, shall conduct an assessment of information systems (as such term is defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code) used to share homeland security information between the Department and fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers and make upgrades to such systems, as appropriate. Such assessment shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of the accessibility and ease of use of such systems by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (2) A review to determine how to establish improved interoperability of departmental information systems with existing information systems used by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (3) An evaluation of participation levels of departmental components and offices of information systems used to share homeland security information with fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. 5. Memorandum of understanding Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each fusion center in the National Network of Fusion Centers regarding the type of information such fusion centers will provide to the Department and whether such information may be subject to public disclosure. 6. Amendments Section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ) is amended— (1) in subsection (d), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (2) in subsection (e), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial ; (4) in subsection (i)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking and tribal and inserting tribal, territorial ; and (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting territorial, after tribal, ; and (5) in subsection (j)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial . 7. Definitions In this Act: (1) Fusion center The term fusion center has the meaning given such term in subsection (j) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ). (2) National Network of Fusion Centers The term National Network of Fusion Centers means a decentralized arrangement of fusion centers intended to enhance individual State and urban area fusion centers’ ability to leverage the capabilities and expertise of all such fusion centers for the purpose of enhancing analysis and homeland security information sharing nationally.

tv_txt: IIB 115th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 678 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 1, 2017 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs AN ACT To require an assessment of fusion center personnel needs, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Department of Homeland Security Support to Fusion Centers Act of 2017 . 2. Fusion center personnel needs assessment Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an assessment of Department of Homeland Security personnel assigned to fusion centers pursuant to subsection (c) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ), including an assessment of whether deploying additional Department personnel to such fusion centers would enhance the Department’s mission under section 101(b) of such Act and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The assessment required under this subsection shall include the following: (1) Information on the current deployment of the Department’s personnel to each fusion center. (2) Information on the roles and responsibilities of the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers, intelligence analysts, senior reports officers, reports officers, and regional directors deployed to fusion centers. (3) Information on Federal resources, in addition to personnel, provided to each fusion center. (4) An analysis of the optimal number of personnel the Office of Intelligence and Analysis should deploy to fusion centers, including a cost-benefit analysis comparing deployed personnel with technological solutions to support information sharing. (5) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions along land and maritime borders of the United States, and the degree to which deploying personnel, as appropriate, from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security at such borders by helping Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate, and interdict persons, weapons, and related contraband that pose a threat to homeland security. (6) An assessment of fusion centers located in jurisdictions with large and medium hub airports, and the degree to which deploying, as appropriate, personnel from the Transportation Security Administration to such fusion centers would enhance the integrity and security of aviation security. 3. Program for State and local analyst clearances (a) Sense of Congress It is the sense of Congress that any program established by the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security to provide eligibility for access to information classified as Top Secret for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers shall be consistent with the need to know requirements pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 ( 50 U.S.C. 3161 note). (b) Report Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate a report on the following: (1) The process by which the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis determines a need to know pursuant to Executive Order No. 13526 to sponsor Top Secret clearances for appropriate State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. (2) The effects of such Top Secret clearances on enhancing information sharing with State, local, tribal, and territorial partners. (3) The cost for providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers, including training and background investigations. (4) The operational security protocols, training, management, and risks associated with providing such Top Secret clearances for State, local, tribal, and territorial analysts located in fusion centers. 4. Information technology assessment The Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security, in collaboration with the Chief Information Officer of the Department and representatives from the National Network of Fusion Centers, shall conduct an assessment of information systems (as such term is defined in section 3502 of title 44, United States Code) used to share homeland security information between the Department and fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers and make upgrades to such systems, as appropriate. Such assessment shall include the following: (1) An evaluation of the accessibility and ease of use of such systems by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (2) A review to determine how to establish improved interoperability of departmental information systems with existing information systems used by fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. (3) An evaluation of participation levels of departmental components and offices of information systems used to share homeland security information with fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers. 5. Memorandum of understanding Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with each fusion center in the National Network of Fusion Centers regarding the type of information such fusion centers will provide to the Department and whether such information may be subject to public disclosure. 6. Amendments Section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ) is amended— (1) in subsection (d), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (2) in subsection (e), by striking and tribal each place it appears and inserting tribal, and territorial ; (3) in subsection (g)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial ; (4) in subsection (i)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking and tribal and inserting tribal, territorial ; and (B) in paragraph (6), by inserting territorial, after tribal, ; and (5) in subsection (j)(1), by striking or tribal and inserting tribal, or territorial . 7. Definitions In this Act: (1) Fusion center The term fusion center has the meaning given such term in subsection (j) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 ( 6 U.S.C. 124h ). (2) National Network of Fusion Centers The term National Network of Fusion Centers means a decentralized arrangement of fusion centers intended to enhance individual State and urban area fusion centers’ ability to leverage the capabilities and expertise of all such fusion centers for the purpose of enhancing analysis and homeland security information sharing nationally.

Passed the House of Representatives January 31, 2017. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.