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Federal Information Resource to Strengthen Ties with State and Local Law Enforcement Act of 2017

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 29, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Government Operations Federal, State and Local Relations

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 495) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require an annual report on the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement.

The Clerk read the title of the bill.

The text of the bill is as follows H.R. 495

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Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 495, the FIRST State and Local Law Enforcement Act.

I thank my Democratic colleague, Ms. Jackson Lee, for reintroducing this measure in the new Congress.

H.R. 495 would require DHS to submit an annual report to Congress on the activities of the Office for State and Local Law Enforcement.

This bill was written, informed by a report I had my staff prepare to look at DHS' progress at implementing the 9/11 Commission Act on its 10th anniversary in 2017. The report recommended that DHS continuously refine its information-sharing networks.

Central to this effort is the Department's engagement with State and local law enforcement. Specifically, H.R. 495 requires an annual report that highlights the activities of this office.

Pursuant to H.R. 495, each report must contain detailed information on existing programs and performance metrics to evaluate their effectiveness. More importantly, each report must include feedback received from these law enforcement agencies so that future collaboration can be meaningful.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Jackson Lee).

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, nearly 18 years after the September 11 attacks, it is important that we stand together and recommit ourselves to doing all we can to prevent further terrorist attacks at the Federal, State, and local levels.

Enactment of H.R. 495, which passed the House on suspension last Congress, would help ensure that State and local law enforcement know DHS is a full partner in securing their communities.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 495, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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