Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) today introduced H.R. 5079, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Field Engagement Accountability Act. Original bipartisan sponsors of the bill include: Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Congressman Mike Gallagher (WI-08), Congressman Clay Higgins (LA-03), Congressman John Katko (NY-24), and Congressman Bill Keating (MA-09).

“Ensuring the Department of Homeland Security has an agency-wide strategy for engagement with fusion centers will provide necessary support to our state and local law enforcement in their efforts to combat the evolving terrorism threat and keep pace with emerging homeland security issues,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our country’s 79 fusion centers, including one in Lincoln, Nebraska, facilitate critical information sharing and coordination between our country’s first responders and the federal government. This bill will ensure that DHS enhances its support to all fusion centers and fully leverages their capabilities in the Department’s missions.”

While DHS has made significant progress, there are gaps in support provided to fusion centers. H.R 5079 requires the DHS Secretary to develop a department-wide plan for engagement with fusion centers, further bolstering these relationships. This strategy will include specific goals and objectives for sharing information and engaging with fusion centers, and ensure metrics are in place to measure progress. This bill also calls for metrics to hold field personnel from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis accountable for their performance at fusion centers. Finally, H.R. 5079 requires additional training and improvements for the classified and unclassified information sharing systems the Department makes available to fusion centers.

Last month, Rep. Bacon visited the Nebraska Information Analysis Center (NIAC) to learn about the collaborative work between the federal, state, and local partners at the fusion center to prevent and respond to criminal or terrorist activity.

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