June 4, 2002

INFORMATION SHARING LEGISLATION PASSES VOTE

- Hearing is First Step toward Enacting Legislation -

WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Harman, Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security (D-CA), and Subcommittee Chairman Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) - testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security on the Homeland Security Information Sharing Act.

The Subcommittee followed its hearing with a unanimous vote to report the bill to the full Judiciary Committee.

Reps. Harman and Chambliss introduced the legislation in February, which directs federal intelligence agencies such as the FBI and CIA to share information about possible terrorist attacks with the nation's governors, mayors, law enforcement and first responders.

Harman testified, "Recent headlines have focused attention to the inability of federal agencies to share information on terrorist threats with other agencies. But getting critical information to the mayors, police, firefighters, and other responder groups is perhaps an even more important need for preventing future terrorist attacks."

The Judiciary Committee is expected to consider the bill on Thursday. After today's hearing, Congresswoman Harman stated, "I am pleased with the vote today, and hope we can bring the bill to the House floor in the next couple of weeks."

The Act calls for:

• The development of procedures by which federal agencies will share information with state and local personnel (and vice versa) within six months;

• The use of existing technology (used in sharing information with NATO allies and INTERPOL) that converts classified intelligence into a format that can be easily shared through declassification or "stripping" of sources and methods in a timely manner; and

• An increase in the number of security clearance investigations at the state and local level in order to facilitate the sharing of classified information.

The Act has the strong support of California Governor Gray Davis, The International Union of Police Associations, the National League of Cities, and Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca, who stated, "Effective communications between agencies is one of the most important tools law enforcement can have."

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Related Link:

Homeland Security Information Sharing Act

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