Speech #1140059834

Homeland Security advisors must conduct a needs assessment of Department personnel assigned to fusion centers pursuant to subsection (c) of section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002. The assessment must include information on: the current deployment of DHS personnel to each fusion center. the roles and responsibilities of Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence officers. intelligence analysts. senior reports officers. reports officers. and regional directors deployed to fusion centers. federal resources. in addition to personnel. provided to each fusion center. whether deploying additional personnel would enhance intelligence and information sharing between DHS and federal. state. local. tribal. and territorial partners. 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 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. The Under Secretary must submit such assessment to specified congressional committees. together with a report on: the number of personnel assigned to fusion centers from the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. the number of personnel assigned to the National Network of Fusion Centers from components and offices of DHS and the methodology for determining the fusion centers to which such personnel are assigned. and an implementation plan for determining how DHSs personnel resources will be allocated to fusion centers in the future. H.R. 3503 will help to ensure the safety of our fusion centers and the personnel that work within these centers.