H.R. 642House115th Congress (2017-2019)Passed House

Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017

AI-Generated Summary

Updated April 15, 2026 at 11:54 AM UTC

The Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017 amends the Homeland Security Act to strengthen the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the nationwide network of fusion centers. It creates a formal "DHS Fusion Center Partnership Initiative" that expands DHS coordination, resource sharing, and oversight of fusion centers, including privacy and civil‑rights safeguards. The changes affect all federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies that work with fusion centers.

Key Provisions

Renames and formally establishes the "DHS Fusion Center Partnership Initiative" within the Homeland Security Act.
Requires the DHS Secretary to coordinate with fusion‑center heads and state homeland‑security advisors to provide operational advice, integrate centers into information‑sharing systems, and improve efficiency of federal support.
Mandates that each fusion center have a privacy policy approved by the DHS Chief Privacy Officer and a civil‑rights policy approved by the DHS Civil Rights Officer.
Directs the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to ensure fusion centers have access to DHS information‑sharing systems and to assign intelligence personnel to support them.
Requires DHS to negotiate memoranda of understanding with state or local governments outlining what information will be shared, how it will be used, and dispute‑resolution procedures.
Prioritizes deployment of Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Coast Guard resources to fusion centers located near U.S. land or maritime borders.
Adds an annual accountability report, due one year after enactment and each year through 2024, from the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis to relevant congressional committees.
Defines the "National Network of Fusion Centers" as a decentralized arrangement that enhances state and urban‑area fusion centers’ ability to share analysis and homeland‑security information nationally.

Legislative Activity

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8 earlier actions

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 1, 2017

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

January 24, 2017

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.

Homeland Security Committee

January 24, 2017

HouseFloor

Mr. King (NY) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

January 31, 2017 • 2:43 PM

HouseFloor

Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H778-781)

January 31, 2017 • 2:43 PM

HouseFloor

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 642.

January 31, 2017 • 2:43 PM

HouseFloor

Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H778-779)

January 31, 2017 • 2:55 PM

HouseFloor

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H778-779)

January 31, 2017 • 2:55 PM

HouseFloor

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

January 31, 2017 • 2:55 PM

SenateIntro Referral

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

February 1, 2017

Floor Debate

4 members

What members said about H.R. 642 on the floor

3 Republicans1 Democrat

Rep. Peter T. KingR-NY-2 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 642) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the…

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 642) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Network of Fusion Centers, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 642, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017, introduced by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, my good friend, Congressman Lou Barletta.

The bill before us today, Mr. Speaker, is focused on improving the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The bill amends section 210A of the Homeland Security Act to clarify and enhance partnership between DHS and fusion centers.

As the United States is facing the highest threat environment since 9/11, it is vital that State and local agencies are receiving realtime threat information and have access to Federal intelligence and support. This was a key lesson learned from the 9/11 terror attacks, and, unfortunately, reinforced after the 2012 Boston Marathon bombing. DHS has a legal mandate to assist fusion centers in this effort, and H.R. 642 helps move the ball forward.

The threat of lone wolves inspired by ISIS and other radical Islamist terrorist groups are not deteriorating, and it is critical that there are strong partnerships between the Federal Government and State and local law enforcement agencies. This bill will help the Department and the national network maintain and improve their current partnership.

This bill passed the House last Congress by voice vote, and I am pleased the House is willing to move it again this year.

I want to thank Congressman Barletta for leading the committee's efforts in developing this responsible and commonsense legislation. Congressman Barletta's background as a businessman, city councilman, mayor, and Congressman has left him with a strong commitment to public safety and security.

It has been a pleasure to work with Lou on the Homeland Security Committee, where he was a vocal advocate for information sharing. I urge my colleagues to support this bill to ensure that the partnership between DHS and the national network is strong and agile to protect the United States against the ever-changing terrorism threat.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and

Infrastructure,

Washington, DC, January 31, 2017.

Hon. Michael T. McCaul,

Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security,

Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman McCaul: I write concerning H.R. 642, the

Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017. This legislation

includes

matters that I believe fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

In order to expedite floor consideration of H.R. 642, the

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure agrees to

forgo action on this bill. However, this is conditional on

our mutual understanding that forgoing consideration of the

bill would not prejudice the Committee with respect to the

appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional

claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or

similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X

jurisdiction. I request you urge the Speaker to name members

of the Committee to any conference committee named to

consider such provisions.

Please place a copy of this letter and your response

acknowledging our jurisdictional interest into the

Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on

the House floor.

Sincerely,

Bill Shuster,

Chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Barletta), the sponsor of the legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Marshall).

Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge support of the gentleman's bill. I urge my colleagues to vote for H.R. 642 in order to bolster the information sharing environment within the Department of Homeland Security and between the Department and State and local stakeholders.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Rep. Lou BarlettaR-PA-11 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. King of New York for yielding. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017. I thank Mr. King of New York and Chairman McCaul…

Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. King of New York for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of my legislation, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017. I thank Mr. King of New York and Chairman McCaul for working with me to introduce this legislation.

The purpose of my bill is to clarify and enhance the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Network of Fusion Centers. The bill amends the existing statute to update the Department's responsibilities for sharing information with State and local law enforcement and other emergency personnel within the National Network of Fusion Centers.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, State and local governments created fusion centers as a way to communicate Federal homeland security information to State and local law enforcement officials, as well as fuse State and locally collected information with Federal intelligence.

Congress supported this partnership by mandating that the Office of Intelligence and Analysis within the Department of Homeland Security coordinate and share information with fusion centers. There are now 78 State and locally owned fusion centers across the country.

I would especially like to recognize the work of the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center, PaCIC, which is run by the Pennsylvania State Police. In 2015, our fusion center received the Fusion Center of the Year Award from the National Fusion Center Association.

I want to congratulate the men and women working at PaCIC for their commitment to security and public safety. They share vital information with police departments that keep officers and our citizens safe.

PaCIC provides intelligence and information products to over 1,200 local, State, and Federal criminal justice agencies, while also working with over 6,000 private and public center partners to also share information to help protect critical infrastructure and key resources.

Our center has been nationally recognized for their training and compliance with issues of privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. They produce documents that highlight threats and scams that target Pennsylvanians, and help make sure that local police departments have information on public events, ranging from the Little League World Series to the visit of Pope Francis.

A significant amount of progress has been made by States and fusion centers within the national network to improve information sharing and analytic support. Many centers, including PaCIC, provide all crime, all hazard support. They also maintain a focus on our homeland security missions, including protecting critical information and sharing suspicious activity reporting.

H.R. 642 recognizes the progress and focuses on enhancing the Department of Homeland Security's responsibility to support, share information, and coordinate with fusion centers. This includes improving coordination with other Federal departments that provide better operational intelligence, reduce inefficiencies, and coordinate nationwide suspicious activity reporting.

As a member of the Homeland Security Committee and a former mayor, I have heard concerns raised by law enforcement in my district and elsewhere about the lack of information and coordination from several DHS component agencies, including ICE and CBP. To address this issue, I included language in this bill to direct the Department to ensure that each component is providing information and personnel to work with fusion centers.

To address the need for better accountability, language is included throughout the bill requiring DHS to coordinate with fusion centers and State Homeland Security Advisers in carrying out the assigned responsibilities.

Additionally, there is a requirement for the Department to submit a report to Congress on their efforts, including the components to support fusion centers, and specifically report on how they are meeting the requirements that are set forth in this bill.

I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill so that we can add important requirements and accountability in how the Department of Homeland Security interacts and shares information with key State and local stakeholders.

Rep. Bennie G. ThompsonD-MS-2 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 642, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017. Mr. Speaker, last Congress, the House approved this…

Rep. Roger MarshallR-KS-1 · Jan 31, 2017

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 642, the Fusion Center Enhancement Act. I spent the last 2 years traveling across the State of Kansas, and was reminded time and time again that national…

Bill Text

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Referred in SenateIssued February 1, 2017

IIB

115th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 642

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 amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance the partnership between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Network of Fusion Centers, and for other purposes.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017.

Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Partnership Initiative

(a)

In general

Section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h) is amended—

(1)

by amending the section heading to read as follows:

210A.

Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Partnership Initiative

;

(2)

in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new sentence: Beginning on the date of the enactment of the Fusion Center Enhancement Act of 2017, such Initiative shall be known as the Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Partnership Initiative.;

(3)

by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

(b)

Interagency support and coordination

Through the Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Partnership Initiative, in coordination with principal officials of fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers and the officers designated as the Homeland Security Advisors of the States, the Secretary shall—

(1)

coordinate with the heads of other Federal departments and agencies to provide operational and intelligence advice and assistance to the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(2)

support the integration of fusion centers into the information sharing environment;

(3)

support the maturation and sustainment of the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(4)

reduce inefficiencies and maximize the effectiveness of Federal resource support to the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(5)

provide analytic and reporting advice and assistance to the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(6)

review information within the scope of the information sharing environment, including homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information, that is gathered by the National Network of Fusion Centers and incorporate such information, as appropriate, into the Department’s own such information;

(7)

provide for the effective dissemination of information within the scope of the information sharing environment to the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(8)

facilitate close communication and coordination between the National Network of Fusion Centers and the Department and other Federal departments and agencies;

(9)

provide the National Network of Fusion Centers with expertise on Department resources and operations;

(10)

coordinate the provision of training and technical assistance to the National Network of Fusion Centers and encourage participating fusion centers to take part in terrorism threat-related exercises conducted by the Department;

(11)

ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that support for the National Network of Fusion Centers is included as a national priority in applicable homeland security grant guidance;

(12)

ensure that each fusion center in the National Network of Fusion Centers has a privacy policy approved by the Chief Privacy Officer of the Department and a civil rights and civil liberties policy approved by the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department;

(13)

coordinate the nationwide suspicious activity report initiative to ensure information gathered by the National Network of Fusion Centers is incorporated as appropriate;

(14)

lead Department efforts to ensure fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers are the primary focal points for the sharing of homeland security information, terrorism information, and weapons of mass destruction information with State, local, tribal, and territorial entities to the greatest extent practicable;

(15)

develop and disseminate best practices on the appropriate levels for staffing at fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers of qualified representatives from State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, and emergency management services, and public health disciplines, as well as the private sector; and

(16)

carry out such other duties as the Secretary determines appropriate.

;

(4)

in subsection (c)—

(A)

by striking so much as precedes paragraph (3)(B) and inserting the following:

(c)

Resource allocation

(1)

Information sharing and personnel assignment

(A)

Information sharing

The Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall ensure that, as appropriate—

(i)

fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers have access to homeland security information sharing systems; and

(ii)

Department personnel are deployed to support fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers in a manner consistent with the Department’s mission and existing statutory limits.

(B)

Personnel assignment

Department personnel referred to in subparagraph (A)(ii) may include the following:

(i)

Intelligence officers.

(ii)

Intelligence analysts.

(iii)

Other liaisons from components and offices of the Department, as appropriate.

(C)

Memoranda of understanding

The Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall negotiate memoranda of understanding between the Department and a State or local government, in coordination with the appropriate representatives from fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers, regarding the exchange of information between the Department and such fusion centers. Such memoranda shall include the following:

(i)

The categories of information to be provided by each entity to the other entity that are parties to any such memoranda.

(ii)

The contemplated uses of the exchanged information that is the subject of any such memoranda.

(iii)

The procedures for developing joint products.

(iv)

The information sharing dispute resolution processes.

(v)

Any protections necessary to ensure the exchange of information accords with applicable law and policies.

(2)

Sources of support

(A)

In general

Information shared and personnel assigned pursuant to paragraph (1) may be shared or provided, as the case may be, by the following Department components and offices, in coordination with the respective component or office head and in consultation with the principal officials of fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers:

(i)

The Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

(ii)

The Office of Infrastructure Protection.

(iii)

The Transportation Security Administration.

(iv)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

(v)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(vi)

The Coast Guard.

(vii)

Other components or offices of the Department, as determined by the Secretary.

(B)

Coordination with other Federal agencies

The Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis shall coordinate with appropriate officials throughout the Federal Government to ensure the deployment to fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers of representatives with relevant expertise of other Federal departments and agencies.

(3)

Resource allocation criteria

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall make available criteria for sharing information and deploying personnel to support a fusion center in the National Network of Fusion Centers in a manner consistent with the Department’s mission and existing statutory limits.

; and

(B)

in paragraph (4)(B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting in which such fusion center is located after region;

(5)

in subsection (d)—

(A)

in paragraph (3), by striking and at the end;

(B)

in paragraph (4)—

(i)

by striking government and inserting governments; and

(ii)

by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(C)

by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

(5)

utilize Department information, including information held by components and offices, to develop analysis focused on the mission of the Department under section 101(b).

;

(6)

in subsection (e)—

(A)

by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

(1)

In general

To the greatest extent practicable, the Secretary shall make it a priority to allocate resources, including deployed personnel, under this section from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Coast Guard to support fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers located in jurisdictions along land or maritime borders of the United States in order to enhance the integrity of and security at such borders by helping Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement authorities to identify, investigate, and otherwise interdict persons, weapons, and related contraband that pose a threat to homeland security.

; and

(B)

in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking participating State, local, and regional fusion centers and inserting fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers;

(7)

in subsection (j)—

(A)

in paragraph (4), by striking and at the end;

(B)

by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and

(C)

by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new paragraph:

(5)

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 fusion centers for the purpose of enhancing analysis and homeland security information sharing nationally; and

; and

(8)

by striking subsection (k).

(b)

Accountability report

Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter through 2024, the Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security shall report 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 on the efforts of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department and other relevant components and offices of the Department to enhance support provided to fusion centers in the National Network of Fusion Centers, including meeting the requirements specified in section 210A of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 124h), as amended by subsection (a) of this section.

(c)

Clerical amendment

The table of contents in section 1(b) of such Act is amended by striking the item relating to section 210A and inserting the following new item:

Sec. 210A. Department of Homeland Security Fusion Centers Initiative.

(d)

Reference

Any reference in any law, rule, or regulation to the Department of Homeland Security State, Local, and Regional Fusion Center Initiative shall be deemed to be a reference to the Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center Initiative.

Passed the House of Representatives January 31, 2017.

Karen L. Haas,

Clerk