Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies will be required to streamline their ability to share information if a new provision by Congressman William Keating becomes law.
The provision to strengthen intelligence-sharing gained bipartisan support in the House of Representatives Friday.
It compels the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to conduct a thorough assessment of the Memoranda of Understanding signed between federal, state and local law enforcement entities. MOUs serve as the foundation for Joint Terrorism Task Forces and other cooperative information sharing structures associated with law enforcement.
Keating, who serves on the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees, said he feels the change is important for future investigations involving multiple jurisdictions.
The provision stems from problems during the investigation of the marathon bombings.
KEATING MARATHON-02
5/30/14 LMR
CONGRESSMAN BILL KEATING’S PROVISION TO STRENGTHEN INTELLIGENCE-SHARING IN THE WAKE OF THE BOSTON MARATHON BOMBINGS PASSED IN THE US HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FRIDAY. KEATING IS ON BOTH THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES. HE TRAVELED TO RUSSIA TO LOOK INTO ISSUES ABOUT THE MARATHON BOMBING INVESTIGATION.
KEATING03 “. . . SHARING INFORMATION.” :15
IF PASSED, THE PROVISION WOULD APPLY NOT JUST TO THE MARATHON INVESTIGATION, BUT TO INVESTIGATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
KEATING MARATHON-03
5/30/14 LMR
DURING THE INVESTIGATION INTO THE MARATHON BOMBING, AGREEMENTS BETWEEN FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES DID NOT ALLOW FOR THE FULL SHARING OF INFORMATION. THAT LED CONGRESSMAN BILL KEATING TO CREATE A PROVISION THAT REQUIRES AGENCIES TO STRENGTHEN THEIR ABILITY TO SHARE INFORMATION DURING INVESTIGATIONS.
KEATING04 “. . . FROM HAPPENING.” :17
KEATING SERVES ON BOTH THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEES.
