(PatriotWise.com)- Two weeks ago, House lawmakers introduced legislation to reauthorize the federally-funding training hub for digital evidence and cybercrime investigations that is operated by the US Secret Service.
Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Gary Palmer (R-AL), and Terri Sewell (D-AL) introduced a bill to renew the authorization of the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabama.
The National Computer Forensics Institute was a joint effort between the US Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security to train and equip state and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and judges in combatting digital fraud and cybercrimes. Since its inception, over 18,000 individuals from all 50 states and territories have participated in the training.
The training provides law enforcement with the tools needed to combat transnational criminal organizations that commit cyberattacks, bank fraud, child exploitation, human trafficking, and other computer-related crimes.
The National Computer Forensics Institute’s authorization is set to expire in November of this year. The House bill would amend Section 822 of the Homeland Security Act to reauthorize the institute for another ten years.
The legislation expands the scope of the National Computer Forensics Institute to include specific training in preventing “cybersecurity incidents” and related cybersecurity threats, as well as electronic crimes “in accordance with relevant department guidance regarding privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections.”
It also outlines a curriculum and a list of activities for those participating in the training. And, naturally, also requires that programs take “diversity” into account when providing training by prioritizing individuals from “geographically-diverse jurisdictions.”
The legislation would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide Congress with an analysis of the National Computer Forensics Institute’s resources and a plan to expand the physical operations and virtual resources.
