FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Hearing: Improving Homeland Security Information Sharing

Original title: FROM BOSTON TO AUSTIN: LESSONS LEARNED ON HOMELAND THREAT INFORMATION SHARING

January 1, 2018

homeland security law enforcement information sharing public safety terrorism prevention

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing evaluates the effectiveness of communication channels between local police and federal intelligence agencies, which directly impacts the speed and coordination of responses to public safety threats.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Local Law Enforcement Agencies

These agencies are the primary partners in the information-sharing networks discussed and are subject to the protocols reviewed by the committee.

Federal Intelligence and Law Enforcement Agencies

These agencies are responsible for managing the intelligence databases and communication channels used to coordinate with local police.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2018.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing on April 18, 2018, to examine how local and federal law enforcement agencies share threat information. The discussion focused on lessons learned from recent security incidents in Boston and Austin to improve coordination and communication between police departments and federal agencies.

Key Facts

The hearing took place on April 18, 2018, in the Capitol Visitor Center.
The session focused on 'lessons learned' regarding threat information sharing between local and federal authorities.
Witnesses included leadership from the Austin Police Department, Boston Police Department, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.
Federal witnesses included representatives from the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
The committee received written testimony and oral statements from two panels of experts.
The hearing record includes follow-up questions submitted by Representatives Lou Barletta and Daniel M. Donovan to the police chiefs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?

To review how local police departments and federal agencies share information about security threats and to identify ways to improve that process.

Who testified at the hearing?

The hearing featured two panels: one with local police chiefs from Austin, Boston, and Washington D.C., and another with officials from the FBI and the ATF.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift80% confidence

Focus on Local-Federal Integration

The hearing highlights a strategic shift toward integrating local police intelligence into federal homeland security frameworks.

Austin Police Department Boston Police Department FBI

Connected Entities

personJames E. McDermond“Assistant Director at the ATF”Map →

personWilliam B. Evans“Commissioner of the Boston Police Department”Map →

personPeter Newsham“Chief of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department”Map →

personKerry L. Sleeper“Assistant Director at the FBI”Map →

personBrian Manley“Chief of the Austin Police Department”Map →

organizationCommittee on Homeland Security“House of Representatives committee conducting the hearing”Map →

personMichael T. McCaul“Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy20
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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