Bipartisan members of the House of Representatives have introduced legislation that would reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), which is the U.S. Secret Service’s Federally-funded training hub for digital evidence and cybercrime investigations.
According to the text of the legislation for the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022, the institute’s mission will be geared toward educating, training and equipping “state, local, territorial, and tribal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, judges, participants in the U.S. Secret Service’s network of cyber fraud task forces, and other appropriate individuals regarding investigating and presenting cybersecurity incidents, electronic crimes, and related cybersecurity threats.”
More specifically, the bill would amend Section 822 of the Homeland Security Act of 2022 to authorize the NCFI through 2032.
“The Director of the U.S. Secret Service, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology of the Department of Homeland Security, shall carry out research and development of systems and procedures to enhance the National Computer Forensics Institute’s capabilities and capacity to educate, train, equip, and disseminate information consistent with the Institute’s mission as set forth in subsection (a) of section 822 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 383), as amended by subsection (a),” the bill states.
The legislation was introduced by Reps. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., Gary Palmer, R-Ala., and Terri Sewell, D-Ala., to renew the authority of the Hoover, Ala.-based National Computer Forensics Institute. The bill has been to referred to the House Homeland Security and Judiciary committees.
