Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) has introduced legislation to bolster local law enforcement’s involvement in fighting the war on terrorism, and strengthen community awareness of the threat.
H.R. 4401, the “Amplifying Local Efforts to Root out Terrorism (ALERT) Act of 2016," will allow federal law enforcement to train and work closely with state and local law enforcement in using the most effective tactics and methods to counter terrorism.
"Our local law enforcement is crucial to our national security, and they are too often overlooked as a valuable asset in fighting against acts of terrorism,” said Rep. Loudermilk. “That’s why I introduced the ALERT Act, to provide training, improve coordination, and increase community awareness of the foreign fighter threat. This bill evolved from months of research and investigation, as a member of the Committee on Homeland Security’s Foreign Fighter Task Force. As the threats against America by radical Islamists increases, fighting terrorism cannot be a singular effort, conducted by one element of our federal government; it requires the cooperation and coordination of multiple levels of all governments, and local community participation. My legislation will not, in itself, end the threat of terrorism against our nation, but it will add to the critical resources already in our communities.”
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman, Michael McCaul, co-sponsored the ALERT Act, and is a strong supporter of the measure.
Representative Loudermilk’s bill fills dangerous security gaps and will better protect the homeland. I applaud Rep. Loudermilk’s leadership on the Foreign Fighter Task Force, and his forward leaning approach in keeping America safe.”
Local law enforcement plays a key role in tackling terror threats, and this legislation will:
Authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to train state and major urban area fusion centers (local and state law enforcement personnel) in the most effective tactics and methods used to counter terrorism
Provide increased community awareness of ongoing terror threats
Direct the DHS Secretary to coordinate with heads of government agencies, to engage in community outreach related to countering violent extremism
Require the Department to report the findings of their counter-terrorism efforts, and ensure DHS assesses the number of clearances they sponsor for state and local law enforcement
The ALERT Act was marked up and passed out of the Committee on Homeland Security on Tuesday, February 2, 2016.
