[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 27847-27849]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEARCH

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 851) recognizing and honoring the 40th anniversary 
of SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice Information and 
Statistics, headquartered in Sacramento, California.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 851

       Whereas the Department of Justice's Law Enforcement 
     Assistance Administration created SEARCH in 1969 as a 10-
     State project to demonstrate whether it was feasible to 
     exchange criminal history records on an automated and 
     nationwide basis;
       Whereas SEARCH not only demonstrated the feasibility of an 
     automated nationwide system of sharing criminal records, but 
     also, through partnership with the Department of Justice, the 
     Federal Bureau of Investigation, State agencies and other 
     organizations, helped to establish the national criminal 
     history record information system;
       Whereas SEARCH is a nonprofit organization created by and 
     for the States, governed by a Membership Group comprised of 
     one gubernatorial appointee from each of the States and 
     territories;
       Whereas SEARCH's guiding vision is to ensure ``Accurate and 
     timely information, supported by well-deployed information 
     and identification technology, enables the justice and public 
     safety decision-maker to administer justice in a manner that 
     promotes individual rights and public safety'';
       Whereas SEARCH provides training and technical assistance 
     to help the criminal justice community combat high-technology 
     crimes, gather valuable information in investigations, and 
     link the Nation's law enforcement agencies through policy and 
     technical solutions;
       Whereas SEARCH helps agencies effectively implement 
     information sharing technology to make accurate, more 
     informed, immediate, and appropriately secured decisions 
     about criminal justice and security issues, and to administer 
     justice in an efficient and effective manner;
       Whereas SEARCH has pioneered the development of both 
     technology and policy solutions for justice implementation of 
     biometric technologies, thereby enabling electronic 
     fingerprints to become a rapid, reliable, and cost-effective 
     identification authentication process and further supporting 
     information sharing and collaboration among and between 
     agencies;
       Whereas SEARCH has made a profound contribution, working 
     with the Department of Justice, to develop successive 
     generations of privacy and security policies that are now 
     reflected in both Department of Justice regulations and 
     Federal legislation;
       Whereas SEARCH has played a critical role in the 
     development of systems such as the Interstate Identification 
     Index (III), the National Instant Criminal Background Check 
     System (NICS), commonly called the Brady check system, the 
     National Fingerprint File (NFF), the Integrated Automated 
     Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS), and key standards 
     for information sharing and interoperability, such as the 
     National Information Exchange Model (NIEM);
       Whereas SEARCH's work with the Departments of Justice and 
     Homeland Security helps the Nation's justice and public 
     safety communities plan, develop, implement, test, and manage 
     interoperable communications solutions; and
       Whereas SEARCH has had many accomplishments over its 40-
     year history to help practitioners in criminal justice, 
     public safety, and first response use information to plan 
     for, predict, prevent, and interdict criminal events, 
     terrorism, and disasters: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes and 
     honors SEARCH, The National Consortium for Justice 
     Information and Statistics, on the occasion of its 40th 
     anniversary for accomplishments to promote information 
     sharing and identification solutions for first responders and 
     law enforcement officers, and for the protection of privacy 
     and citizens' rights.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Chu) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from California.


                             General Leave

  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. CHU. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 851 recognizes SEARCH, the National 
Consortium For Justice Information and Statistics' 40th anniversary. 
SEARCH is a nonprofit membership organization dedicated to improving 
the criminal justice system through better information management and 
effective application of information and identification technology. 
SEARCH members are primarily State criminal justice officials 
responsible for the management of

[[Page 27848]]

criminal justice information, particularly criminal history 
information.
  SEARCH was founded in 1969 when the Federal Law Enforcement 
Assistance Administration created Project SEARCH to explore the 
feasibility, practicality, and cost effectiveness of developing a 
computerized criminal history record system. Since its founding, SEARCH 
has sought to balance the individual's right to privacy with society's 
need for criminal history information. In 1970, for example, SEARCH 
first published findings and recommendations regarding the security, 
privacy and confidentiality of information contained in computerized 
criminal history files. SEARCH has a long history of involvement with 
criminal background checks, and has been invaluable to the formulation 
of national and State policies that guide the scope and use of criminal 
records.
  In 2005, SEARCH published the report of the National Task Force on 
the Commercial Sale of Criminal Justice Record Information. This report 
was a comprehensive look at the role that commercial background 
screening companies play in the collection, maintenance, sale, and 
dissemination of criminal history record information for employment 
screening and other purposes. SEARCH concluded the work of the National 
Task Force on the Criminal Backgrounding of America in 2006. This task 
force report was relied upon by the Department of Justice for its own 
report on criminal history background checks.
  SEARCH has played a critical role in the development of systems such 
as the Interstate Identification Index, the National Instant Criminal 
Background Check System, also known as the Brady check system, the 
National Fingerprint File and the Integrated Automated Fingerprint 
Identification System. Over its 40-year history, SEARCH's work has 
helped criminal justice, public safety and first-response professionals 
use information to combat crimes, acts of terrorism and disasters.
  For all these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this important 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in a post-9/11 world, we understand the importance of 
technology- and information-sharing between law enforcement agencies in 
keeping this country safe. That is why I support H. Res. 851, which 
recognizes and honors the 40th anniversary of SEARCH, the National 
Consortium for Justice Information and Statistics.
  SEARCH was created by the Department of Justice's Law Enforcement 
Assistance Administration in 1969 as a 10-State project. Members of the 
nonprofit organization are primarily state-level justice officials 
appointed by the respective State governors. The group's original goal 
was to see whether it was possible to exchange and share criminal 
history records on an automated and nationwide basis. SEARCH not only 
succeeded in demonstrating the possibility of such an information-
sharing program, but also, through partnership with the Department of 
Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, State agencies and other 
organizations helped to establish the national criminal history record 
information system.
  Specifically, SEARCH has played a major part in developing programs 
such as biometric technologies like electronic fingerprinting, the 
Interstate Identification Index, National Instant Criminal Background 
Check System, National Fingerprint File, the Integrated Automated 
Fingerprint Identification System, and the National Information 
Exchange Model. SEARCH also provides training and technical assistance 
to law enforcement agencies when dealing with high-technology crimes 
and information gathering.
  Through these various technologies, SEARCH has helped agencies do 
their jobs in a more thorough manner. Offenders often have criminal 
histories that cross state jurisdictional lines. Law enforcement 
officials having quick access to a suspect's complete history means 
less missing pieces of the puzzle. And through these technologies, 
SEARCH has also helped agencies to do their jobs in a more time- and 
resource-efficient manner. This increase in efficiency and decrease in 
time wasted has proved critical in helping our law enforcement agencies 
keep America safe.
  I support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the sponsor of this 
resolution, the gentlelady from California (Ms. Matsui).
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of House Resolution 851, 
which would recognize and honor the 40th anniversary of SEARCH, the 
National Consortium For Justice Information and Statistics, an 
organization that's headquartered in my hometown of Sacramento. For the 
last 40 years, SEARCH has been dedicated to administering justice and 
enhancing public safety, and has been involved in numerous facets of 
our criminal justice system.
  In 1969, SEARCH was established as a 10-state pilot project by the 
United States Department of Justice to investigate the feasibility of 
exchanging criminal history records on an automated and nationwide 
basis. Using the information gathered from this demonstration project 
and utilizing its partnership with the department, the FBI, and various 
state agencies and organizations, SEARCH helped create the national 
criminal history record information system. This framework has enabled 
State and local governments to collect, maintain and disseminate 
valuable criminal justice information.
  Today, SEARCH continues to provide law enforcement with the necessary 
tools to combat high-technology crimes. Specifically, the organization 
partners with the justice and public safety communities to provide 
quality training programs and hands-on assistance, and ensure that law 
enforcement agencies are well equipped to gather key intelligence to 
effectively protect, investigate and respond to such criminal actions.
  For example, SEARCH recently assisted local authorities in northern 
California to apprehend a band of criminals after a reported crime. By 
employing cyber technology to track cell phone usage and location 
faster than ever before, these innovative tools help prevent further 
crimes from occurring.
  Time and time again, Mr. Speaker, SEARCH has not only demonstrated 
its effectiveness in helping solve crimes that have already been 
committed but has also helped reduce the number of crimes being 
perpetrated in our neighborhoods. Its unwavering commitment to ensuring 
our safety and the safety of our children is truly impressive, and I 
commend the organization's tireless efforts toward this goal.

                              {time}  1430

  SEARCH employs 29 professional staff in my district and has 
representatives in every State across this country.
  I ask that my colleagues join me today in celebrating the 40th 
anniversary of the National Consortium for Justice Information and 
Statistics and in honoring its incredible contributions to our criminal 
justice system.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to offer my 
support of House Resolution 851 recognizing and honoring the 40th 
Anniversary of SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice Information 
and Statistics. For the past 40 years, SEARCH has worked to identify 
and solve information management problems of law enforcement agencies 
across the United States.
  Accurate, efficient and effective communications between and among 
Federal, State and local agencies have posed challenges to effective 
public service since the beginning of organized governments in America. 
Thus, in 1969, the Department of Justice's Law Enforcement Assistance 
Administration developed SEARCH, a 10-State project designed to test 
the feasibility of an interstate automated exchange of criminal history 
records. The program was a success, and over the past 40 years, SEARCH 
has maintained a leading role in providing solutions to information 
management challenges nationwide.
  SEARCH is a nonprofit organization created by and for the States and 
governed by a

[[Page 27849]]

membership group that includes one appointee from each of the 50 
States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its mission is ``to 
improve the quality of justice and public safety through the use, 
management and exchange of information; application of new 
technologies; and responsible law and policy; while safeguarding 
security and privacy.'' SEARCH has succeeded in using information 
sharing technology to help agencies to make accurate, informed, 
immediate and well-secured decisions about criminal justice and 
security issues.
  SEARCH has played a crucial role in developing systems of 
collaboration for law enforcement agencies across the Nation. A few 
examples include: the Interstate Identification, a national index of 
criminal histories maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation; 
the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, a mechanism for 
determining eligibility to buy a firearm; the National Fingerprint 
File, a tool that allows States to maintain their own fingerprint 
records while still sharing information with Federal and State law 
enforcement agencies around the country; and the Integrated Automated 
Fingerprint Identification System, a national fingerprint 
identification and criminal history system maintained by the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation. Such systems have been critical in sharing 
data to enhance law enforcement capabilities nationwide.
  It is important to recognize, however, that accuracy in law 
enforcement is as important as vigilance. Accurate law enforcement 
requires strict focus on privacy rights especially when sharing 
information. SEARCH has been instrumental in championing privacy and 
civil rights in law enforcement. SEARCH has addressed the need to 
protect privacy, civil rights and civil liberties while promoting 
public and individual safety.
  For example, in its ``Guide to Conducting Privacy Impact Assessments 
for State, Local, and Tribal Information Sharing Initiatives,'' SEARCH 
identifies the potential risks of law-enforcement agency information-
sharing. It writes: ``[Data Sharing's] inappropriate or reckless use 
may irreparably damage reputations, threaten individual liberty, place 
personal safety at risk, or deny individuals access to some of life's 
most basic necessities such as employment, housing, and education. 
Greater information-sharing capabilities and opportunities are 
accompanied by equally greater responsibilities for protecting the 
privacy of the information being used and exchanged.'' In that 
document, SEARCH goes on to instruct agencies on how to assess the 
potential privacy risks of their information-sharing programs, and how 
to develop policies to help mitigate some of those risks.
  I further congratulate SEARCH on its cutting edge technological 
advancements. Who could have guessed at the inception of SEARCH in 1969 
that communications systems would evolve as far as they have? Over the 
years, SEARCH has managed not only to keep up with the remarkable 
technological advances of the past 40 years, but to be at the cutting 
edge. The original purpose of the SEARCH project was to examine the 
possibility of an automated system for exchanging information about 
criminals.
  Today, it uses a variety of technological tools ranging from 
biometric technologies to cellular device data recovery tools to aid in 
crime prevention. SEARCH also trains and equips law enforcement 
agencies nationwide on issues of high-tech crime. It provides courses 
through its outreach training program on topics including: systems 
security, digital data recovery, and computer forensics. Further, 
SEARCH provides resources for investigators investigating crimes 
involving the internet such as online child exploitation. Such focus on 
technological advances is part of the reason for the success of SEARCH 
over the past 40 years and will certainly be an important component of 
its continued success over the next 40.
  In addition to those SEARCH activities designed to aid law 
enforcement, I think it is important to recognize and applaud SEARCH's 
impact on public safety through its communications interoperability 
training programs. Information sharing and agency collaboration plays 
an important role, not just in crime prevention, but also in disaster 
relief. In August 2008, SEARCH was instrumental in enhancing Texas' 
communications response to Hurricane Gustav.
  Gustav approached the State of Texas as a SEARCH All-Hazards Type III 
Communications Unit Leader, COML, training course was being conducted 
in my home town of Houston. As the hurricane bore down, the SEARCH 
instructors immediately mobilized the State emergency managers along 
with their students to construct the State's emergency communications 
response to Gustav. The instructors then deployed some students from 
the course to use the course's teachings to coordinate interoperable 
communications for emergency first responders. This is just one example 
of how SEARCH's programs have benefited, not only the people of my home 
State of Texas, but people all across the country. Efficient emergency 
response communications are an important part of keeping Americans 
safe.
  Providing 40 years of effective information management tools to 
Federal, State and local agencies across the Nation is a wonderful 
accomplishment. Indeed, SEARCH has managed to stay at the forefront of 
communications technology as it pertains to law enforcement and public 
safety. It has effectively navigated America's transition to the 
information age of the 21st century and provided services to aid 
governments in saving lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage all my colleagues to vote in favor of this 
resolution to salute SEARCH, the National Consortium for Justice 
Information and Statistics, for its success in providing quality tools 
for law enforcement and public safety across the United States of 
America.
  Ms. CHU. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House 
Resolution 851, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from California (Ms. Chu) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 851.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________