Stimulus bill has $250m for fusion centers
An economic stimulus package that the Senate is set to
consider would provide $250 million for state and
locally-run information sharing and coordination centers that are part of anti-terrorism efforts.
The Senate's $888 billion measure would include $250
million to modify existing state and local emergency operations
centers and intelligence fusion centers or to build new ones. The $819 billion
economic stimulus bill The House passed Jan. 28 did not authorize the same
funding.
The fusion centers and emergency
operations centers use technology and information technology to improve
information sharing, situational awareness and coordination, and the Bush administration made fusion centers central to
efforts to share terrorism-related information between federal and non-federal
authorities.
The centers are owned and operated by states and local
governments, and many of the more than 50 centers rely heavily on Homeland Security Department grants administered by
DHS’ Federal Emergency Management Agency.
About the Author
Ben Bain is a reporter for Federal Computer Week.