Congresswoman’s bill would reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), which is run by the U.S. Secret Service and has trained hundreds of local and state law enforcement officers across Michigan
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (MI-08) today introduced a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI), which has trained over 16,000 law enforcement officers across the country in cyber investigations and cyber incident response, including hundreds of officers in Michigan.
The NCFI has trained law enforcement from all 50 states and was instrumental in the local law enforcement response in Oakland County after the tragic November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School. In Michigan, the program has delivered over $2.6 million in equipment to local law enforcement and provided training to more than 300 officers, judges and prosecutors. Local police departments as well as the Michigan State Police and Michigan National Guard have all been beneficiaries of NCFI.
“The NCFI has played a critical role in training and supporting local and state law enforcement officers across Michigan and around the country,” said Slotkin. “This is an invaluable, hands-on program that brings together officers at the local, state and federal level, and Michiganders saw the benefits firsthand in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Oxford High School last year. We need to give law enforcement the tools and resources they need to be successful, and ensuring NCFI can continue to serve its role through 2032 is an important part of that effort.”
“We appreciate the assistance and training provided by the National Computer Forensics Institute,” said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard. “More and more criminal cases, including the tragic Oxford High School shooting, turn on evidence related to computers and technology. Our Computer Crimes Unit relies on the training and partnership we have with the NCFI to obtain that proficiency. We are thankful for Congresswoman Slotkin’s work on this issue to ensure that this critical program is reauthorized in a timely manner.”
“As the global threat landscape continues to include sophisticated cyber-enabled crimes, and the risk of a debilitating cyberattack grows more likely, the advanced training offered by the United States SecretService’s National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabama, provides essential training and tools to our state, local, tribal and territorial (SLTT) partners to help identify an incursion, conduct lawful investigations, and ultimately strengthen their cyber response,” said David M. Smith, Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations at the U.S. SecretService. “The reauthorization of this important piece of legislation will allow the SecretService to continue training our SLTT partners, thus contributing to a whole of government approach to combating cyber-enabled crimes. The SecretService welcomes legislative endeavors like this from Congressional partners to reauthorize these efforts and is grateful for their support.”
“The National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) provides the most advanced training and instruction that is superior to that of the industry standard,” said Detective First Lt. James Ellis, commander of the Michigan State Police Cyber Section. “NCFI instructors are field experts that are knowledgeable and experienced in the latest cutting-edge digital technologies which are taught in a top-notch facility. My team returns with the knowledge, skills, and techniques necessary to provide the required digital investigative services to our partners and the public demand. The necessity to send my investigators and analysts to NCFI for training is paramount as it is becoming rare to investigate a crime that does not involve one or more devices that may contain the digital evidence required to prosecute or acquit.”
“Michigan National Guard members have utilized the excellent workshops offered through the National Computer Forensics Institute to develop skill sets vital to our security and defense,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul D. Rogers, Director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “Training and networking with other agencies’ cyber protection forces is critical to the training and future capabilities of our cyber warfare technicians.”
“I am very pleased that this legislation will reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) for ten years,” said Rep. Gary Palmer (AL-06). “NCFI, located in Hoover, AL, is a critical part of our local and national efforts to prosecute criminals whose crimes would be difficult, if not impossible, to prosecute without obtaining and preserving evidence found on cell phones, computers, and other electronic devices. I am proud to support NCFI’s mission to train and equip State and local law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and judges, to include domestic and vetted foreign task force officers. Through these partnerships fostered during training, the NCFI empowers the nation’s law enforcement community to hold accountable transnational criminal organizations that commit cyber intrusions, bank fraud, child exploitation, human trafficking and other computer-enabled crimes. NCFI, which is a collaborative effort between the United States SecretService, Homeland Security, and the state of Alabama, has trained more than 18,000 individuals from all 50 states and U.S. territories. I am very grateful for the efforts of Rep. Slotkin (D-MI) for her efforts in shepherding this through the reauthorization process. This is a bipartisan effort that benefits the whole nation.”
“Throughout its 15-year history, the National Computer Forensics Institute in Hoover, Alabama has trained thousands of law enforcement and judicial officials from all 50 states in cyber-security,” said Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07). “The NCFI has been a catalyst to the greater Birmingham region and an integral force in cracking down on the ever-evolving forms of cybercrime occurring in the United States and around the world. I’m proud to serve as an original cosponsor of HR 7174 knowing that reauthorization is a commitment to the men and women of the NCFI and the work they will continue to do for the next decade.”
“At this time of heightened threats, we need to ensure our cybercrime investigations and cyber incident response are as effective as possible,” said Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security. “The National Computer Forensics Institute within the SecretService provides critical hands-on cybersecurity training to thousands of law enforcement officers and officials from across the country and we need to make sure it continues operating. I am proud to support legislation reauthorizing the Institute and thank the bill’s sponsors for leading this effort.”
The bill authorizes the NCFI through 2032 and makes a number of targeted enhancements to position it for success well into the future. Specifically, it would strengthen NCFI’s operations by:
- Requiring that the training provided includes privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties protections;
- Authorizing the center to engage in research and development of innovative approaches to training for investigations involving ransomware and threats involving the use of digital assets;
- Requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress on NCFI’s activities, successes, and projected demands for training; and
- Requiring the center to consider current and projected training demands and the center’s need for expansion of facilities and training to meet projected training demands.
In 2017, Congress authorized the NCFI for five years. Unless Congress acts, authority to continue operations will expire in November 2022.
Co-sponsors for Slotkin’s bill include Chairman Bennie Thompson (MS-02) as well as Reps. Mike Rogers (AL-03), Jim Langevin (RI-02), Robert Aderholt (AL-04), Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Val Demings (FL-10), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), and Yvette Clarke (NY-09).
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