Today, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) and Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) led their colleagues in a bipartisan call for the Department of Homeland Security to adopt a common operating platform for maritime domain awareness.
The lawmakers wrote, "Recently, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have been piloting a common operating platform (COP) with great success...through the use of this technology, HSI's investigative and enforcement operations have led to the collection of approximately $450 million in forfeitures related to sanctions violations as well as seizures of precursor chemicals associated with fentanyl production, illegal drugs, and more. Given the significant return on investment that has resulted from the use of this technology, it should be utilized for an enterprise-wide solution for maritime domain awareness across DHS."
The adoption of a common operating platform will allow DHS to build on the success of its existing pilot program, keeping precursor chemicals associated with the production of fentanyl and other illegal drugs off our streets and out of communities across the United States.
The full text of the letter can be found here and below:
Chairwoman Royball-Allard and Ranking Member Fleischmann:
We are writing to support a programmatic request of $7 million to establish a common operating platform (COP) for maritime domain awareness within the Department of Homeland Security.
Recently, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in coordination with the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection have been piloting a common operating platform (COP) with great success. For example, enforcing the Jones Act has been difficult for Customs and Border
Protection due to limited personnel and resources. International companies and others attempt to skirt this law for financial gain at the expense of our national security and domestic jobs. While the brave men and women of DHS continue to enforce the law to the best of their ability, gaps unfortunately occur.
As a result, the agency has turned to its partners within DHS to identify and pilot software applications that would allow efficient use of its limited resources. Most recently, as a result of the use of a maritime AI tool, the Jones Act Division of Enforcement in New Orleans was able to initiate more than $2 billion in penalties in 2021. All of the fines collected since the passage of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (Jones Act) do not equal to the amount penalized in the last 18 months.
In addition, through the use of this technology, HSI's investigative and enforcement operations have led to the collection of approximately $450 million in forfeitures related to sanctions violations as well as seizures of precursor chemicals associated with fentanyl production, illegal drugs, and more. Given the significant return on investment that has resulted from the use of this technology, it should be utilized for an enterprise-wide solution for maritime domain awareness across DHS.
Therefore, we are seeking support for $7 million within HSI to establish a COP for DHS and request the following language:
Common Operating Platform (COP) for Maritime Domain Awareness.—The recommendation provides $7,000,000 above the request to expand current technology that supports a COP for maritime domain awareness. This platform shall serve as the basis for ICE, Coast Guard, and CBP to share intelligence and operations information in the maritime environment.
Sincerely,
Original source can be found here.
