Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act moves to Senate

Legislation sponsored by U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to provide state and local law enforcement with the necessary tools to fight cybercrime was passed by the House on Monday and now moves to the Senate.

“It’s critical that we stand behind our law enforcement and give them the resources they need to keep us safe,” Ratcliffe said. “In an increasingly connected society with rapidly evolving technologies, it is no surprise that ‘digital evidence’ plays a prominent role in addressing nearly every crime and security threat we face today.”

The Strengthening State and Local Cyber Crime Fighting Act of 2015 – H.R. 3490 – authorizes the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI). NCFI is recognized widely as the nation’s premier cybercrime training center.

“As a former law enforcement official myself, I’ve seen firsthand the new challenges created by cybercrime, and believe strongly that we have a duty to equip local officers, prosecutors, and judges with the tools and strategies they need to properly respond to these evolving threats,” Ratcliffe said.

More than 4,590 local officials in all 50 states and three U.S. territories have been trained by NCFI. Graduates from the program’s training represent more than 1,500 agencies, including multiple agencies in Ratcliffe’s Fourth District in Texas.