A bill has been introduced in the U.S. Senate that would fund the expansion of the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) to include training local law enforcement in cybersecurity practices.
The legislation was introduced on April 7 by senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) joins a similar bill put forth by Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) in the House of Representatives, according to The Hill.
The NCFI, located in Hoover, Ala., was created in 2008 and is run by the Secret Service's criminal investigation division, The Hill said.
“By authorizing this training center, this legislation helps to equip law enforcement from agencies across the country, including in Iowa, with the tools and training to dust for ‘digital fingerprints' and utilize computer forensics to gather evidence and solve cases,” Grassley said in a statement.
Feinstein added that more than 200 law enforcement officials have received training at the NCFI in other areas, but “Digital technology is used to commit a wide range of crimes, from hacking to human trafficking, and the need for specialized training in this area will only grow. The institute will bolster our efforts to combat cybercrime,” Feinstein said.
