Res. No. 103 Title Resolution calling on the United States Congress to amend certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other federal statutes as suggested in S. 1615 and H.R. 3285, also known as the Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act of 2001, to provide for the sharing of certain intelligence information with local law enforcement personnel. Body By Council Members Vallone, Addabbo, Jennings, Katz, and Rivera; also Council Members Gennaro and Seabrook Whereas, The City of New York suffered immeasurable losses as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks and ensuing anthrax-related threats, scares, and death; and Whereas, A number of federal, state and local officers and emergency personnel gave the ultimate sacrifice and were crucial to the preservation of thousands of lives; and Whereas, The United States Congress and the President of the United States responded by passing Public Law 107-56, the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (the USA PATRIOT Act) in order to prevent, to the extent possible, future terrorist attacks and enable the effective investigation of such an occurrence; and Whereas, Despite the great strides made by the USA PATRIOT Act to protect the United States from future attacks, the law failed to address the historical and legal barriers that prevent federal, state and local intelligence information sharing; and Whereas, To remedy this situation, Senators Schumer and Clinton, as well as Representatives Anthony Weiner, Carolyn Maloney, Jerrold Nadler, Joseph Crowley, Gregory Meeks, Major Owens, Jose Serrano and Vito Fossella, among others, sponsored S. 1615 and H.R. 3285, the Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act of 2001; and Whereas, The Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act of 2001 would remove the barriers to information sharing by authorizing the sharing of grand jury information, electronic, wire and oral interception information, and foreign intelligence information, with state or local law enforcement personnel, and consistent with guidelines issued by the Attorney General which would protect confidentiality; and Whereas, Such sharing with local law enforcement of vital intelligence information that relates to the ability of the United States to protect against attack or international terrorism will allow agencies such as the NYPD to be apprised of potential attacks and therefore able to better protect against them; and Whereas, S. 1615 and H.R. 3285 has the full support of Raymond Kelly, the Police Commissioner, who has urged both houses of Congress to pass this legislation in order to enable the NYPD to safeguard the lives it is sworn to protect; and Whereas, In light of the lack of intelligence sharing in the case of a suspected anthrax-laced letter in October 2001 and the recent announcement of an unconfirmed intelligence report received in the same month warning of the smuggling of a nuclear weapon into New York City, the ability of local law enforcement officials in New York City to mobilize an appropriate response and to protect citizens may have been gravely compromised without such information sharing, further demonstrating the need for passage of this legislation; now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls on the United States Congress to amend certain provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act and other federal statutes as suggested in S. 1615 and H.R. 3285, also known as the Federal-Local Information Sharing Partnership Act of 2001, to provide for the sharing of certain intelligence information with local law enforcement personnel.