Government
As gun sales increase and shootings nationwide rise, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) have introduced the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Data Integrity Act requiring the FBI to complete all gun-purchase background checks.
Currently,... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), John Garamendi (D-CA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) recently detailed the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, which would reform wasteful Department of Defense budget practices.
Specifically, the legislation would repeal... Read More »
A Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) analysis maintains nuclear security conditions are regressing among the dozens of countries, as well as areas with weapons-usable nuclear materials and nuclear facilities.
“The bottom line is that the countries and areas with the greatest responsibility for... Read More »
A pair of bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) this week would authorize the federal government to investigate the health impacts of nuclear weapons and promote safe design and mass-production of genetic material through artificial gene synthesis.... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently introduced legislation that seeks South China Sea deterrence and strengthening Australian security ties.
Huizenga and McCaul recently detailed the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act. AUKUS is a trilateral security... Read More »
Through a new, $37.5 million agreement with Graphite One, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is pushing expansion of domestic graphite mining and processing, in the hopes of building up American capabilities to produce large-capacity batteries.
While such batteries are proving critical to... Read More »
Through introduction of the Northern Border Coordination Act, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) seek to create a new center to improve border coordination and security under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other authorities.
“The federal government must... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) are advocating the Pentagon devise a plan to shrink the China missile gap and strengthen Indo-Pacific deterrence.
The Rings of Fire Act specifically outlines requirements for the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy no later than... Read More »
In a vote from the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s (R-OH) Helping Evaluate Appropriate Logistical Infrastructure for National Government (HEALING) Response Act (H.R. 3703) was cleared as part of a broader reauthorization legislation.
Latta’s bill, as... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) recently introduced the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act (S.2272), which would equitably address Wildlands firefighter compensation... Read More »
A group of senators and representatives collectively introduced the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2023 this week in an effort to reform federal cybersecurity laws left largely untouched since 2014, and to increase communication between governmental entities.
The Federal... Read More »
House Committee on Homeland Security officials are espousing the advancement of legislation they maintain focuses on defending the homeland and standing by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement.
The panel advanced legislation to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) this week reintroduced the Team Telecom Act, which would help the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) avert potential telecom manipulation threats.
Team Telecom is the informal name for a makeshift interagency working group composed of representatives from the... Read More »
Reaching out to allies overseas, a bipartisan congressional delegation recently headed to the Netherlands, Estonia and United Kingdom to discuss their cybersecurity approaches and ways to improve both information sharing and collective defense.
The trip was led by House Homeland Security... Read More »
While some have started to put the COVID-19 pandemic firmly behind them, other emphasize the lessons learned, and two of those figures this week introduced the Senate Disease X Act of 2023, proposing creation of a federal Disease X Medical Countermeasures program.
Meant to ready the nation for... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) recently introduced the Keeping Foreign Money out of Ballot Measures Act, which prohibits foreign nationals from making political contributions related to State ballot measures and initiatives.
“The outcomes of our elections must be... Read More »
During the first half of 2023, which ended June 30, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) noted personnel intercepted 3,251 firearms at airport security checkpoints.
“Anyone traveling with a firearm must follow the rules and pack it properly in checked baggage in addition to... Read More »
Through a letter written to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, 10 senators pressed for details of reports alleging that Chinese Intelligence outposts are operating inside the United States.
Citing details from conservative news outlets, the lawmakers spoke of grave concerns about Overseas... Read More »
Last week the United States destroyed its last declared chemical weapons stockpile, allowing the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to confirm that all such stockpiles worldwide are now verified gone.
It was work spanning decades, following on from the ratification of... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have outlined the implementation of new family reunification parole (FRP) processes for Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.
“These new processes promote family unity and provide lawful pathways consistent with our laws and our... Read More »
All summer long, FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will be reaching out to communities across the country encouraging them to get insured before peak hurricane seasons hits, and brings the waves with it.
This year’s campaign theme is “Keep Home,” and it encourages residents... Read More »
Nations with the best capacity to prevent, detect and respond to disease threats weathered the COVID-19 pandemic with lower overall mortality rates than less prepared nations, according to a new study from partners at the Brown University School of Public Health, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and... Read More »
Through its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week awarded research contracts amounting to $3.15 million to 20 small businesses, to advance proof of concept research in seven areas.
This will advance in phases, with... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), and Sharice Davids (D-KS) are espousing the benefits of legislation that improves hiring and increase retention of tribal law enforcement officers.
The Parity for Tribal Law Enforcement Act, which would also better protect native communities... Read More »
Three lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, seeking insight regarding a recent U.S. airstrike in Syria.
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) expressed concerns that the May 23 action may... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued a series of recommendations to agencies and leadership regarding counterterrorism information sharing enhancements.
According to the GAO, it remains unclear if federal programs designed to improve how terrorism-related information is shared... Read More »
Last month, officers from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) stationed at Washington Dulles International Airport intercepted two boxes destined for Washington, D.C. that turned out to possess about 71 pounds of a cathinone analogue.
Cathinone is a substance similar to amphetamines,... Read More »
Looking to improve its lethality, survivability and situational awareness in harsh situations, the U.S. Army turned to RTX this week with a $117.5 million contract for a next-generation targeting and surveillance system meant to support its Abrams Tanks and other fighting vehicles.
"This... Read More »
Aerospace and defense technology company Northrop Grumman Corporation is espousing the benefits of its Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), noting it was delivered two years ahead of schedule.
Poland is the first U.S. ally to field IBCS and Polish soldiers will be trained to use the system,... Read More »
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials are touting a new program they maintain addresses bloodstream infections (BSI)-causing fungal and bacterial pathogens.
The Synthetic Hemo-technologIEs that Locate & Disinfect (SHIELD) program seeks to develop broad, preventive... Read More »
Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee released a discussion draft of a reauthorization for the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), in search of feedback.
PAHPA, first created in 2006, established the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and... Read More »
At a test conducted at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska last month, RTX showed off advanced Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) capabilities, displaying multi-level security networking.
"We're working across our company to mature and demonstrate... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have detailed the interception of nearly 900,000 fentanyl pills concealed inside porcelain sinks at the Otay Mesa port of entry’s facility in California.
“Narcotics traffickers will try new and innovative ways to smuggle dangerous drugs across... Read More »
The phrase “Made in the U.S.A” would take on greater importance under a new bill in the Senate, which would require federally-purchased flags to be 100 percent produced and manufactured in the United States.
All-American Flag Act is the brainchild of U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Sherrod... Read More »
Threat detection and security screening company Smiths Detection is slated to manufacture and deliver up to 1,050 Lightweight Chemical Detectors (LCD) to the Swiss Federal Department of Defense (DOD).
The action would aid in replacing the existing fleet of personal chemical... Read More »
