Countermeasures
Responding to the severity of cyber threats to the healthcare sector, United States Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing this week to address those threats and what the government and providers can do to stop... Read More »
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center have released the Marine Transportation System Resilience Assessment Guide (MTS Guide).
The MTS Guide is deployed by federal agencies, local governments, and... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently announced that $122 million has been earmarked for 35 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects in Puerto Rico.
"Some of these projects also address equity and climate change since they aim to ensure that all people have the same protections... Read More »
As the scope and frequency of natural disasters have increased in recent years, U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and David Rouzer (R-NC) this week proposed a way to adapt and help communities recover faster with the Natural Disaster Recovery Program Act.
“Everyone in Louisiana knows that... Read More »
The Senate took the first step to extend federal programs supporting local fire departments nationwide this week, voting to advance the Fire Grants and Safety Act out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Now the bill heads to the full Senate. There, the remainder... Read More »
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is espousing the benefits of his office securing new ballistics technology, Ballistics IQ (BIQ), for ten Project Ceasefire and nearby cities.
Ballistics IQ is a ballistics triage tool that can allow law enforcement to quickly establish leads based on... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has joined Carnival Cruise Line in launching facial biometric comparison technology for closed-loop cruises.
The Port of Jacksonville, Fla., is the latest seaport to further secure and enhance the debarkation process.
“CBP and Carnival are innovating the... Read More »
Threat detection and security screening technology company Smiths Detection has launched the Lightweight Chemical Detector (LCD) 4 - its latest chemical agent identifier.
The firm has also unveiled the LCD XID extension, which expands the LCD's detection capabilities to include street narcotics,... Read More »
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced three university teams to participate in its Biomanufacturing: Survival, Utility and Reliability beyond Earth (B-SURE) program this week, setting each up to investigate the risks associated with biomanufacturing processes in... Read More »
Hitting back at a group suing the U.S. Forest Service to block the use of fire retardant nationwide without an exemption permit under the Clean Water Act, U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) introduced new legislation to make that exemption standard.
Currently, agencies... Read More »
Marine Corps personnel are espousing the benefits of the recently completed Japan-based Iron Fist exercise, which increases interoperability between several military entities.
The Japan Self-Defense Force and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) participated in the exercise. The endeavor... Read More »
Officials from Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States have indicated defense, aerospace, and security company BAE Systems will play a key role in helping Australia acquire its first nuclear-powered submarines.
The trilateral agreement between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the... Read More »
The fallout and investigation of the events surrounding a train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, last month continue, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) recently announced preparations are underway for the next... Read More »
For a mix of modernization and strengthening efforts of the agency’s nuclear deterrence capabilities, President Joe Biden submitted his National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) 2024 budget request this week.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), $23.8 billion is being sought... Read More »
Air Force officials have indicated the service branch's $259.3 billion budget request would focus on modernization while addressing training, readiness, and new technology.
The funding proposal includes $215.1 billion for the Air Force and $30 billion for the Space Force. If enacted into law as... Read More »
U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), James Lankford (R-OK), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced the Reverse Entry for Migrant Offenders and Violence Expulsion (REMOVE) Act, which closes a loophole presently enabling noncitizens convicted of violent crimes to remain in the United... Read More »
Republicans leading the House Committee on Homeland Security recently introduced several bills to target perceived Chinese influence, funding of Chinese entities, or utilization of Chinese drones.
Following a hearing last week titled, Confronting Threats Posed by the Chinese Communist Party to... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Larry Bucshon, M.D. (R-IN) introduced the Eliminating Backlogs Act of 2023 to continue overhauling the U.S. immigration system.
The bill seeks to quickly break through growing piles of work visas, granting more flexibility for the use of existing visas... Read More »
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) recently introduced legislation that seeks to stiffen penalties for those who sabotage oil and gas pipelines, placing human lives and community safety at risk.
“Pipelines continue to be the safest way to transport oil and gas across our nation,” Bost said. “But under... Read More »
In the 2023 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), released last week, the U.S. Intelligence community made Anomalous Health Incidents (AHIs) – formerly and more popularly known as the Havana Syndrome – a primary focus, laying out the case that foreign adversaries are not likely behind the... Read More »
A Democratic group of legislators is touting legislation that would update sections in the U.S. Code directed at federal firearms licensees (FFLs) that are not updated in 30 years.
U.S. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Robin L. Kelly (D-IL) joined U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI), Barbara Lee... Read More »
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently announced this summer's 5x5: The Public Safety Innovation Summit.
The June 28 to June 30, 2023, event in San Diego, Calif., will unite leaders from public safety,... Read More »
Moving quickly in the wake of new determinations about the potential origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) last week introduced legislation to punish foreign countries found to conduct chemical and biological experiments that threaten public health and global security.... Read More »
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has gotten a lot of attention recently, particularly in tech circles, but this week the government turned its eye to machine potential as well through a hearing on its possible risks and opportunities by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) has introduced the Information and Communication Technology Strategy Act (H.R.1354), which he indicated would combat the influence of foreign-made devices on the nation’s high-speed internet framework.
“As we continue to expand broadband internet into rural... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has new cybersecurity requirements for airport and aircraft operators.
“Protecting our nation’s transportation system is our highest priority, and TSA will continue to work closely with industry stakeholders across all transportation modes to... Read More »
Hoping to address vulnerabilities in health systems throughout the United States, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a new cybersecurity implementation framework this week with specific steps for public and private healthcare organizations to pursue.
“Cyber incidents... Read More »
Pushing to crack down on technology from foreign adversaries of the United States, the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act was introduced this week in the Senate.
A product of U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-SD) and Mark... Read More »
Brooklyn, New York-based startup Cloud to Street has secured a $195,260 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) award to develop flood analytics technology.
Work would aid Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) efforts to enhance preparedness and... Read More »
Through the Fiscal Year 2023 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that it will fund $20 million for projects to prevent violence and terrorism at the state, local, Tribal and territorial levels.
The... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), James Lankford (R-OK), and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced a bill that seeks to enhance the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s ability to combat human trafficking.
The Investigators Maintain Purposeful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma (IMPACTT)... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) recently introduced legislation that seeks to aid local fire departments with staffing, equipment, training, and emergency medical services improvement needs.
Specifically, the Fire Grants and... Read More »
Two bills first introduced in the 117th Congress were revived this week by House Energy and Commerce Chair Cathy Rodgers (R-WA) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) in a push to modernize the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) satellite licensing rules.
The Satellite and... Read More »
Lawmakers are commending Senate approval of a measure they said seeks to aid first responders in coping with the stresses of responding to crisis situations.
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) joined eight colleagues in co-sponsoring the Fighting Post-Traumatic Stress... Read More »
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches onward, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) sought a new means of hitting the former through its economy, reintroducing the Energy Security Cooperation with Allied Partners in Europe (ESCAPE) Act (S.548) last week.
ESCAPE seeks to pull North Atlantic... Read More »
