House Oversight Subcommittee holds hearing on inactivation of dangerous pathogens
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Tuesday regarding the inactivation of dangerous pathogens and the bioresearch labs that study them. According to a recent report by the U.S Government Accountability Office (GAO), changes... Read More »House passes six homeland security-related bills
The U.S. House of Representatives passed six bipartisan bills on Tuesday to enhance national security efforts within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “I commend the work of my committee on the passage of these important pieces of legislation which seek to provide necessary... Read More »House passes two Donovan-sponsored homeland security bills
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed two homeland security-related bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) with a bipartisan voice vote. “Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack,” Donovan said. “Last weekend’s bombings... Read More »
Smiths Detection to deliver high-resolution baggage screening technology to Berlin Brandenburg Airport
Germany’s Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior recently contracted Smiths Detection to provide baggage-screening equipment for the German Federal Police at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport. The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT system utilizes a high-resolution x-ray scanner, computed... Read More »UTSA receives NSA grant for new cyber program
The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) received a grant of $471,549 on Monday from the National Security Agency (NSA) for the 2016 Cyber P3 - Cyber Soldier Development Grant Program. The program seeks to educate qualified cyber workers with the knowledge, critical mission skills, and... Read More »
Zika virus vaccine candidate receives funding from BARDA to expedite development
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) approved a contract on Monday to develop an inactivated Zika virus vaccine candidate. The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under the... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases update to encryption report
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released an update on Tuesday to a previous committee report regarding encryption and its impact on law enforcement and counterterrorism. The original report, titled “Going Dark, Going Forward,” was... Read More »
Payne, Jr.’s amendment to coordinate DHS agencies included in recently-passed House bill
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »CBP agents discover 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed in aloe vera juice bottles
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Hidalgo, Pharr, Anzalduas Port of Entry recently arrested an individual carrying approximately 10 pounds of alleged liquid methamphetamine concealed within aloe vera juice bottles. The incident began on Sept. 20 at the Pharr... Read More »
Ernst questions Carter, Dunford on the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) questioned two senior U.S. Department of Defense officials on Thursday about the rise of ISIS in Southeast Asian countries. At a hearing titled “U.S. National Security Challenges and Ongoing Military Operations,” Ernst heard testimony from U.S. Department of... Read More »CBP agents seize 1,300 pounds of marijuana during six incidents
Del Rio Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents recently seized approximately 1,300 pounds of narcotics during the course of six different incidents. The first incident occurred on Aug. 26 when Eagle Pass South Station agents responded to reports of suspicious activity near the area. After a brief... Read More »
Border Patrol agents arrest previously-deported felon near Calexico West Port of Entry
U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended a previously-deported felon on Thursday near the Calexico West Port of Entry. The incident began as agents observed an individual running north from the International Border fence at approximately 10 P.M. Agents stopped the man and discovered that he had... Read More »
KSU study finds no Zika transmission amongst Culex mosquitoes
A team of researchers from the Kansas State University (KSU) Biosecurity Research Institute recently conducted a study with Culex species mosquitoes from across the country to find ways to stop the spread of Zika virus. Findings from the study were published in the journal Vector-Borne and... Read More »