Senators introduce bill to enhance cybersecurity protections for small businesses
A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators recently introduced the Making Available Information Now to Strengthen Trust and Resilience and Enhance Enterprise Technology (MAIN STREET) Cybersecurity Act, which aims to help small businesses protect their digital assets from cybersecurity threats. The... Read More »
CBP Air and Marine Operations intercepts go-fast vessel with more than 3,500 pounds of cocaine near Puerto Rican coast
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) intercepted a go fast-type vessel this week, carrying approximately 3,500 pounds of alleged cocaine. The incident began as a CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a suspicious vessel traveling southbound without... Read More »
Cincinnati border patrol agents seize nearly 300 pounds of illicit narcotics throughout March
Throughout the month of March, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed in Cincinnati seized 83 shipments of illegal synthetic narcotics, totaling more than 290 pounds. Included in the seizures were more than 36 pounds of furanyl fentanyl, 233 pounds of the designer date rape... Read More »
FirstNet, AT&T make $46.5 bln contract official for nationwide broadband network for public safety
Build out of the nation’s first wireless high-speed communications system aimed at connecting all of America’s first responders via a dedicated broadband network will begin this fall, says AT&T, the new primary contractor in a federal government contract valued at $46.5 billion. The... Read More »
Cybersecurity subcommittee examines DHS progress in securing federal networks
U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) chaired a House Homeland Security Committee Cybersecurity Subcommittee hearing last week to examine the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) continuing efforts to secure federal networks. “Federal law has deliberately tasked DHS with a critical role in the... Read More »NIH, NIAID officials release statement on ongoing efforts to combat the spread of tuberculosis infections worldwide
Officials at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently outlined the organization's efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB), one of the world's most serious infectious diseases. In a joint statement, NIAID Director Anthony Fauci and other NIAID officials said the... Read More »House members introduce bill to help protect faith-based community centers
A bipartisan group of House members recently introduced legislation to increase federal penalties for making bomb threats and provide $20 million in additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help safeguard faith-based community centers across the country. The members... Read More »
GAO report finds redundancies in overseas DOD, State Department security initiatives
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently conducted a report surveying the overseas inventory of Department of Defense (DOD) security cooperation, along with various State Department assistance efforts in order to determine if any redundancies exist. Since the Sept. 11, 2001... Read More »Smiths Detection awarded contract for delivery of baggage screening systems
Smiths Detection was recently awarded a contract to supply Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with new baggage screening equipment, including 24 HI-SCAN 10080 XCT systems. The contract includes an option for six additional scanners to be deployed at Lelystad, Rotterdam - The Hague, and Eindhoven... Read More »
Africa CDC launches new strategic plan for infectious disease control, prevention
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new strategic plan last week to improve the prevention, surveillance, and emergency response to infectious diseases on the continent. Prior to its approval, the plan was reviewed by Africa CDC experts, the advisory and... Read More »
Researchers pinpoint most likely area of Zika transmission in the United States
Researchers at the St. Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice recently published an article pinpointing where Zika virus is most likely to be transmitted in the continental United States. Their study revealed the most likely point of transmission to be along the... Read More »
HHS Secretary cites emergency preparedness, response as federal budget priority
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price told members of Congress on Wednesday that the nation’s emergency preparedness and response ranks high on the federal funding list at his agency. The goal of the Trump Administration is not to deconstruct HHS, Price... Read More »
FirstNet award of contract for National Public Safety Broadband Network expected soon
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross plans to make an announcement on Thursday regarding the signing of a 25-year contract for a public-private partnership to create the first nationwide public safety broadband network. AT&T is the only publicly known entity that is being considered for the... Read More »
Reps. Ratcliffe, Langevin participate in AIPAC panel to discuss two US-Israel cybersecurity bills
U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) recently participated in a panel at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference to discuss cybersecurity-related bills that recently passed through Congress. Langevin and Ratcliffe began their discussion by detailing... Read More »