U.S. Rep. Wenstrup blasts COVID-19 relief while decrying theft by criminals
In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, U.S. Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), chairman of the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, derided COVID-19 programs as rife with waste, fraud, and abuse – and demanded to know how $280 billion of it was taken by... Read More »
Biden administration selects recipients for nearly $3B in climate resilience funding
As a means to build resilience to climate change and extreme weather, the Biden administration announced recipients this week for nearly $3 billion. Choices were made through two competitive grant programs, and include both $1.8 billion through the Building Resilient Infrastructure and... Read More »
U.S. military awards BAE Systems $190M contract modification to deliver more Bradley Fighting Vehicles
Under a modified contract between the U.S. Army and BAE Systems, more than $190 million was awarded to the company to modernize and equip Armored Brigade Combat Teams with continued rollout of the Bradley A4. The award covers more than 70 Infantry Fighting Vehicles, as well as Fire Support Team... Read More »
Rep. Barr introduces bill to enforce supervision of scientific and technological agreements between U.S. and China
Through introduction of the Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act (H.R. 5245) last week, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) proposed new risk assessments, human rights considerations and enforced monitoring of any scientific and technological partnership agreements... Read More »
Coast Guard, National Science Foundation embark on mission in Arctic Ocean
On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced its Cutter Healy crew and a number of scientists from the National Science Foundation would take on a mission in the Arctic Ocean. The mission will take the cutter west from Kodiak, Alaska where the crew and researchers will service the Nansen and... Read More »
FirstNet Authority Board approves $451M budget and enhancement package for 2024
In order to fund operations throughout Fiscal Year 2024 and pursue network upgrades, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board last week approved a $451 million budget package. This included $95 million for an operating budget, $95 million for reserves and $261 million for... Read More »
U.S. Navy awards Lockheed’s Sikorsky $2.7B contract to build 35 helicopters
The U.S. Navy has awarded Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, a $2.7 billion contract to build 35 additional CH-53K King Stallion helicopters. It’s the largest procurement for the aircraft to date, and will see deliveries begin in 2026, divided into three parts. Under the arrangement,... Read More »
Feds conduct Human Trafficking Awareness Training in Florida
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) on Aug. 23 conducted Human Trafficking Awareness Training for state, local and Tribal law enforcement. The training, which took place in Homestead, Florida, provided law enforcement with in-depth information on what human trafficking is and the... Read More »
DHS, FEMA release new resources for communities amid heat crisis
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released new resources for local community leaders this week to help in the face of extreme, record-breaking heat battering at least 17 states so far. “As extreme heat, worsened by the... Read More »
DOJ awards millions to support American Indians, Alaska Native crime victims
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said on Wednesday it had awarded nearly $70 million to provide support to American Indian and Alaska Native victims of crimes across the country. The 212 grants from the Department’s Tribal Victim Services Set-Aside (TVSSA) program would help to enhance... Read More »
Montana lawmakers urge revocation of new TSA employee screening policy
In a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske, U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, both Montana Republicans, called for the administration to undo a new employee screening policy they said would overly burden Montana airports. Under scrutiny... Read More »
Legislative push spawns Safer Supervision Act to improve federal supervised release system
In a bicameral, bipartisan effort, federal lawmakers recently introduced the Safer Supervision Act, proposing changes to the federal supervised release system to improve oversight, reduce recidivism and raise the bar for early termination provisions. “The widespread usage of supervised... Read More »
HHS awards more than $1.4B to develop new COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics
Through Project NextGen, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded more than $1.4 billion this week to support development of new tools, technologies and trials of vaccines and therapeutics for COVID-19. Of these funds, the bulk – $1 billion – went to vaccine clinical... Read More »
Republicans urge DOD to halt sale of border wall construction materials
Republicans on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee wrote to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) this week demanding that all sales of border wall construction materials be halted, and accused the department of brazenly attempting to circumvent Congressional decisions. At the heart of the... Read More »