FY 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill contains expansions for North Dakota’s military role
Following the recent passage of the fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations Bill, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) began a statewide tour of North Dakota, to highlight all the ways the bill benefits the state’s involvement with the U.S military. Overall, the bill provided a 3 percent boost to... Read More »
Sen. Barrasso raises concerns over DOE’s ability to protect AI R&D from China
With artificial intelligence (AI) the increasing focus of interest for Washington and private companies, U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) this week wrote to U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm with doubts about her department’s ability to protect research from Chinese interests. “In the... Read More »
Senate advances legislation that emphasizes federal building security
The Senate greenlit the Federal Building Security Act (S. 3613) this week, moving to the House’s consideration a bill that would make federal agencies respond to Federal Protective Services (FPS) security recommendations within 90 days. “Every day, Americans across the country visit federal... Read More »
Senate bill seeks to compel national security risk analysis of economic integration with China
A bipartisan group of senators recently introduced the American Economic Independence Act, which would require the president to provide Congress with a comprehensive threat assessment of integrating economically with China. It would focus on numerous sectors, demanding analysis of both current... Read More »
Sen. Peters presses federal agencies to increase cybersecurity for American health care
Citing cases where cyberattacks targeted health care systems in the United States, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) recently wrote to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) requesting cybersecurity boosts for the... Read More »
U.S. Justice Department launches National Extreme Risk Protection Order Resource Center to curb gun violence
The U.S. Department of Justice recently launched a new resource center – the National Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) – to offer training meant to ultimately keep guns away from extreme risk individuals. Vice President Kamala Harris announced the new resource center at Marjory Stoneman... Read More »
Government funding agreement includes $3M allotment to create Northern Border security center
Among the provisions included in the recent $1.2 trillion funding agreement signed by President Joe Biden was a carve-out of $3 million to establish and manage a Northern Border Coordination Center. Championed by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental... Read More »
Senate advances legislation to streamline support, improve response amid disasters
The Senate recently advanced legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Kennedy (R-LA) that seeks to improve the situation facing disaster survivors by reforming the federal support system and the efficacy of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the Helping... Read More »
Raytheon wins $1.2B contract to supply Patriot air and missile defense systems to Germany
Germany seeks to augment its existing air defenses with a new round of Patriot air and missile defense systems, thanks to a $1.2 billion contract provided to RTX’s Raytheon last week. This contract calls for the most recent Patriot Configuration 3+ radars, launchers, command and control... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee jointly investigating threats posed by biological research, technology
High-risk biological research and technology both in the United States and abroad is under new scrutiny from the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, after the announcement of a new investigation by its chair and ranking member. “Biotechnologies, such as CRISPR, are... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee advances ROUTERS Act to scrutinize foreign equipment
Among a flurry of 28 bills advanced 43-0 by the House Energy and Commerce Committee recently was a technology-check bill by United States Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH): the Removing Our Unsecure Technologies to Ensure Reliability and Security (ROUTERS) Act. ROUTERS targeted routers, modems and similar... Read More »
ASPR releases multiyear budget assessment for medical countermeasure priorities
In order to support medical countermeasure priorities for the U.S. government, a new report from the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) projected needs of up to $79.5 billion between fiscal years 2023 and 2027. The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasure... Read More »
DHS collaborates with European Union for transatlantic comparison of cyber incident reporting
Looking to better align approaches to cyber incidents on both sides of the Atlantic, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Communications, Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CONNECT) recently launched a new comparison... Read More »
DHS releases AI roadmap, new pilot projects to test AI technology for various missions
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security laid out its 2024 plans for technology this week, unveiling the launch of three pilot projects to test artificial intelligence for immigration officer training, making it easier to apply for disaster relief grants and improving investigatory efficiency.... Read More »