First Responders
U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) recently hosted a roundtable discussion with law enforcement personnel, which examined the overall crime uptick nationally and increased threats to first responders.
The session with law enforcement personnel from Florida’s 16th District advocated for the... Read More »
On Tuesday, U.S. Reps. Val Demings (D-FL) and Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) introduced legislation to save the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet).
The legislation, H.R. 6768, would reauthorize FirstNet set to expire in 2027. Created to fulfill one of the recommendations of the 9/11... Read More »
The Marine Corps has selected Northrop Grumman Corporation to provide the Next Generation Handheld Targeting System (NGHTS), noting the targeting device provides unequaled precision and GPS-denied environment operational capabilities.
“NGHTS will significantly enhance the ability of Marines to... Read More »
Seeking to close a gap separating state, county, and municipal firefighters from federal firefighters, the Federal Firefighter Fairness Act of 2021 (HR 2499) is a bipartisan push to grant access to federal, job-related disability and retirement benefits for injuries and diseases contracted in the... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has issued a request for information (RFI) regarding respiratory protection for wildland firefighters.
The effort coincides with a market survey executed by S&T’s National Urban Security Technology... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking data regarding commercially available mobile radiation detection systems.
The request for information (RFI) stems from agency efforts to assist emergency responders on varied radiation detection... Read More »
In introducing the Active Shooter Alert Act (H.R.6538) to the House this week, U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) proposed creating a system similar to the AMBER Alert system for law enforcement to use in notifying the public of active, local gun violence.
AMBER Alerts are... Read More »
Brittany Global Technologies, based in New Bedford, Mass., has secured a $1.3 million Department of Defense (DoD) contract for industrial base production of Berry Amendment compliant fabrics for military uniforms.
“This increased capacity will ensure the U.S. government continues to have... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden advocating increased wildfire mitigation efforts.
U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) spearheaded the correspondence that included signatures from 11 House of Representatives... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) recently introduced legislation to bolster wildfire communications and information sharing among first responders.
The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Wildland Fire Communications and Information Dissemination Act... Read More »
Backed by various law enforcement organizations and bipartisan appeal, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and John Rutherford (R-FL) – together with 36 cosponsors – introduced the Invest to Protect Act of 2022 last week to support local police.
The House bill seeks critical investments into... Read More »
A new bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and John Rutherford (R-FL) would provide $50 million in grants for small police departments to invest in training, equipment, personnel support, and mental health resources.
“Now more than ever, we need to make... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure that seeks to increase the hiring and compensation of rural law enforcement officers.
U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently joined 10 colleagues in introducing the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the... Read More »
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) recently detailed the application process for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, noting the effort seeks to bolster local fire department staffing.
Higgins said the application period is now open, and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2022, before 5... Read More »
In an effort to boost the number of EMTs available to New York during any winter surges of COVID-19, a new training partnership began last week between the New York State Department of Health and the New York National Guard.
While Gov. Kathy Hochul had already deployed 60 National Guard medical... Read More »
The $770 billion Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; S. 1605) was signed into law last week, and among its many provisions were funding for addressing both Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination throughout the United States.
This will take the form of new... Read More »
A collection of West Coast-based senators wrote to the United States Geological Survey (USGS) last week in pursuit of its plans and funding needs regarding the nearly 70 percent completed West Coast Early Earthquake Warning System.
Recognizing that most of the way there is significantly... Read More »
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is awarding $1.6 billion in grants to support programs designed to reduce violent crime while strengthening communities.
“The Department of Justice is committed to supporting our state and local partners to combat crime across the country,” Attorney General... Read More »
Marine Corps and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) personnel recently conducted Resolute Dragon 21, the largest bilateral field training exercise, which was executed in Japan.
The exercise involved over 4,000 troops from 3d Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force and the JGSDF’s... Read More »
California Gov. Gavin Newsom unveiled an enhanced public safety plan this week that looks to combat and prevent crime statewide.
The Real Public Safety Plan, in conjunction with local law enforcement, focuses on improving law enforcement response, ensuring prosecutors hold perpetrators... Read More »
A new report released by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security this week determined that the failure to incorporate primary care providers into the frontline response to COVID-19 and the larger public health system could have improved care, testing, and vaccination acceptance.
In... Read More »
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing recently to examine the harmful impacts of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) at military sites.
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) convened the hearing after a Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) recently joined first responders in recognizing a pair of achievements they said would aid police and fire personnel.
The group celebrated the signing into law of Pascrell’s Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 (PAFRA), a measure that improves... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced this week an amendment that would formally authorize the National Guard’s Fireguard program and alter its year-by-year approval structure to a more certain, five-year authorization.
The senators argued... Read More »
A bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) would provide states with added flexibility to allow members of the National Guard to respond to emergencies.
Specifically, the bill would allow full-time Active Guard and Reserve (AGR) National Guard members with the ability to respond to... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded funds to a firm to advance first responder interoperable messaging capabilities.
The $1,545,286.03 allotment to Mobility 4 Public Safety (M4PS) would aid in developing the Bridge 4 Public... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) announced Monday that he has introduced legislation to strengthen public safety and counter anti-police sentiment.
The Stop Enabling Repeat Violence and Endangering (SERVE) Our Communities Act would provide incentives for states to adopt policies that would hold... Read More »
FirstNet, which officials have deemed public safety's network built to strict specifications and requirements, is touting over 2.8 million nationwide connections through 18,500 public safety agencies.
"In less than five years, we've built a network with and for America's first responders and... Read More »
Reckoning with rising cases of overdose throughout the United States, a bicameral reintroduction of the POWER Act was announced last week, which proposes new U.S. Department of Justice-provided grants to help law enforcement procure better drug detection devices.
POWER, or Providing Officers... Read More »
A group of United States senators last week reintroduced an effort to update the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 and extend legal protections for medical volunteers working in federally-recognized disaster relief efforts.
Authored by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and... Read More »
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials said the agency has selected Emory University to lead the latest Regional Disaster Health Response System site.
HHS noted Emory University is the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response's (ASPR) fourth site selected to... Read More »
Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that his state’s pledge to invest $8.5 million in infrastructure upgrades to Progress Park was a catalyst for a manufacturing venture to commit to building an operating center in the area.
The joint venture would build a manufacturing operation in... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency has formed the Law Enforcement Coordination Council (LECC) to assess varied law enforcement matters -- including its law enforcement policies and training.
“Law enforcement is a noble profession," DHS Secretary Alejandro N.... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, convened a hearing Wednesday to examine the country’s preparedness to deal with worsening natural disasters like floods, severe storms and wildfires.
Witnesses, and committee members discussed... Read More »
Legislation reclassifying 9-1-1 dispatchers from Office and Administrative Support to Protective Service Occupations was approved last week by the U.S. House of Representatives as an amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), according to lawmakers.
U.S. Reps.... Read More »
