International Policy
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said seeks to enable Afghans with temporary status, who undergo additional vetting, to apply for permanent legal residency.
Sens. Roy Blunt (R-MO), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Coons (D-DE), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Richard... Read More »
A group of Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) lawmakers are requesting a hearing to address Chinese influence and information theft at Federal Reserve Banks.
HSGAC Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH) joined Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rand Paul... Read More »
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Ukrainian State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP) recently announced an expanded cybersecurity Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC).
“I am incredibly pleased to sign this MOC to deepen... Read More »
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) authorities recently detailed collaboration with 94 Interpol member countries resulting in 7,800 illicit medication seizures totaling $11 million.
Operation Pangea XV was conducted from June 23-30. The scope of work included... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) recently introduced legislation to monitor Iran's nuclear weapons and missile capabilities.
The Iran Nuclear Weapons Capability Monitoring Act of 2022 would establish a Department of State-spearheaded task force responsible for regularly... Read More »
Seeking to progress key homeland security agreements and objectives, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced expanded security cooperation with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Robert Silvers, Under Secretary for Policy at the DOE, penned security arrangements with... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Young Kim (R-CA) have introduced a bill that seeks to ensure efficient delivery of domestic defense equipment sold to Taiwan and Indo Pacific allies.
The Arms Exports Delivery Solutions Act (H.R. 8259) would track transfers while reaffirming congressional... Read More »
As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues unabated, despite hundreds of deaths and months of economic sanctions, some lawmakers in the United States have begun looking to the future, with a resolution committing the United States to rebuild the ravaged Ukraine.
Essentially, the bill would... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel National Cyber Directorate (INCD) recently formed the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Cyber program-managed joint initiative, which would enhance critical infrastructure cyber... Read More »
This week, a bipartisan call from four senators urged the U.S. Department of Defense to dispatch more advanced artillery rocket systems and ammunition to Ukraine in support of its efforts to repel a Russian invasion.
In a letter, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Dick... Read More »
A bipartisan collection of 34 senators expressed concern this week amid reports that the Pentagon may downgrade the U.S. Security Coordinator (USSC) position based in Israel to a colonel rather than a three-star general.
The senators argue that the change could disrupt operations at a key U.S.... Read More »
Following up on the demands made by the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) last week published its official strategy for barring importations from China’s Xinjiang region and cracking down on goods made from forced labor.
China has come... Read More »
Department of Justice and European Union officials are espousing the benefits of a recent two-day workshop in The Hague to share best practices and enhance collaboration in confronting ransomware attacks.
“Only by working together with key law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in the EU... Read More »
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, urging the Biden administration to increase sanctions on Vladimir Putin enablers amid Russia's war with Ukraine.
Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Vice... Read More »
U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) officials have detailed additional Ukraine security assistance valued at up to $700 million, noting the allotment seeks to meet that nation's needs in its fight with Russia.
The authorization serves as the 11th drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories for... Read More »
With the introduction of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) Stipend Act last week, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) seek to authorize existing TCIUs into law and get foreign law enforcement teams working with American agencies paid.
TCIUs are teams... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) forwarded correspondence to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense Monday, advocating for the total funding of U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs.
The funding allocation would apply to the... Read More »
Worried about personnel shortages at the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) program of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), new House legislation would authorize new incentivization to officers for retention and recruitment... Read More »
At the second Global COVID-19 Summit last week, governments, including the United States, pledged to provide $3.2 billion in additional funds for COVID-19 and other pandemic preparedness needs and committed to expanding and accelerating testing and vaccine access.
This year’s summit was led by... Read More »
Following the passage of the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, the Biden administration will find it easier to lend and lease military equipment to Ukraine and other Eastern European countries impacted by the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Signed into law this week, the... Read More »
A group of legislators recently introduced legislation that would protect domestic technology research from being used by Chinese entities to benefit the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) led colleagues U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike... Read More »
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced legislation that seeks to ensure America is undertaking coordinated efforts to collect and maintain war crimes evidence during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Cornyn, the sponsor of the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability... Read More »
While adding Paxlovid – nirmatrelvir and ritonavir – to its list of recommended treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at risk of hospital admission, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that lack of price transparency at Pfizer Inc. and testing demands before administration... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. State Department to determine whether or not Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism.
In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the... Read More »
In the wake of continued fighting in Ukraine, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are urging President Joe Biden to appoint a Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator to aid support efforts.
“Even after their initial defeat,... Read More »
Republicans on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, led by Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), wrote to Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines this week urging U.S. intelligence agencies to actively share helpful intelligence with their Ukrainian counterparts.
Meant to more... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, advocating for the administration to provide Israel with the military capabilities needed to defend itself from Iran.
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) have joined nine Republican colleagues in... Read More »
Backed by the European Union, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) created and launched a new training initiative this week to raise awareness among universities, academics, and researchers about the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) and global disarmament.
“We live... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, encouraging the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide aircraft, air defense systems, and drones to Ukraine.
The letter stemmed from requests... Read More »
Within 10 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) sees a path to increase the use of and access to genomic surveillance for monitoring and analyzing pathogens through a strategy targeting inequities and leveraging existing capacities.
Genomic surveillance is a process whereby pathogens are... Read More »
A full quarter of the U.S. Senate wrote to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan this week, requesting details on the speed, composition, and supply of lethal aid being delivered to Ukraine to counter the Russian invasion.
Approximately one month ago, Russia invaded its western... Read More »
Members of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council attended a meeting in The Hague last week to assess the progress of chemical weapons destruction efforts in the United States as they hone in on completion.
As a matter of demilitarization transparency,... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has joined nine colleagues in introducing a resolution encouraging the Biden administration to facilitate transferring aircraft that include MiG-29s to aid Ukraine's air defense systems.
The resolution supports continued efforts by members of the North Atlantic... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) joined 19 colleagues in sending correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking information regarding agency efforts to protect the nation from Russian... Read More »
A group of 49 Republican Senators recently expressed to President Joe Biden they are not in favor of the revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran.
“According to press reports, the Biden Administration may soon conclude an agreement with Iran to provide substantial sanctions relief... Read More »
