Policy
Federal grants to aid Connecticut fire departments
Fire departments in Middletown, Manchester, Bristol, and Southington, Conn., have been awarded more than $595,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). “These grants represent the hard work and sacrifice of our firefighters and first responders in Middletown, Manchester, Bristol,... Read More »
Allocation bolsters emergency responder equipment in Virginia counties
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) said a funding allotment of $125,000 would assist efforts to update old equipment at Virginia-area police and fire departments. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) said the effort would aid departments in Augusta County, Halifax County and the... Read More »
DHS S&T coordinates creation of new Emergency Response Best Practices alongside Canada, UK
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) worked alongside colleagues in the United Kingdom and Canada in June to test the latest iteration of the Science Advisory Guide for Emergencies (SAGE). SAGE is a supplemental tool that maintains scientific... Read More »
Sen. Portman visits Wright-Patterson during ‘Results Tour’
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently visited Wright-Patterson Air Force Base as part of his Results Tour, where he met with the officers overseeing the F-35 Hybrid Product Support Integrator Organization and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC). NASIC is using World War II-era... Read More »
Baltimore to receive funding for disaster preparedness
The City of Baltimore received Monday a $937,700 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to improve the city’s preparedness for disasters and catastrophes. The funding was awarded through the DHS Regional Catastrophic Preparedness Grant Program, which seeks to expand... Read More »
Raytheon secures ESSM Block 2 contract
Raytheon has secured a $190 million low-rate Navy contract to produce ESSM (Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles) Block 2 units featuring a guidance system with dual mode active and semi-active radar. “ESSM plays a critical role in protecting Navy sailors worldwide and our international partners share... Read More »
Delaware seeking volunteers to participate in public health exercise
Delaware’s Division of Public Health (DPH) is seeking volunteers to participate in an emergency preparedness exercise on Sept. 28. The exercise will be held at two Delaware Technical Community College campuses and will be used to evaluate the state’s ability to set up locations to... Read More »
Air Force awards new contract to replace wings on A-10 aircraft fleet
As a means of extending the performance of its current A-10 aircraft fleet, the Air Force recently awarded a contract to replace wings on over 100 planes. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ), a former A-10 pilot and the first female to command a squadron of A-10’s in combat, said the effort would... Read More »
U.S. Marines participate in exchange program with Indonesia
The U.S. Marines are participating in a military exchange with Indonesian Marines to train and learn from each other. The 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment is participating with the Indonesian Korps Marinir (KORMAR). The soldiers are training in Eastern Java, Indonesia, and Marine Corps Base... Read More »
Rep. McCaul urges Congress, Trump Administration to address UN arms embargo of Iran
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), lead Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Congress and the Trump Administration must address the expiration of the UN arms embargo on Iran. The UN arms embargo on Iran and the travel ban on Qasem Soleimani, the chief of Iran's Quds force, are set to... Read More »
CBP, LA law enforcement seize more than 52,000 gun parts from China
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authorities said a Los Angeles / Long Beach Seaport law enforcement collaboration recently resulted in the seizure of 52,601 illegal firearms parts. The shipment, which violated the Chinese Arms Embargo, was intercepted with the aid of the Machinery Center of... Read More »
New York City receives nearly $179M from Urban Area Security Initiative
The Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) recently announced that the New York City area would receive $178.8 million in federal funding to help prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from acts of terrorism. The funding includes an $11.09 million Nonprofit Security Grant... Read More »
CBP provides update on U.S. Virgin Islands cargo automation process
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is continuing its efforts to incorporate the U.S. Virgin Islands into the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) to expedite the cargo importation process. At a meeting in Washington D.C. last week, CBP officials updated the U.S. Virgin Islands trade... Read More »
Lawmakers seek immigration checkpoint reviews
Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) requested Wednesday that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the Border Patrol’s interior immigration checkpoints usage and Fourth Amendment compliance. In correspondence to GAO personnel, the senators sought... Read More »
Senators urge inclusion of nuclear weapons provisions in 2020 NDAA
A group of 18 U.S. senators recently urged the Senate Armed Services Committee to include three nuclear weapons provisions in the final National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2020. The provisions were included in the House-passed version of the bill. The first provision would ban... Read More »
Bill would prosecute domestic terrorism the same as international terrorism
Legislation recently introduced in the House would change the penal code structure to prosecute domestic terrorism crimes the same way as international terrorism crimes. The change would allow federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors to charge those committing acts of domestic terrorism... Read More »
Rep. Moulton urges Trump administration to protect Afghan translators
Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) recently urged the Trump administration to protect the lives of the Afghan translators who worked with the U.S. or the Taliban will kill them. Moulton’s warning comes as the administration is negotiating a potential peace deal with the Taliban. There are nearly 20,000... Read More »
Rep. Brooks urges national passage of red flag laws
Rep. Susan Brooks (R-IN) is urging national passage red flag laws, which will allow state law enforcement to seize weapons from individuals perceived as a danger to themselves or others. Brooks said the effort is in the wake of the latest round of mass shootings across the country. She noted... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster firefighter infrastructure
Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) introduced last week a measure designed to enhance the nation’s fire station infrastructure. The Fire Station Infrastructure Safety Act provides data on the age and conditions of every fire station in the country, which the legislators maintain... Read More »
Senators push US efforts against global tuberculosis threats
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) recently introduced legislation to significantly increase U.S. efforts in prevention, research, and technology development to help end the global tuberculosis epidemic. The End Tuberculosis Now Act of 2019 would alter the existing Foreign... Read More »
GAO issues Army cyber, electronic warfare recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Army three recommendations regarding how forces will engage jointly with other services in multiple domains - specifically cyber and space. The GAO said the analysis and subsequent recommendations stem from the House Armed Services... Read More »
Designated lane returns to Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge
The local commuter designated lane is returning to the Laredo Port of Entry, with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) maintaining the benefits of the restored feature. CBP officials said restoring the lane aids motorists not requiring benefits at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, which is... Read More »
FirstNet passes budget including funding for public safety broadband network
The First Responder Network Authority passed an $82 million budget for Fiscal Year 2020, which includes funding for future investments in the nationwide public safety broadband network. “The FirstNet Authority is an organization solely focused on public safety’s critical communications needs... Read More »
Bill would make domestic terrorism a federal crime
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) released a draft of a bill Wednesday that would make domestic terrorism a federal crime. Domestic terrorism is defined in the criminal code but is not a distinct federal crime with specific punishments. This makes it more challenging to track domestic terror acts,... Read More »
Rep. Reed asks U.S. attorney general to investigate NYC water attack on police a hate crime
U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) is asking U.S. Attorney General William Barr to investigate federal criminal and hate crime charges people who doused police officers with buckets of water. In July, police officers in New York City were drenched with buckets of water and one officer was hit on the head... Read More »
New National Guard center announced in North Dakota
North Dakota officials are touting the benefits of a new, $32 million Army National Guard Readiness Center, which will house, support and train guard personnel. “The North Dakota National Guard is always ready, always there,” Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), a member of the Senate Defense... Read More »Sen. Brown reintroduces legislation limiting impact of antibiotic resistance
The Strategies to Address Antibiotic Resistance (STAAR) Act was reintroduced to the Senate this week, raising the issue of what to do in the face of growing antibiotic resistance. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) in an attempt to increase data collection,... Read More »
House bill would help develop evidence-based solutions to address gun violence
Legislation introduced Monday would provide evidence-based solutions to gun violence nationwide. The Gun Safety Board and Research Act establishes a board responsible for conducting research aimed at reducing gun violence and evaluating federal and state policy proposals to identify gaps in gun... Read More »
Department of Defense develops plan to correct contracting practices
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) developed a corrective action plan on contracting practices in the DoD’s Office of Net Assessment. The plan was developed at the request of Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who sent a letter to then-Acting Secretary Mark Esper in July seeking more information on... Read More »
Officials address emerging security threat protections
Acting Deputy Secretary David P. Pekoske and Attorney General William P. Barr recently participated in the Five Country Ministerial in London, England, to address emerging global security threats. Pekoske and Barr joined Home Affairs, Interior Security and Immigration Ministers of the Five Eyes... Read More »
FEMA awards $23.8M in preparedness funding to Maryland
Hazard preparedness in Maryland will benefit from $23.8 million in federal grants recently announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The funds will be broken up into seven specific targets. The State Homeland Security Program, Urban Area Security Initiative, Emergency... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee addresses domestic terrorism
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of House Homeland Security Committee, met with Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan this week to discuss the threat of domestic terrorism following recent shootings in Gilroy, Calif., El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio. The Aug. 13 meeting took place in... Read More »
House Energy & Commerce members initiate biodetection technology system inquiry
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders have written to the U.S. Comptroller General requesting that the Government Accountability Office examine the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new biodetection technology system known as BioDetection 21. The BioDetection 21 pilot program... Read More »
Apprehensions on Southwest border decrease 20 percent in July
Apprehensions along the U.S. Southwest border declined 20 percent in July, the second consecutive month of decreases, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan announced on Aug. 8. The reductions are attributed mainly to an agreement with Mexico that was signed in June intended to... Read More »