Policy
Fort Drum in New York gets missile defense site designation from DoD
The U.S. Department of Defense designated Fort Drum in Jefferson County, N.Y., as an East Coast Missile Defense Site. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) commended the choice. “I am proud to announce that after years of leading the effort on behalf of Fort Drum on the House Armed Services... Read More »
Bill would cover firefighters under federal workers’ compensation
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate Tuesday would amend the Federal Employee Compensation Act to make it easier for firefighters who were injured or became ill as a result of their service to be covered by federal workers’ compensation. Currently, federal law does not recognize certain... Read More »
New report finds cybersecurity lacking across multiple federal agencies
A new report from U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) details the failure of eight federal agencies, over the course of two administrations, to address vulnerabilities in their IT infrastructure. The senators, who serve as the chairman and ranking member of the Permanent... Read More »
Bill addresses federal law enforcement weapons theft
Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA) introduced a measure designed to create minimum standards preventing federal law enforcement officers’ service weapons from becoming lost and stolen. The Federal Law Enforcement and Public Protection Act stems from the fact in recent years in the Bay Area and... Read More »
BAE Systems secures $90M Navy contract
Engineering and integrations systems firm BAE Systems has secured a five-year, $90 million contract to modernize and maintain C5ISR systems embedded within vehicles, watercraft, and specialized communications platforms. The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity pact spans five years while... Read More »
Defense bill includes $1.7B for tanks
The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $1.7 billion in funding to upgrade 165 Abrams tanks and a $249 million for upgrading Stryker Vehicles, a $78 million increase from last fiscal year. The bill also increases the Abrams tanks’ rate of production in Lima,... Read More »
Bill to fund bulletproof vests for law enforcement approved
The program that reimburses state, counties and local jurisdictions for up to 50 percent of the cost of body armor vests purchased for law enforcement officers was included this week will get funded via a House appropriations bill. The U.S. House approved the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program... Read More »
Pandemic and all-hazards preparedness, response law emboldens U.S. disaster recovery efforts
The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing (PAHPA) Innovation Act, S. 1379, became law on Monday with the president’s signature, prompting accolades from national stakeholders, company executives and federal lawmakers. The far-reaching law ensures the United States will be better... Read More »
CBP agents seize $1.1 billion of cocaine in Philadelphia
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) last week seized more than 17.5 tons of cocaine with an estimated street value of $1.1 billion at the Philadelphia seaport. Agents from the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP and HSI... Read More »
Bill would fund Coast Guard through 2021
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House to authorize funds for the U.S. Coast Guard through fiscal year 2021. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019 (H.R. 3409) includes funds to promote the U.S. maritime industry and offshore renewable energy development, authorization of funding to build... Read More »
Texas National Guard personnel deployed to border
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has deployed 1,000 Texas National Guard troops to the Southwest border to support Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding border security. “The crisis at our southern border is unlike anything we’ve witnessed before and has put an enormous strain on the existing... Read More »
GAO recommends Congressional action to protect T-band, first responder efforts
According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), first responder communications are at serious risk with the pending, 2021 sale of the T-Band part of the radio spectrum. In 11 large metropolitan areas, police, firefighters and other first responders rely heavily on that spectrum, and in... Read More »
Bill further empowers ICE BITMAP initiative
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently introduced legislation designed to strengthen the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Biometric Identification Transnational Migration Alert Program (BITMAP), which detects and deters illicit criminal entry. BITMAP is... Read More »
Pennsylvania officials attend DHS cybersecurity training
Pennsylvania state and county officials recently attended the Tabletop the Vote 2019 cyber training exercise hosted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. The exercise provided election, information technology, and security personnel... Read More »
Cybersecurity experts discuss ways to protect technology supply chains
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) met in Washington, D.C. last week to discuss how to help industry and government stakeholders manage risks to information and communications technology (ICT) supply chains. At the meeting, CISA’s Information and Communications... Read More »
House adopts military training funding amendment
The House of Representatives has adopted an amendment adding $6 million to the Defense Appropriations bill to increase funding for Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard training. The effort, introduced by Reps. Andy Barr (R-KY) and Brett Guthrie (R-KY), is part of H.R. 2740. It would take... Read More »
Senate committee advances legislation to increase security funding for religious, non-profit organizations
New legislation advanced last week by the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee would allot $75 million annually for grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations specifically dedicated helping them secure their facilities. The Protecting Faith-based and Nonprofit... Read More »
Bill would encourage weapon manufacturers to develop smart gun technology
Legislation recently introduced in Congress would provide tax incentives to firearm manufacturers and small businesses for the development of smart gun technologies while encouraging consumers to purchase firearms that utilize the technologies. The Start Advancing Firearms Enhancements and... Read More »
Senate bill would help state, local governments thwart cyberattacks
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced a bill to foster stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments. The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act would encourage national... Read More »
Delta to install facial recognition at three airports
Delta Air Lines, in partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), will install facial recognition at three airports over the next month. The technology will be installed at boarding gates and will be used for international flights. It can save approximately nine minutes of boarding... Read More »
Bill would strengthen cybersecurity coordination
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate aims to promote stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments. The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act encourages national cybersecurity watchdogs to share... Read More »
Rep. Rogers touts legislative package to improve homeland security
U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) introduced a legislative package of seven bills called the “American Security Agenda,” which seeks to improve the U.S. response to homeland security threats. “The goal of the American Security Agenda is to take a hard look at the Department’s missions and act... Read More »
Seattle to house new polar icebreakers
Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) is lauding the Coast Guard’s recent decision noting Seattle will serve as the homeport for three new Coast Guard polar security cutters, or polar icebreakers. “This is great news,” Cantwell, the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce Committee, which has... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for security contractors
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued recommendations for National Nuclear Security Administration contractors. The contractors design and manufacture explosive materials for nuclear weapons, and there are approximately 100 different nuclear- weapon components that... Read More »
Sen. Hoeven encourages federal use of North Dakota drone knowledge for wildfire fighting
Highlighting the success of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in disaster response, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) recently encouraged federal departments to partner with his state’s Northern Plains UAS Test Site in the fight against wildfires. Specifically, he wanted to see the site’s knowledge... Read More »
Cianbro wins $12.2M contract at Portsmouth Navy Shipyard
Cianbro was awarded a $12.2 million contract to expand the warehouse facility at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Portsmouth, N.H. “I have long advocated for the Navy to address the modernization needs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and I am so pleased to announce that the contract has... Read More »
HASC action addresses Guantanamo transfers
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) recently adopted a pair of National Defense Authorization Act amendments blocking the Guantanamo detainee transfers to certain countries presenting national security threats. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), ranking member of the House Homeland Security... Read More »
Measures support high-altitude aviation training
Rep. Scott Tipton (R-CO) recently proposed legislation supporting the military’s high-altitude aviation training in Colorado, backing Department of Defense (DoD) guidelines for aircraft flying over the state’s wilderness areas. Tipton said the bill, H.R. 2347, and resolution, H.R. 440,... Read More »
Legislation would outlaw the distribution of blueprints for 3D printed firearms
Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced legislation last week that would make it illegal to distribute online blueprints and instructions that detail how to automatically program a 3D printer to produce or manufacture a firearm. The 3D... Read More »
US, Colombia, and Mexico officials work to fight criminal organizations
Prosecutors from Colombia, Mexico, and the United States met in June to develop joint strategies and best practices to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that threaten the three nations. The meeting of the Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCO) Working Group in Cartagena,... Read More »
Bioterrorism combating measure advances House Judiciary Committee
As a means of addressing the rising threat of bioterrorism, the House Judiciary Committee has approved a bill criminalizing possession of certain deadly substances. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Kathleen Rice (D-NY) introduced the Effective Prosecution of Possession of Biological Toxins and... Read More »
TAL Subcommittee advances National Defense Authorization Act
The Tactical Air and Land Forces (TAL) Subcommittee has voted to advance the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The effort to advance the measure out of Committee by a 33-24 vote stems from the overarching goal of building a strong national defense, supporting service members and... Read More »
Reps. Graves, Gottheimer introduce bill to help individuals thwart cyberattacks
U.S. Reps. Tom Graves (R-GA) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced legislation that seeks to provide American more tools to defend themselves online from cyberthreats. The Active Cyber Defense Certainty Act (ACDC) makes changes to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) to allow use of limited... Read More »
IoT measure advances through House committee
The House Committee has advanced legislation designed to enhance Internet of Things (IoT) devices security and aid in preventing attacks on information technology infrastructure on Oversight and Reform. The Internet of Things Cybersecurity Improvement Act, which was introduced by Reps. Will Hurd... Read More »