Policy
CBP adds new administrative post to support border patrol agents
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the newly created Border Patrol Processing Coordinator position would prove valuable in freeing agents for critical law enforcement operations. “I am committed to providing the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol the resources they need to... Read More »
DHS to form security subcommittee for religious institutions
Acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kevin McAleenan recently announced DHS has created a Homeland Security Advisory Council subcommittee to focus on threats faced by religious institutions and places of worship. The subcommittee will be comprised of academics, emergency and... Read More »
Boeing subsidiary wins weapon planning software contract
Tapestry Solutions, a subsidiary of Boeing, got a 10-year contract from the U.S. Air Force to provide weapon planning software (WPS) for the U.S. military and allied forces. The software is designed to help military officials plan missions, including routes, threats, and points for weapons... Read More »
Legislation seeks to defend Taiwan from increased Chinese pressure
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chris Coons (D-DE) and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently reintroduced The Taiwan Allies International Protection and Enhancement Initiative (TAIPEI) Act, which is designed to strengthen Taiwan’s world standing in response to increased Chinese... Read More »
Amendment banning firefighting chemical advances Senate Armed Services Committee
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee has advanced a legislative amendment prohibiting the Department of Defense from procuring firefighting foam containing per and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS). The revision served as part of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal... Read More »
CBP makes three narcotics seizures prior to holiday weekend
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers made three narcotics seizures last week. The first seizure occurred May 20 at the Calexico East port of entry between Calexico, Calif., and Mexicali, Mexico. A canine team detected 64 pounds of methamphetamine with an estimated street value of... Read More »
House Oversight Committee debates need for regulations on facial recognition technology
The House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing last week that examined the use of facial recognition technology and the need for oversight on how it is used on the public. Facial recognition technology – which analyzes faces to identify individuals -- is growing in use by the... Read More »
US, Mexican authorities dismantle illicit scouting network
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents recently joined Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and Mexico’s Federal Police Force to thwart an illicit scouting network on the border. The four-day operation yielded the seizure of more than 250 pounds of narcotics, assault weapons, and... Read More »
Senators concerned over TSA diverting funds to southern border
Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) recently sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials expressing concern over a plan to divert personnel to the nation’s southern border. The TSA plans to divert 40 air marshals to the southern border to work with... Read More »
NDAA includes two projects to upgrade Fort Drum in New York
The fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was approved out of the Senate Armed Services Committee, authorizes full funding for two projects at the Fort Drum military base in Upstate New York. The NDAA includes funding for a new railhead and a new Unmanned Aerial... Read More »
California man indicted for planning to bomb rally
A California federal grand jury indicted Wednesday Mark Steven Domingo for planning to bomb a rally in Long Beach in late April. The former U.S. Army infantryman was charged with providing material support to terrorists and attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Domingo expressed in... Read More »
Hearing examines animal pest disease prevention, response
The House Agriculture Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee recently conducted a hearing to examine animal pest disease prevention and response, determining U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Congressional coordination is needed. “The livestock industry faces pest and disease... Read More »
Bill addresses effort to combat Valley Fever
A group of lawmakers introduced this week legislation designed to address the short-term, medium-term, and long-term challenges to detecting, treating, and eventually eliminating Valley Fever. Valley Fever, also known as coccidioidomycosis, is an infection caused by the fungus Coccidioides and... Read More »
GAO finds already overdue GPS upgrade likely to be delayed further
In an assessment of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and a planned Defense Department upgrade to a new system known as OCX, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found efforts will most likely continue to be delayed. The upgrade has already faced around five years of delays, but... Read More »
House bill would help prevent outbreaks of measles, other contagious diseases
Legislation that would increase immunization rates across the country to prevent future outbreaks of contagious diseases was introduced in Congress this week. The Vaccine Awareness Campaign to Champion Immunization Nationally and Enhance Safety (VACCINES) Act will give the Center for Disease... Read More »
CDC develops education module for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently created an education module to help clinicians recognize the early signs of and diagnose Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMSF). The bite of an infected tick spreads RMSF. Symptoms include headache, fever, and sometimes a rash.... Read More »
Bill seeks to aid Afghan allies
Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) recently joined a group of House colleagues in introducing the Afghan Allies Protection Act, which officials said demonstrates support for the thousands Afghan and Iraqi allies. Since 2002, the government has employed thousands of Afghan and Iraqi allies to serve alongside... Read More »
Measure seeks to address potential Iran conflict
A group of lawmakers recently supported a bill designed to prohibit expending funds which could lead to war with Iran without express approval from Congress. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) has joined Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rand Paul (R-KY) as well as several other colleagues in advocating for the... Read More »
Test flight conducted on military rescue helicopter
Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin Co., recently conducted a test flight of its HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopter in West Palm Beach, Fla. The aircraft is based on the UH-60M Black Hawk and is customized for U.S. Air Force rescue missions. The U.S. Air Force plans to replace its HH-60G Pave Hawk... Read More »
Bill to implement behavioral threat assessment process in communities gains traction
A bill that would implement a behavioral threat assessment process across federal, state, and local governments to protect communities continues to gain traction among lawmakers. The Threat Assessment, Prevention, and Safety (TAPS) Act of 2019 -- sponsored by Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX) – has... Read More »
Bill seeks to modernize Department of Defense workforce
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM) introduced last week a measure designed to modernize the Department of Defense (DoD) workforce by establishing a recruitment element and military career tracks for digital engineering. The Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act stems from the... Read More »
Gun violence reduction bill reintroduced in House
The bipartisan Jake Laird Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week during National Police Week and Mental Health Awareness Month. The bill enables local law enforcement to temporarily remove and retain firearms with probable cause from individuals who are determined to... Read More »
Operation dismantles cyber-criminal network trying to steal money from bank accounts with malware
An international law enforcement operation has dismantled a complex transnational organized cybercrime network that attempted to steal an estimated $100 million from victims in the United States and around the world. The crime syndicate used malware called GozNym to try and infect tens of... Read More »
All-hazards preparedness, response bill nabs Senate approval, heads back to House
The full U.S. Senate on Thursday approved bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize the nation’s all-hazards preparedness and response law. “I am pleased my Senate colleagues joined me in supporting this legislation that ensures America’s biodefenses are ready for the public health... Read More »
Bill targets effort bolstering cybersecurity
Rep. Michael T. McCaul (R-TX) recently expressed gratitude to the Homeland Security Committee for its consideration of the DHS Cyber Incident Response Teams Act of 2019. “I’m proud to introduce legislation that ensures DHS can foster collaboration between the private and public sectors,”... Read More »
Lawmakers applaud progression of intelligence measure
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME), members of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, recently praised the progression of a measure designed to authorizes funding and enables comprehensive, congressional oversight for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC). The Committee... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee advances bill to strengthen DHS counterterrorism coordination
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee advanced this week a bill intended to bolster counterterrorism efforts under an updated Counterterrorism Advisory Board (CTAB). The Counter Threats Advisory Board Act seeks to authorize and rename CTAB, would codify the board for... Read More »
Bill would protect US elections from foreign interference
Thirteen U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday that aims to protect American elections from foreign interference. “The Russian government interfered in American elections in 2016, and if we don't stop them, they and other governments are going to do it again,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Lee introduce Cyber Ready Workforce Act
Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Susie Lee (D-NV) introduced a bill in the House this week that would direct the Department of Labor to award grants to businesses and organizations to develop apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Through the Cyber Ready Workforce Act (H.R. 6791), the... Read More »
Measure targets root causes of migrant crisis
A group of Democratic senators recently announced the reintroduction of legislation seeking to address the root causes of the Central American migrant crisis, outlining the coordinated regional response needed to manage violence and humanitarian concerns effectively. Senate Democratic Leader... Read More »
Bill addresses Chinese military scientists, American labs
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced a measure designed to ban those employed or sponsored by Chinese military institutions from receiving American student or research visas. The... Read More »
House advances legislation designed to bolster Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced two bills this week that support homeland security efforts. The first bill is the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 1313), sponsored by Rep. Peter King (R-NY). It seeks to standardize performance periods for the Transit Security Grant... Read More »
Rhode Island launches initial cybercrime support, recovery hotline
Rhode Island recently launched the nation’s first statewide cybercrime support and recovery hotline, enabling residents to address identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and other cybercrimes. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), who helped secure $282,600 in federal funding for... Read More »
GAO recommends USAID improve fund tracking, response planning
Though efforts by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have helped many countries hit by the Zika virus since its emergence in 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that its efforts could do with improvement, particularly when tracking funds and planning... Read More »