Policy
DHS to award $1.7B in grants for emergency preparedness
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will award eight preparedness grant programs totaling more than $1.7 billion in fiscal year 2019. The grants will provide funding to states and local governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector,... Read More »
Laredo CBP personnel prepping for holiday travel
With Holy Week (Semana Santa) soon approaching, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officials said Laredo Field Office (LFO) holiday preparation is continuing. “Our CBP officers and agriculture specialists are the nation’s frontline of defense against all... Read More »
Social media protection plan inquiry launched
Homeland Security Subcommittee lawmakers are seeking insight regarding investments Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism members are making to prevent terrorists and extremists platform exploitation. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), chair of the Homeland Subcommittee on Intelligence and... Read More »
Maine National Guard battalion deploys
The 286th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the Maine Army National Guard, which will be taking part in Operation Atlantic Resolve, deployed Saturday. As part of the operation, U.S. forces have been rotating through Europe since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2014. American forces train with... Read More »
Bill would give Congress oversight of transfer of nuclear information
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill that would ensure that Congress has the authority to review all materials related to the transfer or nuclear technologies and information. These transfers are known as Part 810 agreement whereby the U.S. government authorizes persons or companies... Read More »
Lawmakers visit hurricane-damaged military bases
House Armed Services Committee Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) is joining congressional colleagues in touring military bases damaged by Hurricane Florence. Garamendi will be accompanied by Ranking Member of the Readiness Subcommittee, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) and Maj.... Read More »
Legislation would establish cybersecurity grant program
Recently introduced bicameral legislation would create a grant program, authorized by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to allow state, local, and tribal governments to strengthen their cybersecurity defenses. The program would allow governments to develop, revise or implement cyber... Read More »
Senate Democrats ask Shanahan about deployment of troops to border
Senate Democrats are asking Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan to clarify statements made by Department of Defense (DOD) officials about the deployment of military personnel to the southwest border. In their letter to Shanahan, the senators are seeking assurances that this deployment... Read More »
TSA forms Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials have established the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC), which will be responsible for providing recommendations on surface transportation security matters. The committee operates in accordance with provisions of the... Read More »
GAO offers Marine Corps recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued three recommendations to the Marine Corps regarding the branch's efforts to track training funds and link them to mission readiness. The GAO analysis stemmed from a congressional report maintaining the Corps' budget estimates haven't... Read More »
DOD principal deputy assistant secretary inspects Pennsylvania National Guard training center
Veronica Daigle, principal deputy assistant secretary for Readiness for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), recently visited the Pennsylvania National Guard’s (PNG) training center at Fort Indiantown Gap (FTIG) as part of her tour of schools and ranges where soldiers and airmen from National... Read More »
Sacramento Regional Transit District earns TSA award
Sid Hanna, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Security director in Sacramento, recently presented Henry Li, general manager and CEO of the Sacramento Regional Transit District (SacRT), with the Gold Standard Award. The annual award honors transit agencies that have high scores... Read More »
Sens. Gardner, Warner introduce bill to encourage states to bolster cybersecurity
U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation this week to encourage state, local, and tribal governments to strengthen their defenses against cybersecurity threats. The State Cyber Resiliency Act would authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to run a... Read More »
Sen. Rubio seeks foreign terrorist, criminal organization designations
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) forwarded correspondence last week to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin seeking specific Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and Transnational Criminal Organization (TCO) designations. In his letter, Rubio, chairman of the... Read More »
G7 ministers call for increased law enforcement cooperation with INTERPOL
INTERPOL took center stage in recent discussions between G7 Interior Ministers, who determined that increased cooperation and data sharing with the international police organization is critical to increased law enforcement efforts throughout the world. “INTERPOL has the experience and the... Read More »
TSA launches public awareness campaign about new ID requirements
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently launched a public awareness campaign to educate travelers on the agency’s new identification requirements. Starting Oct. 1, 2020, anyone who flies will be required to present a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, or another... Read More »
Rep. Burgess reintroduces bill to reduce aid for Central American nations
Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX), reintroduced legislation last week that would reduce foreign aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras by $30,000 for each of its unaccompanied alien children placed in U.S. federal custody. The Unaccompanied Alien Children Assistance Control Act is designed to... Read More »FDA, CBP bolster safety, health protections
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel have reached an agreement designed to bolster public health and safety protection efforts. The collaboration would maximize inspection and detection capabilities as a means of preventing illegal and... Read More »
Senate bill would prevent war with Iran without Congressional approval
A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill that would prohibit the United States from expending funds which could lead to war with Iran without express approval from Congress. The Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019 underscores that Article 1, Section 8 of the... Read More »
GAO recommends nine actions to improve TSA security, screening
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is constantly working to identify screening issues, but while covert tests have improved, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) attests that operations could be bettered, especially since one new process used by TSA is not working... Read More »
Bill seeks to reclassify 9-1-1 dispatchers
Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently introduced a measure designed to enhance the Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) to reflect the daily work of 9-1-1 dispatchers. The Supporting Accurate Views of Emergency Services Act, also known as the 9-1-1 SAVES Act,... Read More »
Joint Strike Fighter Caucus urges support for stealth aircraft program
The House Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus recently sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House Armed Service Committee and the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee urging them to support the F-35 Lightning II program. The F-35 is a stealth military aircraft.... Read More »
Sen. Rounds expresses support for Singh’s Law
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) spoke out about his support of a bill that would bar aliens associated with a criminal gang and convicted of a crime from entering the United States. Singh’s Law was introduced earlier this year by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Menendez question US-Saudi nuclear cooperation
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) forwarded correspondence Tuesday to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry seeking clarity regarding the nation's nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia. In the letter, Rubio and Menendez expressed concern and sought clarification about the... Read More »
Nonimmigrant visa applications decreased in 2017
The number of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications issue by U.S. State Department consular officers decreased in fiscal year 2017 to 880,000 after increasing annually from fiscal years 2012 through 2016, according to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report. Applications... Read More »
Sens. Cotton, Jones introduce bill to create scholarship program for pilots
U.S. Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Doug Jones (D-AL) introduced a bill to create pilot scholarship programs for qualified members of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC). The Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited (CAVU) Act is named after the renowned pilots' acronym to describe ideal... Read More »
DOD, Republic of Korea officials meet
Department of Defense (DOD) and Republic of Korea (ROK) officials met recently to discuss efforts supporting denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula. Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and ROK Minister of National Defense Jeong Keyong-doo said the session was on the heels... Read More »
Philippine, US, and Australian forces join for 35th Balikatan training exercise
A training exercise known as Balikatan is underway in the Philippines this week, assembling forces from the Philippines, United States and Australia to address a multi-faceted range of operations. Balikatan, which marks the partnership between the Philippines and United States specifically, is... Read More »
Rep. Fitzpatrick named to Helsinki Commission
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) was appointed to serve as a commissioner on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, or the Helsinki Commission. The Helsinki Commission, founded in 1976, was created to advance democracy and human rights through military, economic, and environmental... Read More »
FDA’s final rule ensures safer, better tests to detect anthrax-causing bacteria
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday issued a final rule that restricts both the use and distribution of Bacillus bacteria detection devices, which are prescribed to preliminarily identify and diagnose cases of anthrax and other infectious diseases. “The FDA plays a critical... Read More »
Smiths Detection wins $96.8M computed tomography contract from TSA
A $96.8 million computed tomography (CT) systems contract from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) was awarded last week to Smiths Detection, Inc. The contract will cover the next five years, over which 300 CT systems and their affiliated equipment will be deployed at various... Read More »
FirstNet bolsters Mississippi ambulance coverage
A Mississippi-based ambulance company is espousing the benefits of partnering with the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to enhance communication and coverage. AAA Ambulance Service in Hattiesburg, Miss., subscribed to FirstNet to aid in connecting its 24-hour emergency and... Read More »
Training exercise aids disaster preparedness
Marine Corps Logistics Base personnel in Barstow, Calif., recently conducted a training exercise designed to enhance both man-made and natural emergency preparedness. The Exercise Haber Rail effort involved a simulated rail tanker car carrying thousands of cubic feet of chlorine gas... Read More »
AMO drug bust yields more than three tons of marijuana off Central American coast
A mission by agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) seized more than three tons of drugs from a vessel off the coast of Central America last week. The drugs, estimated to be worth $17 million, were plucked from a moderately-sized, open-bed fishing... Read More »