Policy
Homeland Security’s S&T unites with Israeli partners on numerous projects
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced this week that it will be working bilaterally with Israeli counterparts through five separate divisions on projects meant to aid public security. While the United States and Israel began annual bilateral... Read More »
House approves bill to strengthen US cybersecurity diplomacy
The House of Representatives approved a bill on Tuesday that would clarify and codify State Department roles in advancing U.S. cybersecurity interests and require regular reports to Congress. The Cyber Diplomacy Act, H.R. 3776, would require State Department briefings on cyberspace policy... Read More »
Homeland Security Department issues waiver to expedite border construction project in Mexico
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday that it has issued a waiver to expedite the construction of barriers and roads near the international border near the Santa Teresa, New Mexico port of entry. The waiver covers a variety of environmental, natural resources and land... Read More »
Senate committee probes ongoing efforts to shore up surface transportation security
A congressional panel probed ongoing efforts to secure the nation’s transportation networks Tuesday in response to the rise of terrorist attacks around the world targeting rail, mass transit, and highways. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Surface Transportation... Read More »
House representatives question what DHS is doing about defunct election integrity commission
Democrats on the Congressional Task Force for Election Security are seeking answers from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristjen Nielsen regarding its responsibilities related to the now-defunct Presidential Commission on Election Integrity. The commission was established to... Read More »
PAHPA hearing witnesses question U.S. government’s preparedness, response commitment
Decreased and episodic funding from the United States government has stakeholders questioning the true commitment federal lawmakers have for sustaining the nation’s preparedness and response capabilities during a catastrophic event linked to infectious diseases, natural disasters or chemical,... Read More »
Brazilian authorities launch vaccination effort to prevent widespread yellow fever outbreak
With 35 confirmed cases of yellow fever and 20 deaths reported in Brazil from July 1, 2017, through Jan. 14, public health officials have launched an intensive vaccination campaign in an effort to head-off a widespread outbreak. Yellow fever cases have been confirmed in São Paulo, Rio de... Read More »
Nuclear Security Workshop in Oslo focuses on forensics, cybersecurity
Nuclear security experts from Scandinavia and the United States took part in a workshop hosted in Oslo last week that focused on leveraging international cooperation to enhance nuclear security and nuclear forensics. Page Stoutland, vice president of scientific and technical affairs at the... Read More »
Baltimore CBP seizes nearly 3,000 counterfeit stainless steel sinks
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Baltimore recently seized 2,990 stainless steel sinks for displaying a counterfeit UPC shield design that, if authentic, would have a suggested retail price of approximately $1.1 million. The shipment of sinks arrived in Baltimore from... Read More »
DHS begins enforcement of REAL ID requirements for state-issued driver’s licenses, identification cards
All 50 states and all but one U.S. territories are on schedule to meet “REAL ID” requirements for driver’s licenses and identification cards to prevent fraud by terrorists and other perpetrators, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week. DHS began to enforce... Read More »
Social Media leaders testify about efforts to curb terrorist recruiting, propaganda online
Leaders of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube recently appeared before a Senate panel to highlight efforts to curb terrorist recruitment, to ban users with extremist ideology, and to remove “how-to manuals” and other terrorism-related content. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation... Read More »
Florida delegation seeks DOD input to prevent military impact from potential coastal drilling
Every member of the Florida congressional delegation signed a letter spearheaded by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL) seeking Defense Department (DOD) Secretary Jim Mattis’ support in making sure that a recent Department of Interior proposal does not impair military... Read More »
Reps. Roskam, Cheney introduce Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act
U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Liz Cheney (R-WY) led a group of 20 other Republicans in introducing the Iran Freedom Policy and Sanctions Act (H.R. 4821). H.R. 4821 aims to increase pressure on Iran for human rights abuses, support for terrorism and ballistic missile program. It would also... Read More »
DOD Research and Engineering Nominee pledges to advance directed energy weapons program
The directed energy weapons program, meant to upgrade the military with high energy laser and high powered microwave weapons technology, has received a commitment of support from a nominee within the Department of Defense. Michael Griffin, nominated for Under Secretary of Defense for Research... Read More »
National disaster health care system needed, experts tell Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense
A stratified biodefense hospital system would provide the United States with a protective shield in the event the country experiences a man-made or natural biological catastrophe, panelists told members of the Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense. The suggestion is one the panelists strongly... Read More »
Sen. Barrasso declares support for investigation into effects of uranium imports
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), chair of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), released Tuesday a statement in support of the petition by multiple uranium producers for an investigation into the effects of uranium imports on U.S. national security. On Monday, American uranium... Read More »
DoJ seeks extradition of alleged al Qaeda associate accused of conspiring to kill US nationals
A 51-year-old Polish national, who has been imprisoned on terrorism charges in France since 2003, faces four counts in U.S. federal courts, including conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, under a superseding indictment that was unsealed on Wednesday. Christian Ganczarski is also charged with... Read More »
Over 550 pounds of cocaine seized at Miami Seaport
Agents of the U.S. Customers and Border Protection (CBP) service raided a cargo vessel at the Miami Seaport this week, confiscating $6.25 million worth of cocaine. The 550 pounds of illegal narcotic were hidden in bags hidden behind metal tubing aboard the vessel. In all, those bags contained... Read More »
New law gives CBP more resources to curb fentanyl trafficking
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers will soon have access to new resources to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids that are being trafficked into the United States under a bill that was signed into law last week. Under the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response... Read More »
DHS, DoJ issue report on terrorism convictions of foreign nationals to make case for enhanced vetting, screening
Seventy-five percent of those convicted of international terrorism or related charges in U.S. federal courts from 2001 to 2016 were born in foreign countries, according to a report released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DoJ) on Tuesday. The report was... Read More »
Senate health committee begins reapproval process for nation’s hazards preparedness law
Public health, when threatened not by Obamacare but by exposure to infectious diseases, natural disasters or chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) agents, is an area where members of Congress have been able to build bipartisanship. Continuing such cross-party work will be... Read More »
DHS S&T, Israel Ministry of Public Security seeking proposals for advanced first responder technologies
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced Tuesday that it is accepting proposals for advanced first responder technologies in partnership with the Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS). The request is part of the NextGen First... Read More »
FDA, DoD launch joint program to expedite development of needed medical products, treatments for military personnel
A joint program launched by the FDA and Department of Defense (DoD) on Tuesday will prioritize the development of medical products that can help save the lives of military personnel. Using expanded authorities granted under a provision of the fiscal year 2017 National Defense Authorization Act,... Read More »
Experts tell Congress China is best avenue for North Korea intervention
A panel of international policy experts told lawmakers Wednesday the best way to help rein in the nuclear ambitions of North Korea is through the intervention of the Chinese government, though none of the panelists expressed much optimism in Chinese assistance any time soon. “I think getting... Read More »
Biodefense panel convenes to address state and local cooperation in midst of major health disasters
In order to respond accordingly in the midst of large-scale biological events such as a terrorist attack or natural disaster, public and private organizations need to coordinate, but on Wednesday public health experts at a Blue Ribbon Study Panel on Biodefense meeting cited obstacles that highlight... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Van Hollen introduce bill to defend against foreign interference in US elections
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced legislation Tuesday designed to prevent foreign actors from interfering in U.S. elections. The Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act would implement measures such as sanctions and blocking... Read More »
NTI’s Moniz warns policy of deterrence not enough to prevent use of nuclear weapons
Seventy-five years after the first controlled nuclear chain reaction, Ernest Moniz, co-chair and CEO of the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), recently warned that the United States faces “a different nuclear age” with miscalculation, diplomatic tensions, terrorism, technological advancements and... Read More »House advances 12 bills to strengthen defenses against terrorism
The House of Representatives recently advanced 12 legislative proposals derived from recommendations from the Homeland Security Committee’s Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry to the United States final report. The legislation included various initiating designed to prevent terrorists from... Read More »
OPCW director-general commends destruction of Libya’s chemical weapon stockpile
The Director-General of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Ahmet Üzümcü, applauded the complete destruction of Libya’s stockpile of Category 2 chemical materials at a ceremony held recently in Munster, Germany. The remainder of the country’s... Read More »
Bill will modernize department’s fire-fighting equipment
U.S. Sens Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) recently introduced the Wildfire Management Technology Advancement Act of 2017, which seeks to modernize fire departments by requiring the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to provide GPS locators for crews fighting... Read More »
GAO report finds CBP has failed to guarantee proper licensing of all imported radiological materials
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently announced that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has failed to verify some licenses for radiological shipments through U.S. airports. Warning that such material as contained within these shipments could be used by terrorists to make... Read More »
House immigration bill would authorize border wall, modernize ports of entry
A bill introduced in the House of Representatives Wednesday would authorize construction of a border wall, invest in new technology and expand ports of entry, and add 5,000 Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents. The Securing America's Future Act would also require the use of a biometric... Read More »
GAO recommends FCC actions to bolster network resilience
The number of wireless network outages increased from 189 in 2009 to 1,079 in 2016, making safety-related communications like calling 911 and receiving weather alerts increasingly unavailable to the public, a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) review found. The increase in wireless... Read More »
House approves bill aiming to bolster domestic breeders of bomb detecting dogs
A working group consisting of government officials, private-sector representatives, academics, and veterinarians would be formed to develop standards for breeding and training dogs to detect explosives under a bill that the House of Representatives approved on Tuesday. The Domestic Explosives... Read More »