Policy
Bill to protect nation’s food systems against agro-terrorism, disease outbreaks signed into law
A bill that aims to strengthen the nation’s preparedness of its food, agriculture, and veterinary systems against terrorism and other high-risk events through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was recently signed into law by President Trump. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep.... Read More »
Latin American, Caribbean State Parties meet at OPCW headquarters to discuss the implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention
Latin American and Caribbean State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) recently convened at a meeting at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ headquarters in The Hague to commemorate the CWC’s 20th anniversary and discuss the full implementation of the... Read More »Bipartisan bill to mitigate threats from cyberattacks introduced in House, Senate
Following the international WannaCry ransomware attack, which has reportedly infected approximately 300,000 computer systems in more than 150 nations, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill that aims to combat cyberattacks and cybercrime against U.S. computer networks. The Promoting... Read More »
Cantwell calls for strengthening energy systems cybersecurity in wake of new international ransomware attacks
In the wake of reports that a new ransomware attack has affected computer systems in multiple countries, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, called for strengthening cybersecurity for the nation’s energy systems before a major... Read More »
Rep. Torres introduces bill to strengthen coordination amongst port landlords, tenants in wake of recent cyber attack
In the wake of a massive cyberattack that led to the closure of the largest terminal at the Port of Los Angeles, U.S. Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA) said she would be reintroducing a bill that aims to improve coordination between port landlords and tenants to address various cyber-related threats. ... Read More »
Funding cuts seen compromising America’s ability to fight global infectious disease threats
To advance U.S. leadership in fighting threats against human health – potentially deadly threats that can be transmitted between people like HIV, malaria, tuberculosis and the Ebola and Zika viruses – requires Congress to “resolutely reject” the Trump administration’s proposed FY 2018... Read More »
Sen. Peters introduces three amendments to FAA Reauthorization Act
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced a series of amendments to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2017 that will help enhance the safety of airline passengers at local airports and ensure that relevant stakeholders are consulted when the FAA forms its new... Read More »Estes appointed to House Homeland Security Committee
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently announced that U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) would be the newest addition to the House Homeland Security Committee. “Ron has a proven record of streamlining operations and increasing efficiency—and the... Read More »
Rep. Walorski introduces bill to provide Congressional oversight of Gitmo detainee transfers
A bill that seeks to enhance Congressional oversight of future Guantanamo Bay (Gitmo) detainee transfers by closing a loophole that allowed the executive branch to keep secret the terms under which terrorist detainees were released was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by... Read More »
Sen. Flake requests that Sessions restore zero-tolerance approach to first time illegal border crossers
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) recently sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions requesting that he reenact Operation Streamline’s zero-tolerance approach to illegal border crossings and reverse actions from the Obama Administration that undermined the program’s intent. Flake’s... Read More »
House Democrats urge DHS Secretary Kelly to not back down on critical infrastructure designation for election systems
Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee recently sent a public letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly requesting information regarding plans to work with states to secure election infrastructure in the wake of intelligence officials confirming that... Read More »
Denmark’s Permanent Under Secretary of State visits OPCW headquarters to discuss Chemical Weapons Convention implementation
The Kingdom of Denmark’s Permanent Under-Secretary of State Michael Starbæk Christensen recently visited the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague to discuss ways to strengthen international cooperation against chemical weapons use.... Read More »
Homeland Security awards $10 million for community-led counter terrorism initiatives
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced 26 awards totaling $10 million for the Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Grant Program, which seeks to address the issue of violent extremism in the United States through a series of community-led initiatives. DHS said the... Read More »
FCC issues proposal for new alert system intended to protect law enforcement officers, public
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a proposal to add an alert option to the nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) that aims to protect law enforcement officers by allowing them to notify the public of various threats to officers and provide information on wanted... Read More »
Sen. Tillis addresses border concerns regarding MS-13 gang, illegal immigration
In a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang and its role in proliferating illegal immigration along the country’s southern border, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) addressed the fact that lawmakers need to tune out both the far left and far right of the... Read More »
Democratic senators send letter demanding analysis of Russian cyber capabilities on US energy infrastructure
A group of Democratic members of the U.S. Senate recently sent a public letter to President Trump, urging the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct a thorough analysis of Russian cyber capabilities on the nation’s energy infrastructure. The letter specifically called for directing the... Read More »
Infectious Disease Society of America urges Congress to retain funding levels for NIH, Fogarty Center
In preparation for National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins’ testimony before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on Appropriations, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) released a public statement urging... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee subcommittee passes FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act mark
Members of the House Armed Services Committee’s (HASC) Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities (ETC) recently passed their subcommittee mark for the FY2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes provisions for cybersecurity, counterterrorism initiatives, and defense... Read More »
OPCW Director-General addresses US defense officials during visit to United States
Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), recently gave a speech to key U.S. State Department officials in a commemorative event to mark the Chemical Weapons Convention’s (CWC) 20th anniversary during his visit to the United States. ... Read More »President will consider bill to protect nation’s food supply, agriculture sector from agroterrorism
Efforts to protect the nation’s agriculture sector and food supply against terrorist attacks and high-risk events would be ratched up under a bill that the House approved on Monday. The Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 1238, would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security... Read More »
Updated Pandemic Influenza Plan highlights need for seasonal flu preparedness
A Pandemic Influenza Plan released last week outlines areas of focus over the next decade and concludes that seasonal flu preparedness efforts must be stepped up in response to “the continually changing nature” of influenza viruses. The Pandemic Influenza Plan was first undertaken in 2005,... Read More »
Rep. Donovan’s PREPARE Act passes House Homeland Security Committee
Legislation from U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) that supports the nation’s efforts to prepare for and respond to terror attacks and emergencies cleared the House Homeland Security Committee last week as part of the Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act. Donovan, who serves as... Read More »
IAEA, Hungary conduct exercise to gauge global response to a nuclear emergency
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Hungary conducted a 36-hour, international exercise this week to test the global emergency response to a nuclear power plant accident, such as Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. The exercise involved 82 IAEA Member States and 11 international... Read More »
Sen. Murray inquires about effects of proposed budget cuts to FEMA emergency preparedness grant programs
In response to President Trump’s proposed FY2018 budget, which calls for approximately $847 million in cuts to grant programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) wrote a public letter that strongly urged against any cuts to the programs.... Read More »
OPCW Director-General visits china, discusses chemical weapons destruction
Ahmet Üzümcü, Director-General of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), recently met with senior Chinese government officials during an official OPCW visit to China to deliver a lecture of chemical weapons destruction and the threat of chemical weapons use by non-state... Read More »
Proposed cost-saving plan to close DHS national laboratory could yield catastrophic results, expert says
As the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) locks in its budget priorities, on the potential chopping block is the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC)—a potentially devastating public health concern, one expert says. That center, which aided governmental response... Read More »
Payne, Jr. authors three amendments included in Homeland Security reauthorization bill
Three amendments, authored by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), were included in the recently-passed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Authorization Act of 2017 by the U.S. House of Representatives, each of which addresses a specific challenge in disaster response, oversight and... Read More »Norway organizes NATO discussions on strengthening scientific cooperation among member states
During a meeting of the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Program, various scientists and experts from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) partner countries recently examined opportunities for cooperation to address emerging security-related challenges. Organized in conjunction with... Read More »
Subcommittee hearing examines vulnerabilities within wireless technology, wireless networks
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Communications and Technology recently held a hearing to assess cybersecurity risks within wireless technologies and the networks to which they connect. U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), who chairs the subcommittee, said the... Read More »
Democrats urge against cuts to biological threat preparedness programs
In a public letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Greg Walden (R-OR), a group of Democratic House members requested that the committee hold a hearing regarding the country’s ability to be prepared for and respond to various biological threats. The group, which... Read More »
OPCW Confidentiality Commission elects new chair, discusses review and dispute procedures
The Commission for the Settlement of Disputes Related to Confidentiality, a subsidiary of the Conference of State Parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), recently named Alireza Jahangiri as its new chairperson during a recent meeting at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical... Read More »
Interpol holds meeting on mitigating threats of foreign terrorist fighters, transnational terrorism
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held an international counterterrorism meeting in Athens, Greece to discuss regional and global trends on foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs) and the threats they pose to their home countries. The meeting was held under... Read More »
Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee examines healthcare cybersecurity in wake of international ransomware attacks
The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations recently held a hearing assessing the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) role in cybersecurity in the nation’s healthcare sector. The goal of the discussion centered on two HHS reports... Read More »
Bill to provide Congressional oversight of military cyber operations introduced in House
A bill that aims to strengthen Congressional oversight of sensitive military cyber operations and cyber weapons was recently introduced in the House by U.S. Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Mac Thornberry (R-TX), James Langevin (D-RI), and Elise Stefanik (R-NY). In describing the bill, Smith said the... Read More »