Policy
Fourteen cases of chikungunya appear in Italy, according to WHO
Fourteen confirmed cases of chikungunya virus have recently been diagnosed in Italy, six of which appeared in Rome with another eight appearing in the coastal region of Anzio, according to a recently published report from the World Health Organization (WHO). The first case was identified on... Read More »House advances appropriations package to fund border wall, increase military funding
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced an appropriations bill that would fund President Trump’s wall on the Mexican border and various other security initiatives. The bill includes funding for the Department of Defense, Homeland Security, Military Construction and Veterans... Read More »
Sens. Graham, Gillibrand bill to establish commission to investigate cyberattacks during 2016 presidential election cycle
A bipartisan bill was recently introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), aiming to establish a National Commission of the Cybersecurity of United States Election Systems. Based on a similar structure set by the 9/11 Commission, the new... Read More »
House votes to update immigration law in gang crackdown
The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to change immigration law to make membership in a criminal gang both a deportable offense and justification for barring entry in the first place. The bill, entitled the “Criminal Alien Gang Member Removal Act,” would allow the Department of... Read More »
Reps. Royce, Engel introduce Cyber Diplomacy Act
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) recently introduced the Cyber Diplomacy Act, which would create a U.S. international cyber policy and promote working with other countries on promoting this policy. “The U.S. is increasingly under... Read More »
Rep. Royce sponsors bill to strengthen anti-money laundering system
Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA) proposed legislation last week to strengthen the anti-money laundering (AML) and countering terrorism financing (CTF) system in the United States. The draft legislation, the Anti-Money Laundering Modernization Act, seeks to modernize the system and update the regulatory... Read More »Bill to streamline DHS intelligence gathering efforts advanced by House
A bill to help streamline and enhance intelligence sharing at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was recently advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, titled the Unify DHS Intelligence Enterprise Act, was authored by U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), who serves as... Read More »
House advances Homeland Threat Assessment Act
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced this week a bill that would require the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Intelligence and Analysis to evaluate the terrorist threat to the homeland for each of the next five fiscal years. “The 9/11 Commission revealed that a “failure of... Read More »
Homeland Security waives legal requirements for California border construction project
Seeking to expedite construction of barriers on the international border with Mexico near Calexico, California, the Department of Homeland Security issued this week a waiver for certain legal regulations. Calling on powers invested in them by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant ... Read More »
House advances amendment to restore funding for National Urban Security Technology Laboratory
Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) announced this week that the U.S. House of Representatives advanced his amendment to restore funding to the National Urban Security Technology Laboratory (NUSTL). NUSTL, which is located in New York City, researches, develops and assesses new technologies for use by law... Read More »
Bill to improve intelligence sharing among DHS, law enforcement unanimously passed by House
A bill that aims to improve intelligence sharing capabilities amongst U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agencies was recently unanimously approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation, titled the DHS Data Framework Act, was authored by U.S. Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX), a... Read More »
Following data breach, 36 Senators request investigation into Equifax stock sales
A bipartisan group of 36 U.S. senators recently called for an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission into the sale of approximately $2 million in Equifax securities held by company management prior to the news... Read More »
Barletta bill to improve law enforcement access to secure information sharing facilities
A bill that requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to maintain an inventory of facilities certified to store classified information and enhance information sharing amongst law enforcement entities was recently advanced by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill, the... Read More »House Committee marks 9/11 anniversary with 10-year progress report of Homeland Security
As the nation gathered to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, this week, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered a review of the Department of Homeland Security’s progress over the past decade. Analyzing 10 specific mandates, including... Read More »
Rep. Pittenger urges Treasury to consider sanctions against Qatar-based terrorism financiers
Rep. Robert Pittenger (R-NC), vice chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance, recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin urging the exploration of sanctions against Qatar-based terrorism financiers. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), David... Read More »
GAO report examines US efforts to fight narcotics-related money laundering
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report exploring U.S. efforts to stop profits from drug trafficking from entering financial systems in the Western Hemisphere through money laundering. The report describes U.S. agency oversight and monitoring of compliance with the... Read More »
IAEA nuclear experts complete security advisory mission to China
A team of nuclear security experts with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently completed an advisory trip to the People’s Republic of China at the behest of its government for an examination of the country’s nuclear security apparatus. Under the IAEA’s Physical Protection... Read More »
NNSA needs to develop cost estimates, schedule for new uranium processing project, GAO says
A complete scope of work is needed to develop timely cost and schedule information for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) uranium program, according to a recently published report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). As part of the FY2013 National Defense... Read More »
McSally bill to reauthorize Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism advances committee
A bill, authored by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ), that aims to protect global supply chains against terrorist activities by reauthorizing and modernizing the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) recently advanced the House Homeland Security Committee. First established as... Read More »
Amendment to fully fund NBACC advances House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced an amendment authored by U.S. Rep. John Delaney (D-MD) to fully fund the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), reversing a decision by the Trump Administration to eliminate funding for the center in its proposed FY2018... Read More »
Feasibility study for modernization of Arizona’s Douglas Port of Entry receives funding
The General Services Administration (GSA) recently informed U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) that it provided funding for a feasibility study of the modernization of the Douglas Port of Entry (POE) for fiscal year 2017. “GSA is taking a major step towards making the Douglas modernization... Read More »
Sen. Tester secures $5 million for state-based border security efforts
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) recently secured $5 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assist Montana-based law enforcement agencies in their efforts to strengthen security along the state’s 540-mile international border with Canada. "Terrorists and criminals will find... Read More »
OPCW holds internship program for implementing Chemical Weapons Convention legislation into national laws
Legal representatives from Ghana, Djibouti, and Benin recently participated in an Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)-sponsored internship program aimed at providing insight for drafting country-specific national legislation related to the implementation of the Chemical... Read More »NNSA team conducts radiological training exercise aboard Maersk container ship
Scientists, engineers, and technicians from the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Nuclear/Radiological Advisory Team (NRAT) recently conducted advanced maritime training aboard the Maersk Detroit in order to expand their advanced shipboard operational skill sets while on the... Read More »
Japan Air Self-Defense Force joins US Marine Corps for Patriot missile defense testing
In a unique opportunity for the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), members of the 2nd Air Defense Missile Group were invited to Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni for Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) deployment training this week. “We conduct many exercises with our partners in... Read More »
Alabama Dept. of Public Health launching infectious disease response network
The Alabama Department of Public Health recently announced the launch of a serious infectious disease response network in order to help identify and respond to potential outbreaks as they occur. According to Mary McIntyre, chief medical officer for the Alabama Department of Public Health, the... Read More »
International conference seeks to strengthen global collaboration on intellectual property crime
The 11th annual International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference, held this week in New York, aims to increase international partnerships to prevent intellectual property crime and form enforcement strategies. The event was co-hosted by INTERPOL and the National Intellectual Property Rights... Read More »
Interpol hosts capacity building training event for southeast Asian nations in Singapore
A five-day training course aimed at building the capacity of countries in southeast Asia to address border management issues tied to illicit immigration and human trafficking was recently hosted by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) at its Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI)... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security holds hiring event for veterans
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently held a two-day hiring event in an effort to employ hundreds of veterans for both mission critical and support positions. Thousands of veterans attended the event, called Continue Your Service to America. “Hiring veterans is a top priority... Read More »
AIA offers recommendations to reduce government security clearance backlog
In the wake of reports that an estimated 700,000 federal civilians, military personnel, and industry employees cannot perform their duties as a result of a backlog for security clearance background checks, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) issued a series of recommendations in order to... Read More »
Lawmakers urge investigation, possible sanctions of Iran Air for transporting militants to Syria using commercial aircraft
Following the publication of a series of photos that depicted Iranian-backed militants aboard an Iran Air commercial aircraft, a group of U.S. congressmen sent a public letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin requesting his department re-sanction Iran Air if found guilty of transporting military... Read More »
Sen. Schatz, Rep. Pallone call for GAO review of cybersecurity in wake of reported FCC attack
In the wake of a reported cyberattack on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) electronic comment filing system, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) recently called upon the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent review on... Read More »
Report from former Energy Secretary lays out critical defense of US nuclear industry
While some claim nuclear power is past date, former Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz published a report last week that claims the commercial nuclear energy industry remains vital to national defense and must be supported. The report, “The U.S. Nuclear Energy Enterprise: A Key National Security... Read More »
House Committee on Homeland Security set to hold hearings on domestic terrorism in wake of Charlottesville attack
In response to the recent domestic terrorist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia by a reported white supremacist, 12 Democratic members of the House Homeland Security Committee sent a public letter on August 15 to Committee Chair U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) urging the committee to hold hearings... Read More »