Policy
Bills introduced in House, Senate to streamline government’s transition to cloud-based computing
U.S. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Robin Kelly (D-IL), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) recently introduced the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act, which aims to reduce wasteful spending in information technology (IT) while strengthening information security by expediting the federal government’s... Read More »
McCaul introduces counterterrorism funding bill for first responders
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced this week the Community Counterterrorism Preparedness Act, which aims to direct grant funding towards first responders so they may receive counterterrorism training in the event of a coordinated terrorist attack.... Read More »
McSally calls for expediting Douglas Port of Entry modernization project
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently called on U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to expedite the modernization of the Douglas Port of Entry (POE) in Arizona, which was last renovated more than 20 years ago. McSally also called for the construction... Read More »
Gen. Scaparrotti holds discussion on countering violent extremism with European chiefs of defense
Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, commander of the U.S. European Command, recently hosted a discussion with dozens of senior NATO Leaders and European chiefs of defense on how to counter the threat of violent extremism. “This fight against terror and violent extremists will not be easy, nor... Read More »
National Nuclear Security Administration must address affordability issues with its modernization programs, according to GAO report
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report on the National Nuclear Security Administration's (NNSA) weapon modernization programs, which stated that the agency needed to address affordability concerns in future budget estimates. GAO was tasked with publishing... Read More »
Bill to waive passport fees for first responders reintroduced in House
Fourteen members of the U.S. House of Representatives reintroduced this week the First Responders Passport Act, which allows the Secretary of State to waive passport fees for American first responders when making trips abroad to assist in natural disaster response efforts. The bipartisan group... Read More »
Katko’s airport employee screening enhancement bill advances House
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed this week the Aviation Employee Screening and Security Enhancement Act, authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), which aims to strengthen security at the nation’s airports by providing enhanced screening procedures for airport and aviation... Read More »House advances bill incorporating children’s needs into future disaster planning initiatives
The U.S. House of Representatives passed this week the Homeland Security for Children Act, which requires future disaster preparedness planning initiatives to include the needs of children as well. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ). “Children are not tiny... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Coons introduce airport counterterrorism screening bill
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced this week the Counterterrorism Screening and Assistance Act, which aims to strengthen national security by coordinating with foreign partners to identify international airport vulnerabilities that could allow a potential terrorist to... Read More »
Sen. Cruz introduces EL CHAPO Act to use forfeited drug assets to pay for border security
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Tuesday introduced the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO) Act, which reserves forfeited assets from drug lords to pay for various security measures along the U.S.-Mexico border, including President Trump’s proposed border wall.... Read More »Biodefense advocates take on U.S. preparedness funding fight
With the nation’s signature preparedness law due for reauthorization in 2018, leaders now are readying public health stakeholders across local, state and federal levels for battle on Capitol Hill. Not only should those in the public health sector be battle-ready to support renewal of the... Read More »
Short-term funding in continuing resolutions is harming national security, says Sen. Boozman
U.S. Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) recently released an editorial, which stated that Congress’ use of continuing resolutions (CR) is harming national security due to its insufficient ability to rein in spending and allow agencies to plan for the future. “This chronic budget uncertainty makes it... Read More »
New DHS nuclear forensics capability will help determine origins of radioactive materials
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO), in conjunction with researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), recently launched a new capability that improves the department’s ability to trace the origins of plutonium. The... Read More »
OPCW labs confirm victims of recent Syrian chemical attack exposed to sarin
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Executive Council recently reconvened to further discuss allegations that the Syrian regime, led by President Bashar al-Assad, used chemical weapons on its own people in southern Idlib, Syria. On April 4, a chemical weapons... Read More »
OPCW Executive Council convenes to discuss chemical weapons use allegations in Syria
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) Executive Council convened last week to discuss allegations that the Syrian regime, led by Bashar al-Assad, conducted a chemical weapons attack on its own people. On April 4, a chemical weapons attack occurred in the Khan... Read More »
Reps. Chaffetz, DeSantis request information on 2013 chemical weapons agreement with Syria
U.S. Reps. Jason Chaffetz (R-UT) and Ron DeSantis (R-FL) recently sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, requesting communications related to a 2013 chemical weapons agreement by the Obama Administration, the Russian Federation, and the Syrian government. The letter comes in... Read More »
OPCW’s Üzümcü provides update to Organization of American States’ Committee Against Terrorism
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently addressed the 17th Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), part of the Organization of American States (OAS), to discuss OPCW’s goals for the full... Read More »
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons delegates visit chemical weapons destruction facility in Kentucky
A delegation from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently visited the Blue Grass Chemical Weapons Destruction Facility (CWDF) in Kentucky after receiving an invitation from U.S. officials. The visit comes in the wake of a deadly chemical weapons attack in the... Read More »Democratic senators urge Homeland Security secretary to reconsider proposed cuts to security programs
A group of 21 Democratic U.S. Senate members recently sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, requesting he reconsider the proposed budget cuts to mass transit security programs in order to fund President Trump’s border wall with Mexico. On Jan. 25, President Trump signed... Read More »
Bill introduced to restrict the use, export of dangerous cluster munitions
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a bill called the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act, which aims to restrict the use and export of dangerous cluster munitions to protect civilians during and after wartime. Cluster munitions are defined as... Read More »MAIN STREET Cybersecurity Act advanced by Senate commerce committee
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation recently advanced legislation that seeks to provide protections and resources for digital assets of small businesses at risk of falling victim to a cyberattack. The Making Available Information Now to Strengthen Trust and Resilience... Read More »
Senators introduce bipartisan bill to fight the spread of Zika, mosquito-borne viruses
In the wake of a report published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that stated one in ten women infected with Zika virus gave birth to a child with virus-related effects, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently introduced a bill to provide local communities with resources... Read More »
Congressional leaders support missile strike against Syrian regime after chemical attack
Congressional leaders said they supported President Donald Trump’s authorization of a missile strike against Syria on Thursday in response to a deadly chemical weapons attack that killed dozens of civilians. Trump authorized the launch of 59 Tomahawk missiles at a Syrian air base suspected of... Read More »
Rep. Lynch introduces bill to provide congressional oversight into the use of confidential informants
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) introduced this week the Confidential Informant Accountability Act (H.R. 1857), a bill to require extensive congressional oversight over the selection and use of confidential informants by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,... Read More »
House members request funding for Nonprofit Security Grant Program
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members urged the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security this week to fund the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NGSP), valued at $50 million, as part of the fiscal year 2018 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill. The group was led by U.S.... Read More »
Reps. Roskam, Meng formally request more than $600 million for cooperative US-Israel missile defense programs
A pair of U.S. House members recently called upon the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense to continue its funding of key U.S.-Israel defense cooperation programs. U.S. Reps. Peter Roskam (R-IL) and Grace Meng (D-NY) sent letters to both Subcommittee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-TX) and... Read More »
House Homeland Security subcommittee examines effectiveness of border security task forces
In a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing this week, representatives from the three Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Joint Task Force sectors testified to the effectiveness of their current border security practices against foreign operations. The hearing sought to examine the... Read More »
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons condemns reported use of chemical weapons in Syria
In response to recent reports of a chemical weapons attack in the Khan Shaykhun area of southern Idlib in Syria, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) condemned the reported use of chemical weapons and provided updates of its fact-finding mission in the country. The... Read More »U.S. Homeland Security secretary has ‘elbow room’ on building border wall
With laws and federal personnel in place, additional resources should be dedicated to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enforce the nation’s border security challenges, particularly along the southern border, said DHS Secretary John F. Kelly. “We face diverse challenges and... Read More »
In debate over how to protect Southwest border, no one size fits all solution
Former members of U.S. Customs and Border Protection downplayed the idea that a wall alone would be enough to strengthen the U.S. southern border in a Senate hearing on Tuesday, framing it as part of a broader strategy. Speaking at a Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs committee hearing on... Read More »
Infectious Diseases Society of America supports Paulsen, Thompson antibiotic incentives bill
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) recently came out in favor of the bipartisan Reinvigorating Antibiotics and Diagnostic Innovation (READI) Act, which provides a new tax credit for new antibiotics that treat serious or life-threatening infections and addresses unmet medical needs... Read More »
Bipartisan Senate group introduces bill to address surface, maritime security concerns
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently reintroduced the Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act, which seeks to address concerns regarding the safety of the nation’s rail, transit, highway, and maritime passenger and freight transportation infrastructure. The group includes... Read More »
House subcommittee holds hearing to examine the nation’s 911 networks
The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing last week to examine the nation’s 911 networks and any weaknesses that may exist within the system itself. The purpose of the hearing, titled Realizing Nationwide Next-Generation 911, was to... Read More »
House members introduce bill to help protect faith-based community centers
A bipartisan group of House members recently introduced legislation to increase federal penalties for making bomb threats and provide $20 million in additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help safeguard faith-based community centers across the country. The members... Read More »