Policy
AEI: More federal funds for human intelligence efforts needed to thwart terrorists
More federal counterterrorism funding should be directed to local law enforcement agencies for human intelligence initiatives in urban areas where the risk of a terrorist attack is high, according to Matt Mayer, a homeland security expert at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), recently told... Read More »
FirstNet applauds FCC action in planning for Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) commended the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Friday for moving forward with two separate items regarding the implementation of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network. The FCC unanimously voted to release a notice of proposed... Read More »Poliquin: Challenges to protecting Maine northern border highlight need for tough security
U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) recently said that the challenges of protecting the state’s wild and rugged 611-mile border with Canada highlight the need for a tougher stance on border security from the U.S. administration. “It would be very easy for someone to slip in or out of the... Read More »
INTERPOL holds border management training course for ASEAN countries
INTERPOL held a training course last week under the framework of the EU—ASEAN Migration and Border Management Program II to enhance border security. The course was hosted by the Royal Brunei Police Force and focused on topics such as integrated border management, illegal immigration, human... Read More »Asia-Pacific nations urge action by Obama administration on “no first use” nuclear policy
A coalition of 40 Asia-Pacific former leaders and experts from 14 different countries urged the United States on Tuesday in a letter to adopt a “no first use” nuclear policy and called for Pacific-based allies to support the initiative. The coalition included U.S. allies Australia, Japan... Read More »
European Parliament working to strengthen management of borders and travel security
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) approved plans on Friday set forth on July 6 to set up an EU border control system that brings together the European Union’s border agency, Frontex, and national border management authorities. The plan calls for national authorities to continue the... Read More »
ECDC releases opinion on whole genome sequencing
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), along with member states, released an opinion this week on whole genome sequencing (WGS) for public health surveillance. Whole genome sequencing is a laboratory process that determines the complete DNA sequence of an organism’s... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee members seek information regarding CDC’s LRN capabilities
U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee members continued their oversight in examining the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Laboratory Response Network (LRN) on Thursday by requesting information regarding the network’s capabilities. The group included U.S. Reps. Fred... Read More »Ayotte releases Guantanamo Bay detainees report
U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) released an unclassified report on Wednesday summarizing the terrorist activities and affiliations of the 107 Guantanamo Bay detainees who were detained there as of Nov. 25, 2015. "The Obama administration promised transparency, but this new report shows why... Read More »
INTERPOL urges nations to adapt to changes in fight against terrorism
Secretary general of Interpol Jürgen Stock recently urged agencies across the globe to adapt to the evolving and expanding nature of transnational terrorist organizations. At a meeting on countering the cross-border movement of terrorism, Stock said that effective information sharing, capacity... Read More »Study finds huge gap in international biosafety regulations threatens security
A major gap in international standards for biosafety in laboratories handling contagious pathogens potentially increases the risk that an accident could result in a disease outbreak that threatens global security, according to a recent study by the UPMC Center for Health Security. The year-long... Read More »
Langevin commends signing of cyber incident coordination directive
U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) applauded President Barack Obama this week for signing Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 41, entitled “United States Cyber Incident Coordination.” The directive complements the Cybersecurity National Action Plan, which was introduced earlier this year to build... Read More »
OPCW, UN endorse urgent action to destroy Libya’s remaining chemical weapons
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently adopted a decision that calls for the necessary international assistance in response to a request from the Libyan Government of National Accord to destroy its remaining Category 2 chemical weapons on an expedited basis outside... Read More »
Senators urge president to restrain and reduce stockpile of nuclear weapons
A coalition 10 of U.S. senators wrote a letter on Wednesday to the Obama administration requesting action on nuclear weapons policy in the time the president has left in office. The letter was co-signed by U.S. Sens. Edward Markey (D-MA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Barbara... Read More »Donovan decries partisan fights as Zika research remains underfunded
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) on Tuesday decried actions by his congressional colleagues for jeopardizing the development of a vaccine for the Zika virus. Donovan’s statement came in the wake of three different companies threatening to halt their developments due to funding uncertainty.... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases “Terror Gone Viral” report
The House Homeland Security Committee released its “Terror Gone Viral” report that shows that the wave of terror attacks in the past month have helped ISIS reach a record-level of plotting following the attacks in Germany, France and Orlando. “ISIS terrorists have reached an alarming and... Read More »Three Katko aviation security bills signed into law
Three national security-related bills authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) passed the Senate on Friday and were signed into law by President Barack Obama. The bills were included as part of an extension of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization and provide needed stability... Read More »
Wyden applauds rail transportation notification rule for first responders
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently applauded a proposed rule announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) that would require railroads to provide more notification about shipments of crude oil and other flammable liquids. Wyden introduced the Hazardous Materials Rail Transportation... Read More »
Carper, Leahy introduce bill to assist communities in active shooter situations
U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced legislation on Wednesday to assist communities in preparing for and responding to active shooter events. The bill, the Active Shooter Preparedness Enhancement Act of 2016, would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security... Read More »
DHS awards Chicago initial funding for Securing the Cities program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded the initial funding of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office’s (DNDO) Securing the Cities program to Chicago on Wednesday to build upon the agency’s increase in capabilities to detect and protect against radiological and nuclear threats.... Read More »
European counterterrorism legislation calls for protecting victims of CBRN attacks
The European Parliament has taken an important step toward protecting victims of potential biological, chemical and other types of terrorist attacks in the European Union with its new draft counterterrorism directive that is being negotiated this week. The European Parliament’s Civil... Read More »House passes four homeland security-related bills
The U.S. House of Representatives passed four bills on Monday to better provide homeland security. The bills prevent foreign fighter travel to the U.S., improve airport security measures and improve internal Department of Homeland Security (DHS) practices and reviews. “We face an... Read More »McCaul releases monthly terrorist threat snapshot assessment
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) released his monthly assessment of terrorist threats facing the nation and our allies on Wednesday. “This past month’s ISIS-inspired rampage in Orlando marked the deadliest terror attack in our homeland since 9/11,” McCaul... Read More »European Commission signs agreement for public-private cybersecurity partnership
The European Commission launched a new public-private partnership on cybersecurity on Tuesday that is expected to trigger $1.9 billion of investment by 2020. The partnership is part of a series of a new initiatives to better equip Europe against cyber attacks and to strengthen the... Read More »Warner, Kaine push VA on pilot program to improve access for veterans healthcare
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) pushed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on Friday for an update on a local pilot program designed to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare for veterans. The senators sent a letter to VA Secretary Robert A. McDonald... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee releases encryption report
The House Homeland Security Committee released a report on Wednesday regarding encrypted communications in the wake of the terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris. The report, titled “Going Dark Going Forward: A Primer on the Encryption Debate,” is the first congressional in-depth... Read More »Donovan calls for smarter rules on cyberdefense, seizing terrorist funds
With the goal of improving U.S. threat preparedness, U.S. Rep. Daniel Donovan (R-NY), who serves on the House Homeland Security Committee, recently introduced legislation to help fight potential terror attacks in urban areas and in cyberspace. Donovan recently introduced the Terrorist Asset... Read More »
Katko, House members denied access to Cuba by Cuban government
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), along with other House members, was blocked by the Cuban government last week from entering the country to assess security risks associated with resuming air travel between the United States and Cuba. The Cuban government signed an accord on Feb. 16 that will allow... Read More »Subcommittee hearing examines FirstNet’s progress
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet held a hearing on Tuesday to examine the progress of FirstNet, the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety. Chairman of the Subcommittee... Read More »