Policy
Homeland Security Committee debates bill on denying foreign fighters entry into US
The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday marked up a bill that requires a stress test of various U.S. government protection and prevention programs against potential terrorist attacks. The Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017 was introduced by U.S. Rep.... Read More »
DHS private sector cooperation necessary for success of nation’s cybersecurity efforts
More work needs to be done to strengthen the alliance between the private sector and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in combating cyber attacks, private stakeholders testified at a House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing Wednesday. “In the cyber domain, we are constantly learning... Read More »
Interpol, Council of Europe launch new cybersecurity investigation project
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), in conjunction with the Council of Europe, recently launched a new initiative aimed at building capacity and enhancing cooperation amongst cybersecurity investigators around the world. The Global action on Cybercrime extended (GLACY+)... Read More »Perry introduces TSA employee misconduct accountability bill
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced this week the Strengthening Oversight of TSA Employee Misconduct Act, which requires senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials to oversee the review of disciplinary actions given in response to employee misconduct. Under current rules,... Read More »Carter introduces bill to increase cooperation between ICE, local law enforcement
U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) recently introduced a bill that aims to strengthen immigration enforcement by targeting undocumented migrants who have a criminal record and bringing them into law enforcement custody. The bill, titled the Assuring Law Enforcement Requests are Timely... Read More »
House bill aims to ensure safety of nation’s food supply from agro-terrorism
U.S. Reps. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ), David Young (R-IA) and Dan Donovan (R-NY) recently introduced a bill to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply by combating the threat of potential agro-terrorism. The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act would require the Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
MEPs urge adoption of full visa reciprocity for all EU member states, US
Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) recently adopted a resolution urging the European Commission to take measures to temporarily reintroduce visa reciprocity for citizens of the United States and all states within the European Union (EU). Currently, citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus,... Read More »
Smith, Abraham introduce cybersecurity bill for federal agencies
U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, along with U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA), recently introduced a bill to examine the cybersecurity capabilities of various federal agencies and require regular audits of their progress as more... Read More »MEPs vote for stronger protection, shorter data retention periods for non-EU nationals traveling to member states
Civil Liberties Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for stronger entry protections and a shorter retention period for traveler data stored in the new European Union (EU) entry/exit system, which aims to modernize checks on non-EU nationals traveling to EU member countries. The move... Read More »
Walden, Murphy seek additional information from CDC regarding Laboratory Response Network capabilities
Two members of the House Republican Caucus recently sent a public letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in an effort to examine the agency’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN), a system established to boost the government’s preparedness for bioterrorism. U.S. Rep.... Read More »McSally introduces bill to require “stress test” exercise of government agencies against potential terrorist travel
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) introduced legislation last week to require a “stress test” of U.S. government programs against potential terrorist travel. The Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel, on which McSally served, made the stress test recommendation to help... Read More »
Roberts, McCaskill introduce bill to help protect the nation’s food supply from agro-terrorism
U.S. Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) introduced legislation last week to help protect against a terror-style attack on the nation’s agriculture industry and ensure food safety for American consumers. The Securing our Agriculture and Food Act would require the Secretary of... Read More »
Bipartisan bill introduced to helps state, local, tribal governments combat the rise of cyber threats
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced a bill last week to help state, local, and tribal governments to identify, detect, protect, respond and recover from various cyber threats. The State Cyber Resiliency Act establishes a cybersecurity grant program to provide the... Read More »Heller, Heinrich push for hearings on threats made against faith-based community centers
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently sent a public letter to the Senate Homeland Security Committee, urging the committee to conduct hearings on the growing number of threats and attacks against faith-based community centers in the United States. U.S. Sens. Dean Heller (R-NV) and Martin... Read More »
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons holds training on emergency response in Sri Lanka
Fifteen member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) took part in a training course last month aimed at preparing each member in handling emergency response to chemical incidents. The course was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from Feb. 6-10 and was the fifth... Read More »
Pallone requests GAO review over potential harms in removing online consumer privacy rules
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a public letter this week to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a review of the potential harms in eliminating rules that protect consumers’ privacy rights. Pallone’s letter comes in the wake of Federal Communications... Read More »Bishop re-introduces NATO legislation urging member nations commit to two percent GDP for defense spending
U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) recently re-introduced legislation that urges the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member nations either meet or exceed a two percent gross domestic product (GDP) commitment to defense spending. The resolution was introduced with bipartisan support in the... Read More »
European Supervisory Authorities address EU on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing initiatives and risks
The European Commission recently heard testimony from three European Supervisory Authorities (ESA) on the various problems regarding money laundering and terrorist financing affecting the European Union’s (EU) financial sector. The groups, the European Banking Authority, the European... Read More »
Interpol holds exercise in Japan for combating cybercrime
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held a three-day exercise for cybercrime investigators to develop skills in combating real crimes in cyberspace. The event, held Feb. 13-15 and hosted by the National Police Agency of Japan, saw participants from 10 countries... Read More »
Bipartisan bill introduced in Senate to stop terrorist financing
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced last week the Stop Terrorists Operational Resources and Money (STORM) Act of 2017, which seeks to provide the president additional leverage in penalizing foreign governments that fail to stop terrorist financing. The bill was authored by Sens.... Read More »
Bill to track cybersecurity skills of National Guard, Reserve members introduced in House, Senate
A group of U.S. House members recently introduced the Department of Defense Emergency Response Capabilities Database Enhancement Act, which aims to require the National Guard and Reserve forces to track their members cybersecurity skills. The bill was authored by Reps. Jam Langevin (D-RI), Frank... Read More »
McCaul addresses TSA indictment of 12 employees for cocaine smuggling
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced the indictment of 12 current and former TSA and airport employees for smuggling approximately 20 tons of cocaine through TSA security systems at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz International Airport between 1998 and 2016. The... Read More »
GAO report: DOD, HHS, DHS should use existing mechanisms to better coordinate pandemic outbreak response capabilities
According to a recent report conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Departments of Defense (DOD), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) should use existing coordination mechanisms to improve their response capabilities in the event of an outbreak of... Read More »
Senators express concerns over DHS funding, US-Mexico border wall
A coalition of Democratic senators recently wrote a public letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, concerning the diversion of funds from key agency priorities to pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. The group includes Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Brian Schatz... Read More »
Hurd appointed to US-Mexico Interparliamentary Group for 115th Congress
Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) appointed Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) to the U.S.-Mexico Interparliamentary Group (IPG) for the 115th Congress last week. IPG is tasked with fostering dialogue between members of the United States’ and Mexican legislative bodies on issues of bilateral... Read More »Congress members call for examination into voter suppression, disenfranchisement
A coalition of Democratic members of Congress requested last week via letter to President Trump that any investigation into voter fraud include an examination of voter suppression and disenfranchisement. “As an initial matter, claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2016 presidential election... Read More »
First responders seek exemption from Trump Sanctuary Cities order
A representative of emergency first responders called on Congress Tuesday to extend an exemption from President Donald Trump’s Executive Order on sanctuary cities so that firefighters and other critical emergency service providers in those jurisdictions can continue accepting federal... Read More »U.S. Rep. Donovan advocates for passage of counterterrorism bills that support first responders
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY), chairman of the House Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications Subcommittee, recently won House approval of counterterrorism legislation that improves the capabilities of first responders and strengthens homeland security. “My plan is to try to utilize... Read More »
Stefanik’s Email Privacy Act passes House
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Email Privacy Act last week, which seeks to modernize the Electronics Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) to protect American’s privacy while also providing law enforcement with the tools needed for its investigations. The bill was authored by Rep.... Read More »
Duncan introduces terrorist deportation bill
Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) recently filed legislation intended to place potential terrorist or terrorist sympathizers, who are not citizens or permanent residents, eligible for immediate and mandatory removal proceedings. The Terrorist Deportation Act would make those listed on the Terrorist... Read More »Donovan national security bills advance the House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced three homeland security bills to address issues related to the nation’s nuclear, transit and cybersecurity defenses. All three bills were authored by Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) and advanced with bipartisan support. The Securing Cities Act... Read More »
McSally national security bills advance the House
Three national security-related bills authored by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally recently advanced the U.S. House of Representatives. The first bill, the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act, aims to improve information sharing practices between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »US-Israeli cybersecurity cooperation bill advances the House
The United States-Israel Cybersecurity Cooperation Enhancement Act, which aims to create a cybersecurity grant program for joint research and development initiatives between American and Israeli organizations, advanced the U.S House of Representatives earlier this week. The bill was introduced... Read More »