Policy
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 »