Policy
Katko’s counterterrorism bill advances the House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act, which aims to coordinate and integrate intelligence activities and policy related to counterterrorism within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill was authored by Rep. John Katko... Read More »Bill to improve communication between DHS, local law enforcement agencies advances the House
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced the Fusion Center Enhancement Act, which aims to improve communication between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies when detecting and responding to terrorist threats. The bill... Read More »Emergent BioSolutions receives German approval for major manufacturing of BioThrax anthrax vaccine
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. recently received approval by a regulatory agency under the German Federal Ministry of Health for its large-scale manufacturing facility in Michigan, paving the way for the company to market its anthrax vaccine BioThrax in Germany and other countries. Emergent said its... Read More »NATO’s Stoltenberg formally opens NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Regional Centre
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Tuesday led the North Atlantic Council in formally opening the NATO-Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) Regional Centre. Stoltenberg highlighted the centre’s potential in strengthening the partnership between... Read More »
Hurd appointed to House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
Rep. Will Hurd (R-TX) was appointed this week to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, which oversees initiatives in national security and intelligence gathering. In addition to his new appointment, Hurd also sits on the House Homeland Security Committee and the Oversight and... Read More »
Lynch calls for full, functioning Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board
Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA) released this week a letter he wrote to President Trump calling for an operational bipartisan Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. While the board itself does exist, it only consists of two members and no chairman. It also lacks the quorum necessary to do... Read More »
MEP’s reject EU Commission blacklist of states at risk of money laundering and terrorist financing
Ministers of the European Parliament (MEPs) recently voted to return to the European Union (EU) Commission a blacklist of countries that were determined to be at risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, citing the list’s limited nature and a need to include territories that facilitate... Read More »
Pakistani Centre for Excellence of Nuclear Security enters into partnership with IAEA networks to bolster training
The Pakistani Centre for Excellence for Nuclear Security recently entered into a partnership with the International Network for Nuclear Security Training and Support Centres (NSSC Network) to build national capacity through training courses and strengthening technical and scientific support... Read More »
Cruz introduces bill to release information on terrorist activities of detainees released from Guantanamo Bay
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently introduced a bill to require the declassification and release of information pertaining to past terrorist activities of individuals detained at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO) who have been transferred or released since Nov. 8, 2016. Cruz said in a statement that former... Read More »Ernst selected to chair Senate Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) was recently chosen as chair for the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities for the 115th Congress. Ernst's responsibilities as chair include overseeing hearings and policy decisions pertaining to intelligence, counterterrorism, and... Read More »Heinrich expresses concern over lack of high-ranking NNSA, DOD officials during presidential transition period
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) recently sent a public letter to President-elect Donald Trump expressing concern over the continuity of government operations for national security positions in the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).... Read More »
McSally, McCain introduce legislation to improve border technology acquisition procedures
Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) introduced the Border Security Technology Accountability Act this week, which seeks to improve the management of new border technology acquisitions. The bill originally advanced through the House of Representatives in July 2015, and... Read More »DOE announces centrifuge removal from Fordow facility on anniversary of the Iran Nuclear Deal
On the one year anniversary of the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that Iran had removed excess centrifuges and infrastructure from the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant. “The JCPOA... Read More »
OPCW, World Customs Organization sign memorandum to enhance cooperation on toxic chemical trade
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), along with the World Customs Organization (WCO), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that enhances cooperation to tighten national and international controls on the trade of toxic chemicals. The MOU was signed by... Read More »
Dept. of Treasury’s OFAC designates Syrian officials on findings of use of chemical weapons on civilians
The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) recently implemented sanctions in response to findings that the Syrian government under President Bashar al-Assad used industrial chlorine as a weapon against its own people. OFAC’s conclusions were based on a... Read More »
Health experts speak on planning for global pandemics
At a recent gathering of students, academics, and government officials at Georgetown University, a group of world health experts spoke on the need for the incoming Trump Administration to plan for an inevitable pandemic. The event was organized by the Center for Global Health Science and... Read More »Collins questions Pompeo on cybersecurity initiatives during confirmation hearing
During a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing on the nomination of Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) to be the new director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) asked Pompeo a series of questions on cybersecurity and the danger it poses to national... Read More »
Bill to block grant funding to sanctuary cities introduced in House, Senate
Reps. Diane Black (R-TN) and Sam Graves (R-MO) introduced this week the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, which aims to block any grant funding to cities or localities that ignore federal law by withholding information on illegal immigrants from U.S.... Read More »
King, Risch introduce bill to defend energy grid from potential cyber attacks
U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Jim Risch (R-ID) this week reintroduced the Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, which seeks to examine solutions to defend the U.S. energy grid by replacing vulnerable computer-connected operating systems with analog and human-operated systems. The bill received... Read More »
Two cybersecurity innovation bills from Rep. Ratcliffe passed by House
Two bills introduced by U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) were passed by the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday to help spur collaborative efforts between the private sector and the federal government in cybersecurity initiatives. The Support for Rapid Innovation Act of 2017 will aim to... Read More »GAO report: HHS needs better communication on state-level personnel reassignments in a public health emergency
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report regarding communication and coordination of personnel reassignments in public health emergencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and... Read More »U.S. nuclear engineer pleads guilty to violation of Atomic Energy Act
Szuhsiung Ho, a naturalized U.S. citizen and nuclear engineer, recently pleaded guilty to conspiracy to unlawfully engage in the production or development of special nuclear materials outside of the United States, without the required authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), which... Read More »
Collins, Tester introduce bill to protect first responders’ pension plans
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT) introduced legislation this week that will seek to protect the pensions of first responders who have been injured on the job. “We count on federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public safety employees when tragedy... Read More »American Journal for Public Health, CDC seeking public health emergency preparedness manuscripts for supplemental publishing
The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), will soon be releasing a supplement issue on the Evolution of Public Health Emergency Management from Preparedness to Response and Recovery and is seeking authors to submit their... Read More »
European Commission adopts series of measures to combat financing for terrorist organizations, organized crime
The European Commission recently adopted a series of measures to strengthen the European Union’s (EU) ability to combat the financing of terrorist organizations and organized crime, which were included in the Feb. 2016 Action Plan Against Terrorist Financing. The initiatives presented by the... Read More »
Wyden calls for transparency on intelligence regarding potential Russian interference in U.S election
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) publicly called last week for the immediate declassification and public release of any intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, stating that Americans cannot wait much longer to get the facts. “This is a national crisis... Read More »
Battelle’s Winkel recognized with award for dedication to nuclear, biological and chemical defense
Battelle, Inc.’s David Winkel was recently recognized by the Nuclear Biological and Chemical (NBC) Industry Group with the Dr. Billy Richardson Award, which recognizes young leaders who are committed to NBC-related defense initiatives. Winkel is the third Battelle researcher overall to win... Read More »
Del Rio Sector Border Patrol launches new information-seeking initiative on smugglers in area
The U.S. Border Patrol recently launched a new initiative called Se Busca Información, which will seek to expand on consequences against dangerous smugglers operating in the Del Rio Border Sector. The initiative will focus on obtaining information from the public in order to locate smugglers.... Read More »Northern Border Security Review Act signed into law
President Barack Obama signed last week the Northern Border Security Review Act, which passed Congress with bipartisan support and aims to assess and strengthen security at the U.S. border with Canada. The legislation would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to evaluate... Read More »OPCW to search allegations of chemical weapons use in Hama Governate, Syria
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) recently began a fact-finding mission in Syria in the wake of allegations that chemical weapons have been used in the area of Uqayribat in the Hama Governate in Syria. The area in question has been linked to the control of the... Read More »New legislation aims to increase travel preclearance facilities, increase border security
The U.S. Senate passed this week the Promoting Travel, Commerce and National Security Act of 2016. The bill will allow travelers to pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspections prior to traveling to reduce overall wait times and aid in identifying individuals who represent a threat... Read More »