Policy
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 »
Africa CDC launches new strategic plan for infectious disease control, prevention
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new strategic plan last week to improve the prevention, surveillance, and emergency response to infectious diseases on the continent. Prior to its approval, the plan was reviewed by Africa CDC experts, the advisory and... Read More »
HHS Secretary cites emergency preparedness, response as federal budget priority
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price told members of Congress on Wednesday that the nation’s emergency preparedness and response ranks high on the federal funding list at his agency. The goal of the Trump Administration is not to deconstruct HHS, Price... Read More »
Reps. Ratcliffe, Langevin participate in AIPAC panel to discuss two US-Israel cybersecurity bills
U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) recently participated in a panel at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference to discuss cybersecurity-related bills that recently passed through Congress. Langevin and Ratcliffe began their discussion by detailing... Read More »
House advances bill to provide accountability, oversight of DHS acquisition programs
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017 last week, which aims to create greater accountability for major acquisition programs within the DHS by enhancing oversight and implementing cost-saving budget measures. The... Read More »
McSally introduces bill to increase penalty for cartel “spotters”
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced a bill that would enhance penalties for “spotters” who convey information related to the position and surveillance efforts of Border Patrol agents in order to disrupt their duties. The bill, titled the Transnational Criminal Organization... Read More »
House advances agro-terrorism preparedness bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced last week U.S. Rep. David Young’s (R-IA) Securing our Agriculture and Food Act (H.R. 1238), which aims to prevent acts of agro-terrorism from affecting the nation’s food supply. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance the... Read More »
House unanimously advances bill to curb wasteful spending by DHS agencies
The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously last week to advance U.S. Rep. John Rutherford’s (R-FL) Reducing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Cost Growth Act (H.R. 1294), which aims to prevent wasteful spending by various agencies within DHS. The act is one of nine... Read More »
House unanimously advances McSally terrorist travel “stress test” bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced nine bills last week sponsored by the Homeland Security Committee, including unanimously voting on U.S. Rep. Martha McSally’s (R-AZ) Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017. “It is critical that we continue to re-examine our... Read More »Interpol holds training course on identifying falsified, stolen travel documents in Thailand
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held a three-day training course in Thailand, which discussed various ways law enforcement entities can identify individuals who use forged travel documents. Participants included law enforcement officials, immigration agents,... Read More »
OPCW Director-General delivers keynote address at the international symposium on toxic substances in Singapore
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently paid an official visit to Singapore, where he gave the keynote address at the Singapore International Symposium on Protection Against Toxic Substances. In his address, Üzümcü touched on... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to interdict illicit fentanyl entering the United States
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently introduced the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act, which aims to reduce the flow of illicit fentanyl coming into the United States. Cosponsors of the bill include... Read More »
Sens. Markey, Blumenthal reintroduce bills to address vehicular cybersecurity vulnerabilities
U.S. Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently reintroduced two bills aimed at improving cybersecurity standards for both cars and aircraft. The first bill, the Security and Privacy in Your Car (SPY Car) Act, would direct both the National Highway Traffic Safety... Read More »
Dept. of Defense aims countermeasures at WMD, synthetic biological threats
The United States must prepare for surprise attacks at home and abroad from traditional weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and from the new, emerging and largely unknown consequences posed by synthetic biological threats, a senior defense official told House congressional members on Thursday. ... Read More »