Policy
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 »
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 »