Policy
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 »
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 »