Policy
Unlawful entries along Southwest Border down more than 70 percent since Title 42 health order lifted
Despite significant concerns in the lead up to lifting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 public health order in May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that unlawful entries between ports of entry have fallen more than 70 percent... Read More »
Dozens sentenced for fraud, money laundering operation that stole $30M from individuals, companies
The U.S. Secret Service noted over three dozen individuals have been sentenced for involvement in an Atlanta, Ga.-based fraud and money laundering operation targeting individuals and entities nationwide. The defendants used business email compromise schemes, romance fraud scams and retirement... Read More »
Lawmakers seek extended support for state medical supplies with introduction of State Strategic Stockpile Act
In a bid to extend authorization of and funding for a program supporting state-developed stockpiles of critical drugs, vaccines and other medical supplies, U.S. Reps. Early Carter (R-GA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced the State Strategic Stockpile Act (H.R. 3631) last week. Such... Read More »
Senators press FAA to finalize Saracini Aviation Safety Act, counter airplane hijacking after years of inaction
More than two years after a mandated deadline, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote to federal officials last week urging implementation of the Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2018 that required secondary cockpit barriers for new commercial aircraft. The... Read More »
Sens. Lucas, Cruz advocate for GAO review of GeoXO program
U.S. Sens. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently forwarded correspondence to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting the agency review the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO) satellite program. Lucas,... Read More »
DHS debuts National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finished building and commissioning a first of its kind National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Kansas last month, opening the doors of the only U.S. lab with biosafety level-4 containment capable of housing large livestock. Supported by... Read More »
Measure seeks to enhance rural emergency medical services
A group of legislators are espousing the benefits of legislation that would bolster rural access to emergency air medical services critical to saving lives. U.S. Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) recently joined U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to... Read More »
Senate legislation reintroduced to improve training for VA personnel handling PTSD claims
Through reintroduction of the VA Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) seek to spur better training for staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked with handling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)... Read More »
Thousands of pounds of fentanyl and narcotics seized, hundreds arrested in latest DHS operations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ran two counter-drug operations over the course of the last two months in Arizona and southern California – Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen – and results can be measured in thousands of pounds of illicit substances seized. While focused... Read More »
Locations in Florida, New Mexico and Colorado labeled preferred sites for STARCOM, three Deltas
As the U.S. Space Force continues to find its place, the Department of the Air Force this week announced three military sites it would prefer to house the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) Headquarters and the three Space Force Deltas. STARCOM is one of three U.S. Space Force field... Read More »
FEMA encouraging hurricane season preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are encouraging Puerto Rico residents to get their families and property prepared for hurricane season. “Getting ready for hurricane season should be a routine to residents in the Caribbean area, since it only takes one weather event to... Read More »
Newly introduced Know Your App Act would require online app stores to display origin details
A reckoning of transparency put online app stores firmly in its sights this week, with the introduction of the Know Your App Act in the Senate. Its backers, which included U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), pitched the bill as one meant to better protect... Read More »
CBP details narcotics seizures totaling $7.8M in San Diego
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have commended San Diego Field Office personnel for seizing $7.8 million worth of dangerous drugs in the week leading up to Memorial Day. “Narcotics smuggling continues to be on the rise and our officers will relentlessly continue doing everything... Read More »
Bicameral TRICARE Fairness Act reintroduced to grant retired Reserve personnel lower-cost health coverage
Renewing legislation first introduced in the last Congress, U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) last week brought up the TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act (H.R. 3668) to open up healthcare options for retired Reserve personnel. They were joined in... Read More »
House approves legislation addressing permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues
U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) are commending House of Representatives colleagues after approving their legislation addressing the permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues. The lawmakers noted the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act would permanently... Read More »
DoD awards $18M in grants to 11 university teams for research into socio-political drivers of future conflicts
Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced grants of $18 million for 11 university-based faculty teams researching the underlying social and political concepts that may drive future conflicts worldwide. These 11 teams were chosen from approximately 130 applicants across six... Read More »
Measure targets enhanced advanced defense capabilities
U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently joined U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Pat Fallon (R-TX) in introducing legislation that seeks to bolster advanced defense capabilities. The lawmakers recently detailed the Investing in American Defense Technologies Act,... Read More »
Measure targets bolstered natural disaster response training
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) have introduced legislation that would help local governments improve natural disaster response through enhanced training. The lawmakers recently detailed the Emergency Management Support Act (H.R. 3626). It ensures local... Read More »
Measure seeks to bolster protections against UAS threats
A group of lawmakers are espousing the benefits of legislation they maintain would bolster efforts countering unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) security threats. Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Gary Peters recently joined U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kyrsten... Read More »
Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights legislation introduced to cut bureaucracy facing injured vets
A group of lawmakers last week introduced the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights (H.R. 3517) to the House, proposing cuts on red tape, improved transparency and greater appeal options for injured veterans navigating medical separation from service and disability benefits. “All too often, wounded... Read More »
World needs swift action if it is to ready itself for next pandemic, international security organizations say
A digital report released last week by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) | bio and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) sounded the alarm in advance of the world’s next pandemic, warning that without bold action, catastrophe will likely follow. Simply put: the world is not ready, by their... Read More »
House Homeland Security Republicans urge updates on Chinese threats to information and communications tech
In a letter sent to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly this week, House House Homeland Security subcommittee leaders requested a briefing on any threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the information and communications technology (ICT)... Read More »
Legislation targets enhanced natural disaster preparedness, response
U.S. Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) are espousing the benefits of newly introduced legislation they maintain would aid natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. According to bill proponents, the Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act would... Read More »
Agencies tout updated ransomware reduction resource
Four agencies are espousing the benefits of a newly published updated resource they indicated seeks to help organizations reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through a series of best practices. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation... Read More »
DHS S&T details RIVTD Track 2 launch
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials have outlined the Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration Track 2 launch. DHS S&T indicated in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security... Read More »
Proposed update to federal Dignity Act targets illegal immigration, American economy
As a wide-ranging proposal to revise the United States immigration system, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) led the introduction of an updated Dignity Act this week, gathering a small bipartisan coalition to break Congressional deadlock on the issue. Salazar... Read More »
Bill seeks increased police officer pay, bolstered hiring initiatives
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Mike Bost (R-IL) recently reintroduced legislation that would raise police officer salaries and hire more police officers. The David Dorn Thin Blue Line Retention Act is named in honor of David Dorn, a retired St. Louis Police captain killed in June 2020 while... Read More »
Bicameral letter urges Congressional leadership to invest in Marine Corp restructuring plans
A bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote Congressional leadership this week to secure FY 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations for the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 modernization efforts. Led by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), the lawmakers called for... Read More »
New House legislation proposes trust fund to build, expand ports of entry and increase CBP staff
By introducing the Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Modernization Trust Fund Act (H.R.3135) this week, a collection of five congressional lawmakers proposed creating a fund to advance new ports of entry, improve the old and gather both new staff and technology to assist border efforts. Backed by... Read More »
New funding opportunity seeks network for disease forecasting at CDC
Under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) launched last week, the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) announced efforts to strengthen outbreak response among decision makers through creation of a disease forecasting network. CFA is a part of the Centers for Disease Control... Read More »
Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act reintroduced to let public safety officers unionize
U.S. Reps. Peter Stauber (R-MN) and Dan Kildee (D-MI) revived pro-unionization efforts for public safety officers nationwide last week with the reintroduction of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Act. That bill would allow public safety officers to form labor unions, collectively bargain for... Read More »
Lawmakers seek insight on suspected southern border terrorists crossing
Three legislators recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking insight regarding suspected terrorists illegally crossing the southern border. U.S. Reps. Mark E. Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, James Comer (R-KY),... Read More »
National Association of Attorneys General call on Congress to classify xylazine as controlled substance
Fearing the proliferation of illicit versions of the drug xylazine – or tranq – and its effects on the U.S. public, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) wrote to Congressional leaders last week urging passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1839). The legislation... Read More »
Counter drug trafficking bill meant to benefit DHS advances out of Senate committee
The Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act (S.1464) advanced to the Senate floor last week, after approval from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired its author, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Together with co-author U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Peters created a... Read More »