Policy
Legislation introduced to address cybersecurity needs of farmers, ranchers
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) and August Pfluger (R-TX) recently joined U.S. Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Doris Matsui (D-CA) to introduce legislation that would aid farmer and rancher cybersecurity efforts. The Food and Agriculture Industry Cybersecurity Support Act would establish a food and... Read More »
FEMA to award $350M in assistance for noncitizen arrivals through Emergency Food and Shelter Program
In a bid to help local communities manage the costs of noncitizen arrivals in their area, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will award $350 million through the Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP-H). Allocated under the... Read More »
DHS to provide $2B in grants for eight terrorism prevention, protection and response programs
Through eight preparedness grant programs this year, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will provide more than $2 billion in funding to state, local, Tribal, and territorial officials to prevent, protect against and respond to terrorism. For Fiscal Year 2023, the grants... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators advocate foreign agriculture land acquisition oversight
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials, citing concerns regarding the lack of oversight of foreign acquisition of domestic agricultural land. U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) joined 29 bipartisan colleagues in sending the letter to... Read More »
U.S. Air and Space Forces partner on new Space Test Course for personnel, system evaluations
The partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Space Force deepened this week with the creation of a Space Test Course – a new means of evaluation for Space Force personnel and space-flight equipment. The new course will deploy at the Test Pilot School at Edwards Air Force Base, California.... Read More »
DARPA workshops eye trustworthy AI exploration
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials are touting its AI (artificial intelligence) Forward initiative, detailing workshops the agency noted seek to explore new directions for trustworthy AI. DARPA has scheduled two Summer 2023 workshops - a virtual event on June 13-16 and... Read More »
U.S.-Taiwan Advanced Research Partnership Act seeks federal cooperative research programs with Taiwan
As a bipartisan effort, U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) and Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) introduced the U.S.-Taiwan Advanced Research Partnership Act last week that would allow new federal coordination and cooperation with Taiwan to research and prepare for cyber threats. According to the 2023... Read More »
Bicameral Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act introduced to target foreign lobbying loopholes
As introduced by U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA) and five other representatives this week, the new Disclosing Foreign Influence in Lobbying Act proposes closing a legislative loophole that foreign adversaries could use to influence U.S. policy. Specifically, Miller-Meeks pointed the... Read More »
Defense trade associations issue recommendations for modernization of Foreign Military Sales system
Three defense trade associations recently issued recommendations to modernize the domestic Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system elements. The Aerospace Industries Association (AIA), the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), and the Professional Services Council (PSC) detailed the... Read More »
Bipartisan senators seek insight on visa processing delays
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), co-chairs of the Senate Travel and Tourism Caucus, recently forwarded correspondence to Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter, seeking insight regarding visa processing delays. Moran and Klobuchar joined U.S. Sens.... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Agency, Arizona Attorney General detail success of drug cartel investigation
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is attributing a successful three-year investigation targeting the Sinaloa Drug Cartel to partnerships with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and the Tempe Police Department. To date, more than 150 individuals have been charged, with investigators having... Read More »
Bill seeks to ensure greater clarity on cybersecurity insurance policy
U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) introduced last week legislation that seeks to provide more concise information for consumers and small businesses regarding cybersecurity insurance policies. The Insure Cybersecurity Act would direct the National... Read More »
Republicans introduce bicameral SHEET Act to target foreign influence at colleges
In a challenge to supposed foreign adversarial influences on college campuses, U.S. Reps. Michelle Steele (R-CA) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), along with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), introduced a bill last week that would empower removal proceedings against designated agents and increase scrutiny of... Read More »
Bill reintroduced to bar U.S. adversaries from purchasing land near military areas
With reintroduction of the Protecting Military Installations from Foreign Espionage Act last week, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) sought once more to make it illegal for certain U.S. adversaries from purchasing any land near military bases or areas. “As our foreign enemies grow more... Read More »
Sens. Cortez Masto, Hoeven introduce legislation to strengthen Tribal law enforcement, counter growing number of missing and murdered Indigenous women
For years, Tribal members and advocates have been trying to draw attention to what they call a crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and now, U.S. Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Hoeven (R-ND) have introduced legislation that takes it as a focus. In the... Read More »
DHS Secretary Mayorkas details homeland security challenges
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas recently detailed evolving homeland security challenges during the 59th Munich Security Conference. While addressing senior Intelligence personnel, Mayorkas emphasized the importance of enhancing information-sharing... Read More »
CBP details 321 Data Pilot participation expansion
A recently published Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Federal Register Notice is soliciting additional Section 321 Data Pilot participants, which would aid shipment inspection efforts. The Section 321 Data Pilot would enable CBP to partner with private sector supply chains to identify and... Read More »
Bill seeks to address mass violence prevention
A group of legislators recently co-sponsored legislation that seeks to prevent mass violence acts. U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) recently joined U.S. Reps.... Read More »
FEMA details Puerto Rico hazard mitigation project
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials have detailed a nearly $2 million allocation for the initial phase of a $25 million Puerto Rico hazard mitigation project. “With the first phase of this project, which includes the contracting process, identifying the engineering firm that... Read More »
Secret Service announces Baltic Computer Forensics Training Program
U.S. Secret Service personnel have outlined the opening of a new Baltic Computer Forensics Training Program (CFTP). The endeavor is in partnership with the Estonian Academy of Security Sciences and Baltic regional law enforcement, linking law enforcement officers from around the Baltic region to... Read More »
Legislation targets southern border security initiatives
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-MT) and Katie Britt (R-AL) recently proposed legislation they maintain would secure the southern border and keep American communities and families safe. Hoeven and Britt joined 17 colleagues in co-sponsoring a resolution forcing the Biden administration to acknowledge... Read More »
Henninger secures ATF Senior Law Enforcement Partnership Advisor post
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials have selected Vail Colorado Police Chief Dwight Henninger as the first Senior Law Enforcement Partnership Advisor to the Director. “Everything we do at ATF begins and ends with public safety, and we hold dear our strong local,... Read More »
Sen. Peters reintroduces legislation to improve contracting process surrounding disaster recovery
With any disaster comes a need for cleanup, which generally means contracting work, and last week, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) reintroduced the Disaster Contract Improvement Act to improve the whole process and save taxpayers money. “Ensuring there is clear guidance on the removal of debris... Read More »
Two legislative measures seek reports on North Korea activity
U.S. Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) has joined two colleagues in introducing measures requiring the President of the United States to provide Congress with reports on North Korea’s activity. The North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act and the Korean Interdiction and Modernization... Read More »
U.S., South Korean agencies issue joint Cybersecurity Advisory for critical infrastructure as result of North Korean actions
Efforts by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continue to produce state-sponsored ransomware and have successfully attacked healthcare and public health sector organizations and other critical infrastructure, according to a new advisory. This Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) was the... Read More »
Sen. Rubio introduces No Coyote Cash bill to criminalize financing of unlawful border crossings
Although crossing into the United States unlawfully is a crime, some argue financially assisting that crime is only vaguely addressed as a crime itself - so this week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and several colleagues set out to change that through the No Coyote Cash Act. “President... Read More »
Bill seeks to address Iranian regime corruption exposure
U.S. Reps. David Kustoff (R-TN) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) recently reintroduced the Stop Corrupt Iranian Oligarchs and Entities Act to address Iranian regime corruption via a compiled list of Iranian oligarchs and entities profiting off the Iranian people. "Over the years, the world has... Read More »
Justice Department outlines illegal exportation sentencing
Justice Department officials have detailed the sentencing of a dual citizen of the United States and Iran for alleged illegal exportation in violation of the International Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Kambiz Attar Kashani, 44, was sentenced to 30 months in prison in federal court in Brooklyn,... Read More »
Coalition of Republican attorneys general urge federal terrorist designation for Mexican Drug Cartels
A coalition of 21 Republican state attorneys general wrote President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken this week urging them to designate Mexican drug cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and provide additional federal resources for combating fentanyl. “The national... Read More »
Bill seeks to extend benefits of fallen TSA officers
U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA) has introduced the Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act, which extends benefits to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers killed in the line of duty. “Every day, TSA officers put their lives on the line in order to protect millions of Americans in... Read More »
Democratic lawmakers reintroduce Keep Americans Safe Act
A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced the Keep Americans Safe Act, which seeks to ban the importation, sale, manufacturing, transfer, or possession of gun magazines holding over 10 rounds of ammunition. U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) have joined 26 colleagues in... Read More »
DOJ Roadmap for Implementation for Columbus, Ohio police yields review, changes to problem solving
With the completion of a Roadmap for Implementation for the Columbus Division of Police (CDP) by the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), reformation work has begun in the Ohio city to examine and revise the use of force, problem-solving and more.... Read More »
Representatives call for crackdown on Iranian drones, investigation of potential U.S. part connections
Despite major economic restrictions placed on Iran, U.S. intelligence has estimated that perhaps 75 percent of the components for Iranian drones recently used by Russia in suicidal bombing raids against Ukraine were U.S.-made, which caused a stir among House members this week. A bipartisan... Read More »
FBI, partners issue global financial sextortion warning
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has joined international law enforcement partners in issuing a warning regarding global financial sextortion. "Financial sextortion has a far wider impact than just our country and our kids—it is a global crisis that demands everyone’s attention,"... Read More »