Policy
HHS expands Tamiflu access for flu season
With flu season in full swing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that additional supplies of Tamiflu would be tapped to meet increased demand. Jurisdictions will manage any Tamiflu requests through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) in collaboration... Read More »
PEACE Act represents bicameral push to reform federal police standards for use of lethal force
Particularly in the last few years, across several high-profile cases, police in the United States have come under heavy scrutiny for their use of force, and recently, a bill known as the PEACE Act was introduced to reform federal standards permitting the use of lethal force. Released as a... Read More »
PFAS Act signed into law, mandating new efforts to protect firefighters from forever chemicals
With a signature from President Joe Biden, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act became law this week, officially directing federal agencies to create new best practices, training, and educational programs to limit and shield firefighters from exposure to hazardous... Read More »
DEA details nearly 51 million fentanyl seizures in past calendar year, according to report
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed the seizure of more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and over 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder this calendar year. “In the past year, the men and women of the DEA have relentlessly worked to seize over 379... Read More »
FEMA outlines community resilience program funding opportunity
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) on Feb. 1, 2023. The RILF seeks to foster greater community resilience while reducing disaster vulnerability and suffering, noting the Bipartisan... Read More »
Measure advocates law enforcement DNA analysis
U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) has introduced a bill she said seeks to deploy advanced forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis as a means of aiding law enforcement in solving cases. The Carla Walker Act of 2022 authorizes the Justice Department to issue grants to state, local, and tribal... Read More »
Sen. Peters lauds reauthorization of Nonprofit Security Grant Program
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is touting the $360 million reauthorization of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which bolsters religious institution security initiatives. Peters supported a National Defense Authorization Act provision... Read More »
New York legislation targets violent crimes against police officers
New York state officials are touting a newly enacted measure that addresses violent crimes against police officers. Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed S.772A/A.6318B to establish a Blue Alert system aiding the identification, location, and apprehension of individuals suspected of killing or... Read More »
Coast Guard, MARAD reauthorization head for President Biden’s signature under FY 2023 NDAA
After being worked into the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act, and several oceans provisions are slated to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. As part of the larger... Read More »
Bill targets Latin America, Caribbean gun trafficking
U.S. Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Norma Torres (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently introduced legislation to address Latin America and Caribbean gun trafficking. The Americas Regional Monitoring... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman praise House passage of human trafficking legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are praising the House of Representatives' passage of their legislation to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act, which passed the Senate in April and now moves to President Joe Biden to be signed... Read More »
Bicameral legislation pushes for reduction in Pentagon spending, repeal of unfunded priorities list
In a rare flex against the military for the United States, a bipartisan mix of senators and representatives have introduced the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, which would repeal statutory requirements to provide unfunded priorities lists, increase oversight and reduce wasteful reporting... Read More »
Lobbying Disclosure Improvement push to increase foreign influence scrutiny advanced by Senate
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.B. 4893), introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), passed through the Senate by unanimous vote last week, bolstering efforts to increase oversight of foreign lobbying to the House. “Foreign influence in our nation’s... Read More »
North Carolina fire department orders all-electric fire truck
The Charlotte, N.C., Fire Department recently announced that it has ordered an all-electric Vector fire truck, expected to be the first-of-its-kind operating in the state. The order was placed with fire apparatus manufacturer Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. “We... Read More »
DHS touts customer experience improvements
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are espousing the benefits of a series of initiatives the agency said has resulted in customer experience improvements. “Through the talent and dedication of the Department’s employees, we have made significant progress modernizing our delivery... Read More »
NIH identifies new funding in support of Valley Fever vaccine research, development
Following up on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Notice of Special Interest from November that sought support for research into a Valley Fever vaccine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that additional funding avenues have been... Read More »
Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act heads to President Biden to become law
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R.7535) crossed its final legislative hurdle this week after a positive vote in the United States House, setting up its provisions for enhancing national cybersecurity to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill was introduced in... Read More »
Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act seeks increased scrutiny of foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land
Through the introduction of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act to the House this week, U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), along with nine other Republicans, seek to increase oversight of foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land. To do otherwise, they... Read More »
FBI releases 2021 hate crime statistics through Uniform Crime Reporting Program
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, has released 2021 hate crime statistics. The data was submitted by 11,834 law enforcement agencies providing information about offenses, victims, offenders, and hate crime locations. According to... Read More »
DHS, DOL outline additional H-2B Visa availability
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials noted the agencies are issuing a temporary final rulemaking 64,716 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas available. The action applies to temporary nonagricultural workers for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The... Read More »
Legislation seeks to provide premium-free healthcare for National Guard, Reserve members
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently introduced the Healthcare for Our Troops Act, which seeks to provide premium-free medical insurance coverage for National Guard and Reserve members. The legislation would provide premium-free, zero cost-sharing medical coverage... Read More »
National security updates en route as Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act passes Congress
Following its passage from the Senate last week, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act officially navigated both chambers of Congress, setting up changes to national security through new quantum computer defenses if signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill (H.R.7535) was... Read More »
Coast Guard, MARAD Reauthorization bills included in NDAA bill for 2023
Both the Coast Guard Authorization Act and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act have been added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2023, increasing their odds of passage and the chance for new maritime funding. The NDAA advanced through the House last week... Read More »
New Senate report criticizes significant failures in initial federal COVID-19 response, pandemic preparedness
Following a two-year investigation by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a new report detailed significant failures in the federal government’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall preparedness. Released... Read More »
House advances $847.3B National Defense Authorization Act to Senate
With a vote of 350-80, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) advanced out of the House last week, setting it up for further debate in the Senate. "For the sixty-second consecutive year, Members of Congress have crossed party lines to deliver a defense... Read More »
Sen. Padilla applauds passage of FIRE Act
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently touted the passage of his legislation, the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, which now heads to the president's desk for signature. The measure was co-sponsored by six Senate colleagues and is designed to strengthen Federal Emergency... Read More »
Bicameral legislators advocate global moratorium on anti-satellite missile tests
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and seven colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the Biden administration's efforts to establish a global anti-satellite missile tests moratorium. “Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space... Read More »
FY 2023 NDAA includes 16 Portman measures
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced this week that 16 of his key priorities have been included in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “I’m pleased to announce that several of my initiatives to further protect our homeland have been included in the FY 2023... Read More »
Legislation to make permanent FEMA’s online National Risk Index tool passes Congress
President Joe Biden is expected to sign newly advanced legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) this week, making the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) permanent and advancing how government invests in disaster mitigation projects... Read More »
Lawmakers request Twitter insight regarding PRC social media influence
U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, recently forwarded correspondence to Twitter CEO Elon Musk regarding insight into People’s Republic of China (PRC) social media influence. The... Read More »
DHS to launch series of challenges in search of new remote identity validation technologies to fight fraud
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a series of technology challenges for 2023 to spur commercial identity validation technologies to counter identity fraud when users apply for various services. Potentially, this could help reduce... Read More »
U.S. officials to lead Dubai arson investigation training program
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Academy (NFA) officials are espousing the benefits of the U.S. Arson Investigation Training program in Dubai slated for launch in 2023. As a means of preparing for the program's formal launch, authorities noted U.S. Fire Administrator Lori... Read More »
DHS pushes back REAL ID full enforcement deadline another two years
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID requirements looks to be delayed again after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intention this week to push it back to May 7, 2025, to give states more time to meet requirements. “DHS continues to work closely with... Read More »
New law requires agencies consider disaster resilience for investments in federal property, assets
With President Joe Biden’s signature, the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act became law this week, launching a bipartisan measure that requires federal agencies to factor in disaster resilience for investments in and management of federal property and assets. Extreme weather has picked up pace... Read More »