Policy
Senate advances bipartisan legislation to reauthorize training for state and local law enforcement
The Senate unanimously voted through the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022 this week, setting up an extension of the aforementioned institute’s lifespan to continue training state and local law enforcement agencies. “NCFI helps train law enforcement across the... Read More »
Senate committee advances bill to ensure federally-funded inventions made in United States
The Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this week, putting to the full body consideration of legislation that would add requirements and restrictions on what can be manufactured abroad. Produced by U.S.... Read More »
DEA details fentanyl seizure operation
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed results of a May to September 2022 enforcement operation the agency said yielded nationwide fentanyl seizures. In conjunction with the One Pill Can Kill initiative, the DEA and law enforcement partners seized more than 10.2 million... Read More »
USDOT to award $32.4M in grants for hazardous materials safety efforts among states, territories and Tribes
To improve local efforts to respond to hazardous materials incidents, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week that it will award $32.4 million in grants to states, territories, and Tribes. A total of 81 grants will be split between six different hazardous... Read More »
Bipartisan senators urge Biden to take executive action to create additional outbound investment screen
While promoting their National Critical Capabilities Defense Act (S. 1854 and H.R. 6323), a bipartisan group of U.S. senators wrote to President Joe Biden this week, urging him to take an immediate, interim executive action on outbound investments to foreign adversaries. This action, they... Read More »
Lawmakers target online fentanyl sales
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram and the Department of Justice (DOJ), noting they are seeking increased efforts to address illegal online fentanyl sales. House Energy and Commerce Committee Republican Leader Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA),... Read More »Ukraine Human Rights Policy Act seeks new sanctions for Russian human rights violations
Seeking to dial-up support for the Ukrainian war effort and increase scrutiny of Russian actions taken during its invasion, a group of U.S. senators and congressmen last week submitted the bipartisan, bicameral Ukraine Human Rights Policy Act of 2022. Jointly rolled out by U.S. Sens. Todd... Read More »
U.S. House advances police department funding measure
The U.S. House of Representatives on Sept. 22 advanced bipartisan legislation that seeks to fund local police departments and help reduce crime. The Invest to Protect Act of 2022, H.R. 6448, was sponsored by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and has 86 cosponsors. It would establish a new grant... Read More »
TSA details rising security checkpoint gun intercepts
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said the agency is experiencing a nationwide trend regarding guns intercepted at airport security checkpoints. “Each gun presents a danger," TSA spokesperson Sari Koshetz said. "Any incident could have tragic results. This ominous trend continues... Read More »
BADGES legislation pursues new Tribal resources to solve growing crisis of missing, murdered women
With an underreported wave of missing and murdered indigenous women continuing throughout America, Congress is starting to take notice: last week, Congressional lawmakers introduced the bicameral BADGES for Native Communities Act to acquire more resources for Tribal communities. “The federal... Read More »
Raytheon Missiles and Defense secures Air Force contract for Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile prototypes
Raytheon Missiles and Defense has secured a $985,348,124 Air Force contract to develop and demonstrate Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM) prototypes. "HACM is a powerful example of developing and integrating combat capabilities alongside our partners from the beginning," Air Force Chief of... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman introduce Securing Open Source Software Act
In response to the potential exploitation of vulnerabilities in open source software, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) last week introduced the Securing Open Source Software Act to evaluate and direct how open source code could be used by the federal government. “Open... Read More »
MINES Act seeks increased scrutiny of Chinese, Russian mineral acquisition worldwide
In his introduction of the Monitoring and Investigating Nations Exploiting States (MINES) Act (H.R. 8911) this week, U.S. Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) emphasized a need to maintain and monitor access to minerals critical to the national economy or security, no matter their origin. Earlier this year,... Read More »
Hurricane Fiona leads to Public Health Emergency in Puerto Rico
After the Category 1 Hurricane Fiona slammed Puerto Rico, the devastation led to President Joe Biden declaring a disaster across the island this week, followed shortly by a Public Health Emergency from Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra due to flooding. Even as Federal Emergency... Read More »
Bill seeks to clarify, strengthen violent crime laws
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill that seeks to clarify and strengthen violent crime laws involving homicide, bank robbery, carjacking, kidnapping, and other offenses. U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) recently joined U.S. Reps. Ken Buck (R-CO), Steve Chabot (R-OH), Scott Fitzgerald... Read More »
Rep. Higgins advocates elimination of U.S.-Canada border restrictions
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins is calling on the United States to end COVID-related restrictions at the U.S. border with Canada. Higgins, co-chair of the Canada-US Interparliamentary Group and the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Redacted Senate Intelligence Committee report highlights China, Russia and more as foreign intelligence threats
A new Senate Intelligence Committee report built on two years of research identified numerous threats to American security and called for reforms. Redacted and released by Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) and Vice Chairman Marco Rubio (R-FL), the bipartisan report concluded, among other things, that... Read More »
Bill ensures DHS S&T funds back domestically-produced inventions
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently introduced the Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act, which ensures Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T) funds support inventions produced in the United States. The legislation... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Grassley target lobbyists, foreign influence on U.S. policy in latest legislation
Worried about undisclosed foreign influence on United States policy, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced the Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act this week to crack down on lobbyist and political party exploitation of a Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA)... Read More »
DHS deploys Ford Mustang Mach-E battery electric vehicle for law enforcement
With the debut this week of the Ford Mustang Mach-E, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shook up the law enforcement sector with a first-of-its-kind electric vehicle (EV). The vehicle, fitted to tackle the particular challenges of law enforcement, also made DHS the first federal... Read More »
Legislation targets increased support for local fire departments
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which seeks to bolster nationwide federal support for local fire departments. Specifically, the legislation reauthorizes Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant programs local fire... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Menendez, Hagerty push Congressional oversight of North Korea
With much of the world’s attention turned to Russia and its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced the North Korea Policy Act of 2022 last week in order to return greater scrutiny to North Korea. A bipartisan effort, the bill would... Read More »
Bill seeks to improve information sharing for missing persons on federal lands
U.S. Reps. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and Tim Burchett (R-TN) introduced a bill they said seeks to improve information-sharing efforts for missing persons on federal lands. The Tracking and Reporting Absent Community-members Everywhere (TRACE) Act would enhance information sharing efforts by making a... Read More »
Pekoske receives second TSA Administrator confirmation
The Senate has confirmed David Pekoske for a second term as Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator, a role in which he will continue federal responsibility for domestic surface transportation security. President Joe Biden nominated Pekoske for a second term in May 2022,... Read More »
New Senate effort focuses on reauthorizing Project Safe Neighborhoods grant program
The Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program could gain new life if an effort newly introduced to the Senate gains traction. Under S. 4859, reauthorization would be granted to legislation last passed in 2018 and for other purposes. A nationwide law enforcement program, the Project Safe... Read More »
Justice Department initiates nationwide effort to combat acts of hate
U.S. Department of Justice officials are espousing the benefits of a new nationwide initiative to combat unlawful acts of hate. The United Against Hate program is convening local forums connecting community groups to federal, state, and local law enforcement to expand community understanding and... Read More »
Sens. Lankford, Inhofe introduce SOIL Act to increase oversight of agricultural land
In response to recent purchases by foreign entities that spooked locals in Oklahoma, U.S. Sens. James Lankford (R-OK) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) introduced a bill this week to increase oversight and transparency of purchases of U.S. agricultural land. The Security and Oversight of International... Read More »
Bill offers Russian Federation terrorism sponsor designation
U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the Russia is a State Sponsor of Terrorism Act, which designates the Russian Federation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism (SST). “Putin has crossed every line of civilized norms during the war in Ukraine and years... Read More »
Senate advances Coast Guard Authorization Act
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has advanced the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chair Maria Cantwell (D-WA) joined Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Subcommittee on Oceans Chair Tammy Baldwin... Read More »
Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act pledges to protect FEMA reservists’ jobs
With approval from Congress, the Civilian Reservist Emergency Act headed for President Joe Biden’s desk for a final signature this week, granting new protections for reservists with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from losing their full-time employment when called to... Read More »
Rep. Harshbarger introduces Protecting Our Homeland from Chinese Espionage Act in direct rebuke of China
While tensions between the United States and China have grown over the years, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) introduced the Protecting Our Homeland from Chinese Espionage Act this week. As proposed, the bill would require companies bidding for any Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Bill targets bolstered wildfire protections
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Steve Daines (R-MT) recently introduced the Community Wildfire Protection Act to enable greater wildfire protections. “Climate change is putting more and more communities in the path of deadly wildfires,” Feinstein said. “Unfortunately, a more than... Read More »
Sen. Murphy requests details on DOJ, ATF implementation of Bipartisan Safer Communities Act provisions
Following up on the passage of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act back in June, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) this week wrote the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requesting updates on how the law had been implemented. That legislation had... Read More »
DHS, DOJ detail human smuggling operation disruption, dismantling
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) recently detailed the disruption and dismantling of a human smuggling operation in Texas and across the southern United States. Authorities indicated the operation in conjunction with Joint Task Force Alpha... Read More »