Policy
FEMA, Ad Council focus on disaster preparedness in Black communities with newest PSAs
Create a lasting legacy – that is the message from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Ad Council’s latest accessibility and preparedness PSA campaign, which will focus on the Black and African American communities nationwide. “Black and African American communities... Read More »
DoD outlines domestic clothing, textile industrial base pact
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) is detailing a shared $6.8 million agreement with Burlington Industries, LLC, which will sustain and strengthen the domestic clothing and textile industrial base. The agreement extends through September 2027 and calls for Burlington Industries to invest in... Read More »
House lawmakers seek improved intelligence analysis of foreign military will to fight
A year on, the United States is still learning lessons from its withdrawal from Afghanistan, and U.S. Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO) and Peter Meijer (R-MI) this week introduced the Will to Fight Act to guarantee foreign national resolve is on the list for study. “As an Army Ranger in Iraq and... Read More »
Boeing secures $5B Missile Defense Agency contract
The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has awarded Boeing a $5 billion Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) System Integration, Test and Readiness (SITR) contract. “Boeing’s proposal offered decades of experience in weapon systems integration, anchored by the unique expertise of our people,”... Read More »
DARPA initiative eyes scientist, engineer recruitment
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently unveiled a new initiative to recruit early career scientists and engineers. The DARPA Innovation Fellowship Program is slated to select fellows to develop and manage a portfolio of high-impact, exploratory research efforts to... Read More »
Federal funds to aid three Oregon fire districts
U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are espousing the benefits of three Oregon fire districts receiving a combined nearly $100,000 in federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG). The City of Coos Bay would receive an allotment of $32,380, while Siletz Rural Fire Protection... Read More »
FEMA launches $50M loan fund to reduce natural hazard, climate change vulnerabilities at state, local levels
Under the direction of the Biden administration and drawing on funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will create a $50 million Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund program to bolster state and local government efforts to fight natural... Read More »
Reps. Sarbanes, Pappas join colleagues in expressing concerns with Turkey’s missile defense systems, F-16
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, indicating concerns about Turkey reportedly considering acquiring Russian S-400 missile defense systems. U.S. Reps. John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) joined 18 colleagues in also restating... Read More »
Sen. Ernst advocates for prevention of southern border terrorist flow
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, urging DHS action regarding reported increased southern border terrorist apprehensions. “Recent reports have shown an increase of terrorist apprehensions in recent... Read More »
DoD initiates pilot program for the manufacturing of commercial, military technology
The U.S. Department of Defense's Industrial Base Policy Office recently launched a manufacturing pilot program with the Austin Center for Manufacturing and Innovation (ACMI) in Austin, Texas. The Defense Production Act (DPA) Title III Program initiative is slated to focus on advanced... Read More »
Raytheon Missiles & Defense wins $182M U.S. Army contract to supply mid-range air defense to Ukraine
As the war between Ukraine and Russia enters into its sixth month, the U.S. Army is still finding new ways to help its eastern European ally, and as of last week, that support took the form of a $182 million contract with Raytheon Missiles & Defense. The company, formed through a combination of... Read More »
Caucus targets civilian harm prevention, response efforts
U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Jason Crow (D-CO), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) recently formed a congressional caucus that seeks to prevent, reduce and offer a response to civilian harm resulting from U.S. and partners’ operations. The action stems from the... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Rounds introduces bill to pay for school safety with redirected renewable energy funds
In an effort to improve school safety at the state and local levels, United States Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) last week introduced the Security to Avoid Violence in Educational Settings (SAVES) Act, which would create a new federal grant program. The Department of Justice would be in charge of a... Read More »
CISA offers post-quantum cryptography roadmap
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has released Preparing Critical Infrastructure for Post-Quantum Cryptography, a guide which provides critical infrastructure and government network owners with essential updates. The analysis also provides operators with an overview of... Read More »
Lawmakers say ease of access to radiological material requires immediate action by NRC
Leaders from the House Committees on Energy & Commerce and Homeland Security joined forces in a letter this week to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), pressing for urgent action to close vulnerabilities in the oversight of radiological material purchases. Spurring the letter was a covert... Read More »Sens. Rubio, Hagerty express concerns regarding DHS, State Department determination allowing “terrorist-linked” individuals to enter U.S.
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) have joined eight colleagues in expressing concerns regarding a recent Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State determination that "terrorist-linked" individuals are no longer barred from entering the United States. The... Read More »
Nonprofit Security Grant Program allocate funds for two faith-based security initiatives
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently announced funding for their respective states to aid faith-based and other nonprofit organizations in securing their facilities against terrorist attacks and acts of hate. Portman, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection appoints Roque Caza port director for Calexico
The Calexico Port of Entry gained a new port director this week, with the United States Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) appointment of Roque Caza, previously the director of the CBP Counter Network Division (CND). Calexico is the third busiest of six land border crossings under the... Read More »
Whistleblowers prompt questions over COVID-19 vaccine mislabeling, unauthorized manufacturing
In a letter to leadership at the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) revealed nine whistleblowers had disclosed concerns of mislabeling and unauthorized manufacturing of... Read More »
DARPA seeks to bolster microelectronics manufacturing
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking proposals to enhance microelectronics manufacturing efforts. DARPA’s Next-Generation Microelectronics Manufacturing (NGMM) seeks to create a new, domestic-based center for research and development and 3DHI microsystems... Read More »
Rep. Maloney introduces legislation seeking gun manufacturer accountability
U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) recently introduced two pieces of legislation to combat gun violence by establishing gun manufacturer accountability. The Firearm Industry Fairness Act would tax firearm manufacturers producing semiautomatic weapons and high-capacity magazines at a rate of 20... Read More »
DHS, national law enforcement organizations host two-day 2022 Intelligence Summit
At the first summit of its kind in 15 years, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and various national law enforcement organizations gathered in Alexandria, Va., Aug. 17-18, 2022, to network and improve information sharing on national and public security. “In the 20 years since 9/11,... Read More »
TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act signed into law, funding collaborations with mental health experts
With signature from President Joe Biden, the TBI and PTSD Law Enforcement Training Act became law last week, authorizing $270 million over five years to continue the Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program (JMHCP) and to fund a new police training program. The legislation seeks to... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation improving permitting process for national-security manufacturing operations signed into law
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME) recently applauded the passage of their legislation (S. 3451) that cuts "bureaucratic red tape" for certain computer-related projects, such as the development of semiconductors, which was signed as Public Law 117-173 on... Read More »
DHS details competitive preparedness grant allocations
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has detailed final allocations of $550 million for seven Fiscal Year 2022 competitive preparedness grant programs. “As the threats to the homeland evolve, so too must the grant programs intended to prepare communities for those threats,” DHS... Read More »
GAO: Hospitals face lack of staff, supplies or space to care for patients amid medical surges
During some COVID-19 surges, U.S. hospitals were hampered in terms of staff, supplies, or space to care for patients that exceeded their normal operating capacity, though health care coalitions helped fill some gaps. According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a review of eight... Read More »
Group of senators encourage congressional leadership to fund better monkeypox emergency response
With no signs the monkeypox health emergency is set to lessen, a group of 14 U.S. senators wrote to congressional leadership this week in search of additional funding for a public health response in any future legislative package. “Monkeypox is a serious threat to public health, and we need to... Read More »
DHS offers proof-of-concept for vehicular Wildland Urban Interface alert system
The Integrated Public Alert Warning System (IPAWS) used by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may soon be capable of providing hazard and evacuation alerts directly to vehicles’ infotainment screens. This week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology... Read More »
DoD issues first department-wide social media policy
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently released its first department-wide social media policy detailing how DoD military and civilian personnel should use official social media accounts. "It's long overdue," Office of the Secretary of Defense Director of Digital Media Andy Oare said.... Read More »
CBP’s July update shows decreasing encounters on Southwest border
Though border crossing attempts remain high, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported in its July 2022 operational update that encounters at the Southwest border decreased by 4 percent, trending down for two months. In terms of individuals encountered, the figures went up by 1 percent,... Read More »
FBI nationwide sex trafficking operation saves 84 minors, 141 adults from exploitation
In coordination with state and local partners this August, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced successfully identified and located 84 minors victimized by sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, as well as 37 children who had been actively missing. Dubbed Operation Cross... Read More »
FEMA offers more than $3B for two climate resilience grants
Utilizing money from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) put up more than $3 billion in funding last week for two grant programs meant to help communities improve resilience to climate change and extreme weather. “Climate change is... Read More »
Group of lawmakers push Senate leadership to fund monkeypox response in future legislative packages
A collection of 14 U.S. senators wrote to Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) last week to request funding for the monkeypox outbreak response be included in any upcoming legislative package. Designated a Public Health Emergency (PHE) earlier... Read More »