Policy
Funds earmarked for Delaware law enforcement initiatives
Delaware officials are touting $4.2 million in federal funding earmarked for law enforcement initiatives to improve transparency, reduce violence and bolster mental health services. Gov. John Carney recently joined U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Chris Coons (D-DE), and U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt... Read More »
House committee leaders applaud Customs and Border Protection decision to disband “rogue” internal investigation teams
In response to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announcing it would disband Critical Incident Teams tasked with investigating and collecting evidence of excessive and deadly use of force from its agents, House leaders applauded the elimination of what they viewed as obstructive... Read More »
Better Cybercrime Metrics Act signed into law, pledges improvements to federal action on cybercrime
With the signing of the Better Cybercrime Metrics Act last week, President Joe Biden welcomed a new cybersecurity bill into law, promising improvements to how the federal government prosecutes, measures, and tracks cybercrime. Backed by the National Fraternal Order of Police and other national... Read More »
Bill seeks to protect domestic technology research from being used to bolster People’s Liberation Army
A group of legislators recently introduced legislation that would protect domestic technology research from being used by Chinese entities to benefit the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) led colleagues U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike... Read More »
Bill targets inequities in federal disaster response
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation seeking to address systemic inequities concerning the federal government’s disaster and assistance distribution response. The Federal Emergency Management Advancement of Equity Act (FEMA Equity Act) was introduced by U.S. Sen. Elizabeth... Read More »
U.S. Attorney announces successful results of strategy to combat fraud related to COVID-19
U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida Roger B. Handberg announced Wednesday that his work to combat COVID-19-related fraud has been, to date, successful. Working with federal, state, and local law enforcement, Handberg said his office was able to form the COVID-19 Fraud Task Force to... Read More »
Bill targets Russian war crimes documentation effort
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) recently introduced legislation that seeks to ensure America is undertaking coordinated efforts to collect and maintain war crimes evidence during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Cornyn, the sponsor of the Ukraine Invasion War Crimes Deterrence and Accountability... Read More »Resolution targets illicit trade, money laundering
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a resolution advocating Congress address global criminal organizations, illicit trade, and trade-based money laundering (TBML) actions. The resolution was introduced by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey... Read More »
BAE Systems opens new engineering, production facility in New Hampshire
BAE Systems officials are espousing the benefits of its newly opened engineering and production facility in Manchester, N.H., which will support electronic warfare (EW) systems development initiatives. “Our new Manchester facility is critical to developing next-generation electromagnetic... Read More »
Sen. Tester introduces legislation seeking to strengthen U.S. borders
Two bills introduced by U.S. Sen. John Tester (R-MT) would further strengthen and secure the U.S. borders to Canada and Mexico, the senator’s office said Monday. Tester introduced the Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which will require U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) to hire... Read More »
Bill targets enhanced anti-trafficking efforts
U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) joined nine colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking maritime domain awareness clarity. The legislators are requesting that DHS adopt a common operating platform, which they... Read More »
CBP Trusted Traveler Programs reach milestone, exceeding 10 million members in March
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced that the Trusted Traveler Programs (TTP) initiative exceeded 10 million total members during March. TTP supports the agency's mission to secure domestic borders while facilitating lawful travel and trade - enabling pre-approved,... Read More »
GOP senators introduce bill to protect vaccine manufacturers’ intellectual property rights
Accusing the Biden administration of opening the fruits of American vaccine development to abuse by foreign nations, United States Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and several Republican colleagues have introduced a bill to block the federal government from waiving intellectual property rights. Through... Read More »
NTI hosts more than 40 nuclear experts at fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum
The nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) drew together dozens of nuclear experts from 15 countries and international organizations earlier this month for its fifth Cyber-Nuclear Forum, dedicated to addressing ransomware, supply chain issues, workforce maintenance, and effective security.... Read More »
Biden administration releases first national action plan to counter malicious drone activity
The rapid introduction and expansion of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones, into daily life has created a host of additional safety and privacy concerns as well, and this week those concerns prompted the Biden administration to introduce the first Domestic Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate DoD civilian harm accountability
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, III, encouraging the agency to bolster efforts to address civilian harm. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Edward J. Markey (D-MA) joined colleagues U.S. Sens. Patrick Leahy... Read More »
WHO recommends Paxlovid as treatment for high risk COVID-19 patients, but warns of roadblocks
While adding Paxlovid – nirmatrelvir and ritonavir – to its list of recommended treatments for mild and moderate COVID-19 patients at risk of hospital admission, the World Health Organization (WHO) noted that lack of price transparency at Pfizer Inc. and testing demands before administration... Read More »
Congress members call for Russia to be designated state sponsor of terrorism
U.S. Reps. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) led members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in urging the U.S. State Department to determine whether or not Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the... Read More »
National Drug Control Strategy forwarded to Congress
President Joe Biden has forwarded to Congress his administration's first National Drug Control Strategy, which is an initiative focused on a whole-of-government approach to address the overdose epidemic. “This Strategy goes after two big drivers of the opioid epidemic: untreated addiction and... Read More »
DoD opens new Defense Innovation Unit office in Chicago
Chicago gained a satellite office for the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) last week, which the agency will use to identify new solutions, companies, and people in the Midwest capable of helping with national security challenges. "The opening of this Defense... Read More »
ASPR celebrates construction of new research and development facility for production of prefilled injectors
The U.S. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) celebrated the completion of the initial design and construction last week for a new ApiJect Technology Development Center that promises greater manufacturing capacity for prefilled injectors used to administer vaccines... Read More »
Rep. Katko commends enactment of Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the enactment of his Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) expands support for Shadow Wolves officers performing critical duties and bolsters the southern border. The Shadow Wolves, part of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, are a Native American tactical... Read More »
U.S. intelligence community, international partners issue advisory on demonstrated Russian cyber threats
A joint cybersecurity advisory was issued this week by a collection of various U.S. intelligence and security agencies, as well as international partners, providing a comprehensive overview of Russian state-sponsored and criminal cyber threats to critical infrastructure. This focus on Russia... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $260M funding for Counter-Unmanned System Threats
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded $259,831,989 to the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) to support S&T’s Counter-Unmanned System Threats (C-UST) efforts. Amentum Services, Inc.,... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for DHS radiation portal monitor acquisition
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued recommendations to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding radiation portal monitor acquisition efforts. The recommendations stem from DHS's Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) replacing radiation portal... Read More »
House Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act proposes federal system migration to quantum-resistant cryptography
In an effort to safeguard information on federal systems, U.S. Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Ro Khanna (D-CA), and Gerry Connolly (D-VA) introduced legislation this week promoting a transition of governmental IT systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. The Quantum Cybersecurity Preparedness Act... Read More »
Law enforcement collaboration targets human trafficking
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C., recently partnered with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association to detect, deter and raise human trafficking awareness. Operation Safe Passage is a high‐visibility... Read More »
Sen. Tester expresses support for opening northern border ports
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Chris Magnus, advocating pre-pandemic operations resume at Montana ports of entry. “We have made significant headway in combating the COVID-19 pandemic, yet most ports of entry in... Read More »
Rep. Kim introduces bill to improve enforcement coordination, crack down on retail crime
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced the Improving Federal Investigations of Organized Retail Crime Act (H.R. 7499), a bipartisan bill to improve how law enforcement handles organized retail crime. According to a 2019 report by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and Buy Safe... Read More »
KBR secures Army recompete task order
The U.S. Army has awarded science, technology, and engineering solutions firm KBR a $62 million, five-year recompete task order to provide conception-to-completion development, testing, engineering, and analysis services. KBR would execute duties to aid the U.S. Army Program Executive Office... Read More »
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans seek hearing regarding Title 42 rescission
Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans recently forwarded correspondence to Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), requesting a hearing regarding the Biden administration’s decision to rescind the Title 42 Public Health Order. The senators said that termination of the Title 42 order would likely result... Read More »
Bipartisan senators seek appointment of Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator
In the wake of continued fighting in Ukraine, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Dick Durbin (D-IL) are urging President Joe Biden to appoint a Ukraine Security Assistance Coordinator to aid support efforts. “Even after their initial defeat,... Read More »
Sens. Hoeven, Moran, colleagues seek DHS southern border policy revisions insight
U.S. Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) joined 11 colleagues in forwarding correspondence last week to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking insight regarding recent southern border policy revisions. The letter was sent to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas,... Read More »
Republican coalition of senators question DHS over how it enforces border security
Citing concerns over record attempts to cross the United States-Mexico border illegally, 13 Republican senators wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the department’s changes to border security policies, processing, and enforcement. Last year, U.S. Customs and Border... Read More »