Policy
McCaul introduces legislation targeting Havana Syndrome Attacks
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced Monday that he had introduced legislation responding to sonic attacks on U.S. diplomatic personnel worldwide. Called the Havana Syndrome Attacks Response Act, the legislation seeks to protect... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster infrastructure cybersecurity
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introduced last week legislation designed to strengthen critical infrastructure cybersecurity and address foreign governments knowingly harboring cybercriminals. The Sanction and Stop Ransomware Act seeks to initiate critical... Read More »
Biden administration commits nearly $3.5B to reduce effects of climate change
President Joe Biden approved more than $3.46 billion Thursday for Hazard Mitigation Grants to increase state’s resilience to the impacts of climate change. The investment will be available for natural hazard mitigation measures across the 59 major disaster declarations issued due to the... Read More »
CISA launches Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently partnered with a group of stakeholders to initiate the Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC). The endeavor to develop and implement cyber defense operations plans with federal interagency, private sector, and state, local,... Read More »
Lawmakers assess Texas law enforcement roundtable
Following a recent local law enforcement roundtable discussion in Austin, Texas, a Republican group of representatives shared their takeaways from the meeting, focusing on an increase in violent crimes and officer effectiveness. Since Austin cut its police budget by $150 million last year, the... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Baldwin introduces Disease X Act, seeking $2B to help BARDA with future viral preparation
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation last week that would allocate $2 billion to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). The Disease X Act would provide $2 billion over the next four years -- $500 million per year, beginning in 2022 -- for BARDA to... Read More »
Senate advances legislation designed to strengthen state, local cybersecurity coordination
Legislation re-introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), chairman and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, had advanced in the Senate. The State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act would promote stronger cybersecurity... Read More »
House committee advances supply chain vulnerability legislation
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, are commending committee advancement of their legislation, the Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act. The legislation is designed to address... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster border security
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), a House Committee on Homeland Security member, has joined committee Republicans in introducing legislation they said would bolster border security. The Border Security for America Act of 2021 would require the federal government to secure the nation’s... Read More »
Coast Guard issues updated Cyber Strategic Outlook
The U.S. Coast Guard recently released an updated Cyber Strategic Outlook as a means of addressing increased maritime system cyber-attack threats against the economy and security. “The Coast Guard is taking important and necessary steps to increase safety and security where physical and cyber... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs report reveals eight federal agencies’ cybersecurity failures
A new report released this week by United States Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) revealed glaring cybersecurity failures at eight federal agencies over the past decade, along with the inability of seven of them to comply with basic cybersecurity requirements. The Federal... Read More »
Southern border state legislators introduce bill to support public health and infectious disease efforts in border communities
Fearing for highly interdependent border communities, a bipartisan collection of U.S. representatives and senators have submitted legislation to strengthen multi-country cooperation to screen infectious diseases and support public health initiatives therein. The Border Health Security Act (H.R.... Read More »
Senate advances legislation protecting firefighters, first responders from PFAS chemicals
Bipartisan legislation aimed at protecting firefighters, first responders, and communities from exposure advanced the Senate Thursday. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act, co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R- Maine), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Peters move to create deepfake task force within DHS
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced legislation to help the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) counter the effects of deepfake technology. Deepfakes are realistic, digital manipulations of real content that depict events that did not actually occur. Their bill, the... Read More »
U.S. lawmakers urge HHS to expand domestic manufacturing, technologies for pharmaceutical stockpile
In a letter dispatched last week, five U.S. representatives called on Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to tap domestic manufacturing and new technologies to grow the national stockpile of important pharmaceuticals and reduce reliance on foreign production. Although the... Read More »
National cyber director position gains $21M addendum in Senate’s Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act
Thanks to a bipartisan effort from U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and Mitt Romney (R-UT), the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act will now include a $21 million carve-out for the Office of the National Cyber... Read More »
DHS awards two small business $1.68M in grants to enhance access to wireless service
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that it awarded Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grants to two companies. The companies will use the money to develop an in-building coverage analysis system (ICAS) that will use existing first responder radio and... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Peters sponsor bill to research supply chain vulnerabilities
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced last week legislation that would direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to research how supply chain vulnerabilities could threaten U.S. homeland security. The Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act will not only... Read More »
Senate Select Committee unanimously advances FY22 funding for Intelligence Community
Next year’s funding for the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) cleared the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week, following a unanimous vote on the Intelligence Authorization Act. In all, the bill would authorize funding and legal authorities for 2022 while increasing congressional... Read More »
FDA extends emergency authorization for REGEN-COV antibody use for COVID-19 cases
REGEN-COV was confirmed for continued use against COVID-19 cases deemed at high risk for progression to hospitalization or death last week, with the extension of its Emergency Use Authorization by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The therapeutic is a monoclonal antibody... Read More »
Critical infrastructure cyber defense legislation introduced in U.S. Senate
Following a new National Security Memorandum signed by President Joe Biden aimed at strengthening cybersecurity for the nation’s critical infrastructure, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently introduced the Defense of United States Infrastructure Act, S. 2491, legislation aimed at... Read More »
VACCINES Act introduced in U.S. House to protect veterans during public health emergencies
Bipartisan legislation that would direct the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish tests and vaccinations to America’s military veterans during public health emergencies was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Veterans’ Access to Care Concerning... Read More »
Learning the lessons of COVID-19, experts testify resources still inadequate to fight pandemics
State funding for public health departments has dropped by 16 percent since 2010, and these same departments have lost a quarter of their workforce in the last decade. How can the United States adequately prepare for the next pandemic when the public health infrastructure is woefully... Read More »
Biden administration unveils critical infrastructure protection initiative
Biden administration officials said efforts are underway to bolster critical infrastructure protections in the wake of expanding and continuous cyber threats. President Joe Biden's recent signing of a National Security Memorandum (NSM) on Improving Cybersecurity for Critical Infrastructure... Read More »
Sen. Padilla advocates wildfire combating resources
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) is imploring the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to ensure the solicitation of resources to combat California wildfires. During a recent Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) hearing, Padilla questioned Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Senate confirms Kendall as Air Force Secretary
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Frank Kendall as the 26th Secretary of the Air Force, with officials lauding his decades-long record of service amid efforts to navigate global challenges. Kendall previously served in various Department of Defense senior capacities, including the Pentagon’s... Read More »
Lawmakers seek to end military draft registration
U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) joined U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Rand Paul (R-KY) in urging the rejection of efforts to expand military draft registrations. “Our professional, all-volunteer military is the finest fighting force in the world,” the legislators... Read More »
Measure targets FFL gun thefts
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) recently reintroduced the Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act of 2021, which seeks to address the rising number of smash-and-grab thefts targeted at federally licensed gun dealers venues. The lawmakers cited a Bureau of Alcohol,... Read More »
Resolution urges EU designation of Hezbollah as terrorist organization
U.S. Reps. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Kathy Manning (D-NC), and Peter Meijer (R-MI) introduced Monday a resolution designed to encourage the European Union's (EU) full designation of Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The EU solely includes Hezbollah's military wing - separate... Read More »
DHS S&T launches third virtual segment in whole-of-government R&D showcase
For the launch of the third series of the Virtual Whole-of-Government Research and Development (R&D) Showcase this week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is looking to address upcoming scientific fields changing the world and how it handles... Read More »
DHS to cancel two Laredo border barrier contracts
Aligning with its Plan for Use of Border Barrier Funds, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is terminating two Laredo Sector border barrier contracts. CBP officials said the contracts are unnecessary to address any life, safety,... Read More »
Sen. Ernst secures supply chain, troop priorities in defense bill
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) recently secured a series of major priorities in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Senate’s annual defense bill. Secured provisions include continued development and fielding of protective body armor designed specifically for female troops, improved... Read More »
Congress sees growing bicameral call for $34B to improve global vaccine distribution
In a letter written to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), more than 70 U.S. representatives and senators have called for providing up to $34 billion to speed up COVID-19 vaccine production for global use. “No investment in the fight... Read More »
Bipartisan senators introduce legislation to secure critical infrastructure networks against cyberattacks
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation Thursday designed to safeguard America’s critical infrastructure networks against cybersecurity threats. The bill would require the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security... Read More »