Policy
Fire Grants and Safety Act proposes new support for firefighter, first responder services
With approval from the House this week, the Fire Grants and Safety Act (S.870) seems set for signature by President Joe Biden, and would bring with it extended authorization for firefighter and first responder support nationwide. Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), the bill incorporated... Read More »
Shuffle at the Cyber Safety Review Board as four seats change hands
The Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), which is only two years old, announced a shakeup in membership this week, as four current members departed and were replaced by others. The Board was created in February 2022, following President Joe Biden's direction to improve U.S. cybersecurity. It is... Read More »
Dozens of federal lawmakers oppose Air Force proposal to reassign National Guard units out of governors’ authority
Opposition rose this week against a proposal from the U.S. Air Force within the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), over its push to transfer National Guard units performing space missions to the U.S. Space Force without governors’ approval. A group of 81 senators and... Read More »
New federal report connects emergency responders with non-detonable training aids for explosive detection dogs
In order to properly prepare working canines for explosives detection, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) released a new report to help emergency responders find non-detonable training aids. “The Detection Canine Program at S&T plays a critical... Read More »
Border Security and Enforcement Block Grant Act proposes federal grant funding for physical border barriers
Through new legislation, U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Mike Turner (R-OH) recently placed themselves at odds with the Biden administration by seeking to enable federal grant funding for states to create physical barriers at the southern border. A hallmark of the previous Trump... Read More »
Avian flu outbreak prompts Congressional request for interagency coordination
Fearing the potential behind a recent outbreak of avian flu (H5N1), 17 U.S. senators wrote to Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack this week urging a more coordinated approach between federal, public and state agencies. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention... Read More »
Protect and Serve Act would elevate the harming or attempted harm of law enforcement to a federal crime
Following the deaths of four police officers while executing an arrest warrant in North Carolina last week, a group of U.S. senators introduced the Protect and Serve Act (S. 4258) to turn attempts to harm or successfully harming a law enforcement officer into a federal crime. Traditionally, such... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Steil, Dean introduce legislation to target human trafficking among other countries
As a way to crackdown on human trafficking, two U.S. representatives recently introduced the Exposing the Financing of Human Trafficking Act (H.R. 8185), which would authorize the United States to hold foreign countries accountable for related efforts targeting these criminal... Read More »
TSA publishes final rule on Flight Training Security Program improvements
For the first time since its creation in 2004, the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Flight Training Security Program is getting an overhaul. As published in the Federal Register this week, TSA plans to update the program for efficacy and efficiency, including the security threat... Read More »
SERVICE Act of 2024 seeks DOJ pilot program, grants for local veteran response teams
As a way to support veterans, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Dale Strong (R-AL), Lou Correa (D-CA), and Glenn Ivey (D-MD) recently introduced legislation that would offer local law enforcement grants to create veteran response teams for use during emergencies. Cosponsored by 13... Read More »
DHS publishes guidelines for securing critical infrastructure and weapons against AI threats
Mere days after the Department of Homeland Security formed a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) Safety and Security Board, it also released new guidelines for how to protect critical infrastructure and weapons of mass destruction against the threats posed by AI. The report followed six months... Read More »
Spectrum and National Security Act introduced to modernize spectrum policy, revamp FCC authority
In a bid to update federal spectrum and communications network policy, restore the auction authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and push technological investments, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA) recently introduced the Spectrum and National Security Act. Pitching the bill as... Read More »
National security upgrades, pay raises and more pushed in Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act
Members of Congress recently paraded a mix of recommended updates to benefit military service members as part of the new Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act (H.R. 8070) – and it is set to serve as the base for the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill... Read More »
Embattled TikTok in jeopardy as President Biden signs legislative ban
The ByteDance-owned TikTok faces an uphill battle in the United States after President Joe Biden signed a law this week forcing it to sell to a U.S. company or be banned outright. Biden’s signature was the final stroke needed to pass the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled... Read More »
Reward offered for Iranian nationals charged over multi-year cyber campaign against U.S. companies
In unsealing a 13-page indictment this week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed charges against four Iranian nationals for their alleged involvement in a hacking campaign against the U.S. government and private companies. The defendants remain at large and the United States has... Read More »
FEND OFF Fentanyl Act included in national security supplemental
A bill targeting the illicit fentanyl supply chain, the Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act, S.1271, recently advanced through the U.S. Senate as part of the national security supplemental. If ultimately approved, the legislation from bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Tim... Read More »
DoD innovative technologies pilot funds 13 additional projects
For the next round of participants in a pilot program to Accelerate the Procurement and Fielding of Innovative Technologies (APFIT), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced 13 projects will receive funding. Helmed by the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and... Read More »
House advances aid for Ukraine, Israel and defense manufacturing after weeks of doubt
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a $95 billion package (H.R.815) over the weekend that will include aid for Ukraine and Israel, and billions in support for the domestic defense industrial base. The Ukraine portion of the bill passed 311-112, with one vote as simply present, but it,... Read More »
Ammunition Supply Chain Act proposes mandated reporting on materials key to U.S. ammunition manufacturing
Under a new bill – the Ammunition Supply Chain Act – proposed in the House by U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and in the Senate by U.S. Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID), the U.S. Army would need to prepare a thorough report on the supply chain of ammunition manufacturing. “As threats to our nation’s... Read More »
Restoring American Deterrence Act seeks nuclear overhauls to deter China and Russia
Focused on China and Russia as the combined threats of the present and future, a group of senators recently introduced the Restoring American Deterrence Act to revise United States nuclear preparedness and update deterrence strategies. The bill was based on recommendations from the Congressional... Read More »
Bipartisan House effort seeks sanctions for Chinese firms backing Russian invasion of Ukraine
This week, a collection of Republican and Democratic legislators introduced a bill to sanction any Chinese military firm supporting Russia. In the NO LIMITS ACT, U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), John Moolenaar (R-MI), and Jared Golden (D-ME) proposed blanket sanctions for... Read More »
Eight preparedness grant recipients to split $1.8B from DHS
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced more than $1.8 billion in preparedness grants to benefit eight recipients in fiscal year 2024 in addressing capacity, flexibility and high priority investments. “As threats continue to evolve, the Department of Homeland... Read More »
DHS opens applications for 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a notice of funding opportunity for its Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) grant program recently, opening a month-long application period for interested parties to seek out $18 million. Online, in-person, and... Read More »
Bicameral Defense Quantum Acceleration Act proposes DoD prioritize quantum technology
In introducing their Defense Quantum Acceleration Act last week, U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) seek to hasten the implementation of quantum technologies within the Department of Defense (DoD). Both lawmakers pitched the move as one specifically meant to... Read More »
BEST Technology for the Homeland Act proposes extending DHS procurement tool for technology acquisition
A bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Steve Daines (R-MT) recently proposed extending use of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) procurement tool to acquire leading-edge technology from private companies. The Better Enabling Secure and Trustworthy (BEST) Technology... Read More »
Blast Overpressure Safety Act introduced to demand better oversight of shockwave trauma from explosive weapons
A new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) proposed protections for servicemembers by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to pursue better blast overpressure screening, tracking, prevention and treatment measures. Blast overpressure is the pressure... Read More »
Department of Defense unveils Transition Tracking Action Group to advise technology transitions
In a move to improve technology transitions, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) last month launched the Transition Tracking Action Group (TTAG) and granted the new advisory group access to advanced data analytics. For its part, the TTAG will be charged with establishing a department-wide... Read More »
GAO: Lack of workforce and fleet data may imperil Coast Guard efforts to modernize aircraft fleet
According to new findings from the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to modernize its fleet of about 200 aircraft suffer from a major flaw in its lack of analytical data. The Coast Guard relies on its aircraft to protect the U.S. coastline and... Read More »
U.S. Coast Guard to conduct port security training exercise in Puerto Rico this month
Through an exercise known as Poseidon’s Domain, the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve will take crews from three of its Port Security Units (PSU) and put them to the test along the northeast and eastern coasts of Puerto Rico this month. From April 8 to April 25, crews from PSUs 305, 307, and 309 will... Read More »
Bill proposed to correct Customs and Border Protection error that removed officer retirement benefits
After newly hired officers’ benefits were pulled due to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) error that claimed they would be eligible for proportional annuity, federal lawmakers have introduced bills to correct that mistake and renew those benefits. The U.S. Customs and Border... Read More »
Bipartisan Senate bill seeks permanent guarantees for a veterans helpline
Working together, U.S. Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently introduced the Veterans Assistance Helpline Act, a bill to make a veterans information and assistance helpline a permanent fixture of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). “We owe so much to our veterans for... Read More »
DHS lays out new plans to crack down on illicit textiles
Framing it as a move to strengthen enforcement and support American textile jobs, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a strategy taking aim at illicit textiles and customs violations. “We are dedicated to ensuring a fair and level playing field for American... Read More »
Secret Service targeted California organized crime over EBT fraud in Operation April Fools
Working with law enforcement partners, the U.S. Secret Service recently arrested 10 individuals across the state of California and charged them with crimes related to Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) fraud, as part of an action dubbed Operation April Fools. The multi-day operation sought to... Read More »
Rep. Johnson calls on National Guard to guarantee future reenlistment bonuses
Troubled by a trend of suspended or delayed reenlistment bonuses, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-SD) recently wrote to National Guard Bureau Chief Daniel Hokanson urging the service branch to maintain incentive payments for its members. “In October 2023, over 9,000 soldiers were identified as... Read More »