Policy
Voters say nuclear weapons threat an important issue for presidential candidates to address
Eight in 10 voters say it is essential or very important for presidential candidates to have clear plans and policies concerning the threat of nuclear weapons, according to an analysis by Hart Research Associates. The majority of voters said they would have a more favorable opinion of a... Read More »
Wuhan coronavirus reaches Chicago as dozens of possible infections emerge across U.S.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed a second U.S. case of the Wuhan coronavirus on Friday, pointing to a patient in Chicago while revealing that 63 other possible cases are being tracked across 22 states. Though Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDC’s National Center... Read More »
CBP seizes vessel with $28M in cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard recently intercepted a 60-foot low-profile go-fast vessel carrying 2,200 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $28 million. A CBP Air and Marine Operations (AMO) P-3 Orion Long Range Tracker crew spotted a suspicious vessel in... Read More »
Senate Intelligence Committee holds hearing on security clearance reforms
The U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held a hearing this week on the federal government’s security clearance reform efforts. The current security clearance model has been mostly unchanged for more than 70 years. The Intelligence Authorization Act for FY 2018, 2019, and 2020,... Read More »
China’s new coronavirus arrives in United States
Despite recent efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to initiate health screenings at several U.S. airports, the first case of a novel coronavirus has cropped up in Washington state. The novel coronavirus has rapidly expanded its reach in recent weeks, following an... Read More »
GAO recommends adherence to reliability practice for DOD acquisition programs
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is recommending that seven Department of Defense (DOD) acquisition programs adhere to key reliability practices. The GAO was asked to examine DOD weapon system reliability. The DOD invests billions of dollars each year in major defense acquisition... Read More »
Senate bill would establish Cybersecurity State Coordinator program
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate this week would require the Department of Homeland Security to establish a Cybersecurity State Coordinator program. Through this program, states would have to appoint their own federally funded Cybersecurity Coordinator who would work with federal, state,... Read More »
ICE honors efforts to combat human trafficking during awareness month
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recognizes January as National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, which offers an opportunity to bring acknowledgment to continued efforts working to eliminate the crime, ensuring all people are treated with dignity and respect. Law enforcement... Read More »
Comprehensive database reveals more than 3.2 billion live animals imported to United States over 15 years
Thanks to data unveiled through Freedom of Information Act requests, the nonprofit EcoHealth Alliance launched the largest scale database of U.S. animal imports in history last week and, in the process, revealed that the nation imported more than 3.2 billion live animals over 15 years. The data... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations regarding Kingpin Act
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently issued a report examining how agencies designate individuals and entities under the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act). The report also examines how the agencies monitor, enforce, and report on sanctions under the Kingpin... Read More »
Reps. Spanberger, Bacon introduce bill to protect veteran firefighters
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) introduced a bill to provide veteran firefighters with improved compensation and benefits. The Michael Lecik Military Firefighters Protection Act would protect veteran firefighters who become disabled by serious diseases—including heart disease, lung... Read More »
SecuLore wins DHS award to improve emergency communications infrastructure
SecuLore Solutions was awarded $750,000 by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to improve the resiliency of the nation’s emergency communications infrastructure. SecuLore will work to eliminate cybersecurity attacks against emergency... Read More »
US responds to novel coronavirus outbreak with public health screening at airports
All travelers from Wuhan, China, to the United States will have to undergo public health screening at the three U.S. airports that receive the most travelers from the Chinese city - San Francisco, New York, or Los Angeles - in response to a novel coronavirus outbreak that is continuing to grow.... Read More »
Public-private cooperation must improve to fill gaps in pandemic preparation, response
Pandemic preparedness collaboration among private businesses with the public sector is critically important at this time, say experts at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, the World Economic Forum, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “The next severe pandemic will not only... Read More »
Pennsylvania to provide $5M to nonprofit organizations for safety
Pennsylvania’s Nonprofit Security Grant Fund Program will provide $5 million in funding to nonprofit organizations for security enhancement projects. Applicants must be a nonprofit organization that owns or operates a facility that is seeking to protect the safety and security of the... Read More »
Flexibility and sustainability in funding key to combating opioid epidemic
Testifying before a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, experts said Tuesday that more flexibility and stability in funding is necessary to battle the next phase in the war against opioid addiction. During the Oversight and Investigations subcommittee hearing entitled, "A Public Health... Read More »
Rep. Walker addresses urgency to combat anti-Semitic attacks at hearing
The House Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism of the Committee on Homeland Security held a hearing this week to discuss the rise of anti-Semitic attacks in the country. The hearing -- called Confronting the Rise in Anti-Semitic Domestic Terrorism – featured testimony from U.S.... Read More »
Reps. Pallone, Doyle seek briefing on efforts to protect telecommunication networks
Congressional leaders are asking Trump administration officials for briefings on efforts to secure America’s telecommunications networks in the wake of the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. Reps. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) sent letters to the heads of the Federal... Read More »
DHS plans to publish strategy on combatting human trafficking
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will publish a report in 180 days that includes timelines, specific deliverables, and metrics for measuring results to fight human trafficking. The report, called Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Importation of Goods Produced with Forced Labor,... Read More »
New law exempts incentives for volunteer first responders as taxable income this year only
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is cheering a win in the form of the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) recently passed into law, for the tax benefits it will provide to volunteer firefighters all year. VRIPA exempts all nominal incentives for volunteer... Read More »
Sheriffs association takes first steps toward template for law enforcement use of drones
With drones becoming more incorporated into modern life, the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) is getting in on the action and has created a working group to create a template governing law enforcement use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) nationwide. The need for such a template has... Read More »
Airport checkpoint gun seizures on rise
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel are reporting a record-setting year for officers stationed at airport security checkpoints, noting more firearm seizures than at any other point in the agency’s history. “The continued increase in the number of firearms that travelers... Read More »
Senate introduces bill to foster 5G innovation
Legislation that would invest about $1 billion to invest in 5G technology and innovation was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The Utilizing Strategic Allied (USA) Telecommunications Act would encourage competition with Chinese provider Huawei by accelerating the development of an... Read More »
Sen. Portman presses for permanent criminalization of Fentanyl-related substances
As the U.S. opioid epidemic continues, and with a criminalization order against fentanyl-related substances set to expire, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) took to the Senate floor this week urging legislation to permanently schedule the drugs. The existing scheduling order against fentanyl --... Read More »
Sen. Warner seeks answers from Pompeo on cybersecurity in State Department
U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) voiced concerns over the U.S. State Departmentʻs plans to address the surge of offensive cyberactivity by Iran. In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Warner is seeking answers from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on how the State Department plans to defend... Read More »
Sen. Durbin, Rep. Schneider seek support for Domestic Terrorism legislation
Citing a deadly year and the threat of domestic terrorism, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) have reintroduced the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2020--legislation to enhance federal abilities to crack down on domestic terror. The bill would give the federal... Read More »
US-Israel partnerships awards $2.3M for homeland security projects
U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation awarded $2.3 million to three groups to develop advanced technologies for homeland security. The BIRD Foundation is an initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate... Read More »
Sen. Rubio applauds Trump Administration’s sanctions on Iran
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) commended the Trump Administration for imposing sanctions on eight senior Iranian officials and key sectors of Iran’s economy, including steel and iron manufacturers. “Today’s announcement of sanctions against senior Iranian officials and Iran’s... Read More »
Senators seek details on measures to protect service members in Middle East
A group of Democratic Senators urged the Trump Administration last week to detail the security measures to protect diplomats, service members, personnel, and families serving in the Middle East following the killing of Iran’s Qassem Soleimani. The Democratic Senators also want to evidence of... Read More »
Officials tout border wall construction progress
Federal officials recently joined Yuma, Ariz., city and county leaders in touting border wall construction progress, noting completion of the first 100 miles of the system along the southwest border. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf recently joined by Senator Martha McSally... Read More »
Sen. Duckworth demands Secretary Esper disclose legal rationale for Soleimani assassination
U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) recently sent correspondence to U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper, pressing for information regarding the legal basis used for the military operation that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani. “During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services... Read More »
DHS secretary meets with Honduran officials to discuss border security
Chad Wolf, the acting secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, met with officials from Honduras to discuss efforts to discuss several issues related to border security. Specifically, they discussed plans to stem the flow of illegal immigration, combat transnational criminal... Read More »
Bill bolsters US-Israel strategic alliance
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) recently introduced legislation designed to strengthen the U.S.-Israel strategic alliance. The United States-Israel Security Assistance Authorization Act of 2020 authorizes $3.3 billion in annual security assistance consistent with the Memorandum... Read More »
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter aids El Paso CBP
El Paso Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the return of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to its Air and Marine Operations aids capability to accomplish its missions. The CBP’s Air and Marine Operations El Paso Air Branch (AMO El Paso) had not flown the UH-60 Black Hawk since... Read More »