Policy
Lawmakers urge increased cybersecurity protections in financial sector
Reps. Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Gregory Meeks (D-NY) recently urged federal financial regulators to strengthen cyber infrastructure against possible attacks on the heels of recent threats from Iran and its allies. The congressman forwarded correspondence to nine separate financial... Read More »
House advances three bills to improve 5G security
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced three bills this week that seek to improve 5G security in the country. One of the bills is the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2019 (H.R. 2881), introduced by Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Francis Rooney... Read More »
Rep. Stefanik holds law enforcement roundtable
U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) hosted a Law Enforcement Roundtable in her district at the Milton Community Center to discuss several pressing issues facing police officers. Among the issues, law enforcement officials spoke about the importance of mental health resources for police departments.... Read More »
House panel seeks restoration of homeland security grants
A bipartisan group of U.S. House members, in the wake of this week’s U.S. killing of Iranian Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and recent domestic acts of anti-Semitic violence, called on the Trump administration to restore millions of dollars in homeland security grants aimed at aiding state and local... Read More »
CBP to evaluate process of DNA sample collection
Two Customs and Border Protection (CBP) locations have been selected to evaluate the operational impact of proposed regulatory changes requiring DNA sample collection from some in CBP custody. Beginning this month, the Border Patrol is implementing the 90-day pilot program in the Detroit Sector.... Read More »
Legislation highlights importance of Arctic region to national, economic security
Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Angus King (I-ME) recently introduced a measure designed to direct the federal government to recognize the importance of the Arctic region to national and economic security interests. The Arctic Naval Focus Act of 2019, also initiates a... Read More »
Senators urge secretary of defense to support a larger U.S. Navy
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Angus King (I-ME) recently expressed concern that the Department of Defense will significantly reduce shipbuilding in its fiscal year 2021 budget. Three years ago, President Donald Trump signed into law a policy of achieving a 355-ship Navy. The current navy... Read More »
Sens. Udall, Paul urge colleagues to support bill to prevent war with Iran
U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (D-NM) and Rand Paul (R-KY) are urging their Senate colleagues to support their bill that would prevent going to war with Iran. The Prevention of Unconstitutional War with Iran Act of 2019 (S.1039) affirms the constitutional role of Congress as the sole branch of government... Read More »
Massachusetts significantly increases funding to combat hate crimes
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker recently signed a fiscal year 2019 close-out supplemental budget that triples funding for houses of worship and other nonprofit groups. The funding is intended to enhance security against hate crimes and terrorist attacks. The budget adds $1 million to the... Read More »
Sens. Booker, Menendez urge funding increases to combat hate crimes
New Jersey lawmakers are calling for an increase in government funding to protect communities from hate crimes and domestic terrorism. U.S. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) are urging the federal government to increase funding from $90 million to $360 million for the Nonprofit... Read More »
New York congressional members request investigation of social media’s use in spreading hate
Five members of New York’s congressional delegation recently sent a letter to top-ranking national security officials requesting an investigation into how foreign adversaries use social media to cause hate and civil unrest in the United States. The letter was sent to Christopher Wray, Federal... Read More »
DHS issues new National Terrorism Advisory bulletin following Soleimani airstrike
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin following the U.S.-led airstrike that killed Qaseem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf stated that there... Read More »
Interception of smuggling attempts yields 20 pounds of cocaine for CBP Atlanta
In a series of catches made over the last two months of 2019, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport intercepted 20 pounds of cocaine being transported by smugglers. The amounts, which collectively accounted for around $280,000 in... Read More »
Senate, House resolutions demand Congressional Authorization for war with Iran
In a criticism of President Donald Trump, legislation has been introduced into both the Senate and House, respectively, which would require a debate and vote in Congress before any war with Iran would be allowed. These War Powers Resolutions were introduced in the Senate by U.S. Sens. Dick... Read More »
DHS to open migrant processing facility at Nogales Port of Entry
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin processing migrants for return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) at the Nogales Port of Entry. This is the seventh port of entry where MPP returns will be made. Any migrants making illegal or entry at the Southwest... Read More »
CBP intercepts 3,600 pounds of cocaine from Pacific-cruising boat
A mission from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) spotted and intercepted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific last week, seizing 3,600 pounds of cocaine and arresting three Columbian nationals in the process. The efforts were thanks to a P-3 Orion Long Range... Read More »
Border Patrol seizes more than $350,000 in marijuana last weekend
U.S. Border Patrol agents in Texas seized more than $350,000 in marijuana over the final weekend of 2019. The seizures were the result of four narcotic smuggling attempts. Three seizures were made Dec. 28. Agents in Weslaco responded to a call about a suspicious man near Pharr, Texas. The... Read More »
Bill to ease the absentee voting process for active duty service members becomes law
A bill that would ensure that U.S. military service members are provided with ballots and registration cards necessary to vote while deployed overseas was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The Military Voting Protection Act – introduced by U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) – was included... Read More »
Funds earmarked for Navy ROTC program at UH Manoa
An allotment of $1.1 million in federal funds has been earmarked for the inaugural Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps program at the University of Hawai‘i (UH) at Manoa. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, noted the funds were included in the spending... Read More »
U.S. Space Operations Command becomes official
U.S. Space Operations Command (SPOC) became official on Dec. 20 after Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett re-designated the Fourteenth Air Force. Air Force military and civilian personnel previously assigned to the Fourteenth Air Force are now assigned to SPOC. The SPOC supports the U.S.... Read More »
Houses advances bill to fund gun violence research
The U.S. House of Representatives passed a spending package that includes $25 million for gun violence research. The bill—sponsored by Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) -- now moves to the Senate for consideration. The Senate will vote on final passage in the coming days.... Read More »
Senate bill seeks to reduce international corruption
The U.S. Senate recently advanced a bipartisan bill designed to fight international corruption. The Combatting Global Corruption Act (S. 1309), introduced by Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Todd Young (R-IN), would encourage greater transparency in U.S. foreign and security assistance and publicize... Read More »
Sens. King, Risch applaud passage of Securing Energy Infrastructure Act
U.S. Sens. Angus King (I-ME) and Jim Risch (R-ID) commended the enactment of a bill they introduced that would develop defenses for the U.S. energy grid. The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act, which passed as part of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act, would seek to develop defenses... Read More »
Legislation authorizes Homeland Security program
The Senate recently passed legislation that authorizes $75 million annually for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program for fiscal years 2020 through 2024. The program provides grants to nonprofits and faith-based organizations to protect against a potential... Read More »
Democratic-led legislation addresses Valley Fever
A group of Democratic lawmakers recently crafted legislation designed to combat Valley Fever through enhanced diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine development. Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), TJ Cox (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Josh Harder (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), Ann... Read More »
Bill classifies seven Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) recently introduced legislation classifying seven Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) as defined by section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Identifying Drug Cartels as Terrorists Act would... Read More »
President Trump signs bill to create U.S. Space Force
President Donald Trump signed the $738 billion defense bill into law last week, which includes funding to create the sixth branch of the military – the U.S. Space Force. “Today [also] marks another landmark achievement as we officially inaugurate the newest branch of the military [United... Read More »
Infectious Diseases Society of America warns federal FY 2020 spending bill ignores urgent challenges
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has delivered a cautious appraisal of the federal spending bill for FY 2020, noting that while it will strengthen public health and research efforts, it undercuts -- at Americans’ peril -- HIV investment and immunization efforts, among... Read More »
Alliance for Biosecurity adds five new members
Five U.S. companies joined a coalition of pharmaceutical companies that advocates for public policies and funding to support medical countermeasures to prevent and respond to a variety of threats. Opiant, Roche Diagnostics, SCYNEXIS, Tonix, and Venatorx are the five newest members of this... Read More »
Bill targets public, private sector cybersecurity
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently espoused the benefits of public and private sector cybersecurity legislation ready to be signed into law as part of the fiscal year 2020 budget agreement. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cyber Hunt and Incident Response Teams... Read More »
Terrorism consortium examines worldwide critical infrastructure attacks
A Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) research initiative examining worldwide critical infrastructure attacks determined America was the country most often targeted for cyberattacks regardless of motive. The work showed the United States accounted for more than 19 percent of... Read More »
Senate committee advances bill to create lab for bio- and agro- threats
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced a bill to create as a national security laboratory to combat bio-and agro-terrorism threats. The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Act of 2019 (S. 2695) would establish the National Bio and Agro-Defense... Read More »
NY State lawmakers urge Air Force to pick Stewart ANG for new installation
A group of New York State Congress members recently urged the U.S. Air Force to select Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., for the installation of a new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES). U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with U.S. Rep. Sean... Read More »
Bill aids CBP administrative support
Rep. Xochitl Liana Torres Small (D-NM) introduced Wednesday a measure designed to address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) challenges, including the need for a new position providing migrant processing administrative support. The Border Workforce Efficiency Act creates a processing... Read More »