Policy
House approves FY2024 MilCon-VA Appropriations bill
The House of Representatives has advanced the Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 4366), which honors the nation's commitment to veterans. “The bill before us demonstrates our commitment to reduce overall spending and still... Read More »
Commerce, Defense Departments announce semiconductor defense industrial base collaboration
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC)and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) expanding collaboration to strengthen the semiconductor defense industrial base. "This agreement is an important step forward in increasing the capacity and resiliency of... Read More »
Bills to address northern border security, port of entry staffing shortages advance to full Senate consideration
A legislative effort to create a Northern Border Coordination Center and another to support critical operations at airports, seaports and land ports of entry through onboarding of at least 600 officers a year moved out of committee this week and to the Senate floor. The Northern Border... Read More »
Senate advances legislation seeking national security investment screening
The Senate recently advanced legislation introduced by U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) screening domestic investments in national security sectors made in countries of concern. Outbound Investment Transparency Act proponents indicated the legislation would give the United... Read More »
DHS S&T awards $1.67M to Pacific Northwest National Lab for emergency response management research
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) won $1.67 million from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) this week, to aid research into future emergency response structures. In this context, this includes items like emergency operation centers... Read More »
U.S. Transportation Department enrolls first nine ships in Tanker Security Program
In order to secure a presence in international commercial shipping and bolster military usefulness at sea, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) enrolled nine ships into its Tanker Security Program (TSP) this week. “Today we are announcing the first... Read More »
Senate approves banning China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from buying American farmland and agriculture
Seemingly joining with states’ efforts to block certain foreign entries into American agriculture, the U.S. Senate approved an amendment this week that would ban four nations in particular from buying up either American farmland or agricultural businesses. In a 91-7 vote, the Senate... Read More »
U.S., Mexico leaders reaffirm commitment combating fentanyl, arms trafficking
Mexico government officials recently hosted a U.S. delegation to reaffirm the nations' commitment to address fentanyl and arms trafficking, as well as humanely manage migration. This month Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador joined senior Mexico government personnel in hosting a U.S.... Read More »
Draft legislation incorporates pipeline safety initiatives
U.S. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Jeff Duncan (R-SC), chair of the Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Subcommittee, recently unveiled the Pipeline Safety, Modernization, and Expansion Act of 2023, which incorporated energy pipeline... Read More »
New York makes available $20M to improve local public safety, emergency communications systems
A total of $20 million in grant funding was made available to eligible counties in New York last week to improve land mobile radio interoperability among public safety agencies and, more generally, improve the state’s emergency communications systems. "Communications are the backbone of... Read More »
Domestic heparin production measure adopted into NDAA
U.S. Rep. Bill Posey’s (R-FL) initiative seeking to reduce American dependence on Chinese production of heparin has been adopted into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The action was advanced by the House of Representatives. It encourages private capital to drive domestic... Read More »
Coast Guard details recent Cutter Steadfast assignment
Coast Guard officials have detailed Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast's 70-day counternarcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific. The crew crew recently returned to its homeport in Astoria, Ore., after disrupting the flow of illegal narcotics on three separate occasions during the patrol, preventing a... Read More »
Reps. Kim, Manning reintroduce bill to keep U.S. dominant on telecommunications infrastructure
Working together, U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Kathy Manning (D-NC) reintroduced the Securing Global Telecommunications Act (H.R.4741) last week, resurrecting an attempt to push global telecommunications security by clamping down on foreign influence. Specifically, the bill was geared toward... Read More »
DHS awards $605M for six competitive preparedness grant programs
The results of six competitive preparedness grant programs under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) came in last week, resulting in $605 million to aid state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, nonprofit agencies, and the private sector ready for terrorism and natural... Read More »
CBP details northern border surge operation
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has detailed a northern border surge operation resulting in the apprehension of 124 people. CBP said its Air and Marine Operations (AMO) Plattsburgh Air Unit collaborated with federal, state and local partners to execute Operation Jagdakommando in response to... Read More »
Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply Act introduced in Senate push for public health preparedness
A database could help identify and address vulnerabilities in the pharmaceutical supply chain, according to a new bill proposed in the Senate last week – the Mapping America’s Pharmaceutical Supply Act (MAPS), allowing greater preparedness for public health threats overall. The... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation introduced to protect firefighters from PFAS
Through introduction of the bipartisan Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives Act (PFAS Alternatives Act), several federal lawmakers recently proposed authorizing $25 million annually through 2028 to support development of new materials, guidance and training for... Read More »
Bicameral NICS Data Integrity Act seeks mandatory, thorough FBI gun-purchase background checks
As gun sales increase and shootings nationwide rise, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) have introduced the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) Data Integrity Act requiring the FBI to complete all gun-purchase background checks. Currently,... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators seek Pentagon spending reform
U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Warren Davidson (R-OH), John Garamendi (D-CA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) recently detailed the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, which would reform wasteful Department of Defense budget practices. Specifically, the legislation would repeal... Read More »
NTI report examines regressing nuclear security conditions
A Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) analysis maintains nuclear security conditions are regressing among the dozens of countries, as well as areas with weapons-usable nuclear materials and nuclear facilities. “The bottom line is that the countries and areas with the greatest responsibility for... Read More »
Two health security bills propose investigation of nuclear war health impacts, safe use of gene synthesis
A pair of bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) this week would authorize the federal government to investigate the health impacts of nuclear weapons and promote safe design and mass-production of genetic material through artificial gene synthesis.... Read More »
Reps. Huizenga, McCaul introduce legislation to focus on deterrence in South China Sea
U.S. Reps. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) recently introduced legislation that seeks South China Sea deterrence and strengthening Australian security ties. Huizenga and McCaul recently detailed the AUKUS Submarine Transfer Authorization Act. AUKUS is a trilateral security... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Collins press for centralized point of coordination on Northern Border
Through introduction of the Northern Border Coordination Act, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) seek to create a new center to improve border coordination and security under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other authorities. “The federal government must... Read More »
Sen. Ernst, Rep. Gallagher seek to shrink missile gap with China
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) are advocating the Pentagon devise a plan to shrink the China missile gap and strengthen Indo-Pacific deterrence. The Rings of Fire Act specifically outlines requirements for the Secretary of Defense to develop a strategy no later than... Read More »
Bill to ensure mass production of medical countermeasures greenlit by House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee
In a vote from the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, U.S. Rep. Bob Latta’s (R-OH) Helping Evaluate Appropriate Logistical Infrastructure for National Government (HEALING) Response Act (H.R. 3703) was cleared as part of a broader reauthorization legislation. Latta’s bill, as... Read More »
Measure addresses wildlands firefighter pay protections
U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), John Barrasso (R-WY), Steve Daines (R-MT), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Jon Tester (D-MT) recently introduced the Wildland Firefighter Paycheck Protection Act (S.2272), which would equitably address Wildlands firefighter compensation... Read More »
Federal Information Security Modernization Act proposes greater coordination, reform of cybersecurity laws
A group of senators and representatives collectively introduced the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2023 this week in an effort to reform federal cybersecurity laws left largely untouched since 2014, and to increase communication between governmental entities. The Federal... Read More »
Legislative panel advances measures focused on strengthening homeland security
House Committee on Homeland Security officials are espousing the advancement of legislation they maintain focuses on defending the homeland and standing by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement. The panel advanced legislation to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism... Read More »
Rep. Johnson introduces Team Telecom Act
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH) this week reintroduced the Team Telecom Act, which would help the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) avert potential telecom manipulation threats. Team Telecom is the informal name for a makeshift interagency working group composed of representatives from the... Read More »
Congressional delegation talks collective cybersecurity in trip to Netherlands, Estonia and United Kingdom
Reaching out to allies overseas, a bipartisan congressional delegation recently headed to the Netherlands, Estonia and United Kingdom to discuss their cybersecurity approaches and ways to improve both information sharing and collective defense. The trip was led by House Homeland Security... Read More »
Bipartisan Disease X Act would push future pandemic response through countermeasures program
While some have started to put the COVID-19 pandemic firmly behind them, other emphasize the lessons learned, and two of those figures this week introduced the Senate Disease X Act of 2023, proposing creation of a federal Disease X Medical Countermeasures program. Meant to ready the nation for... Read More »
Reps. Fitzpatrick, Golden introduce legislation to prohibit foreign political contributions related to State ballots
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Jared Golden (D-ME) recently introduced the Keeping Foreign Money out of Ballot Measures Act, which prohibits foreign nationals from making political contributions related to State ballot measures and initiatives. “The outcomes of our elections must be... Read More »
Senators press Attorney General for answers over alleged Chinese Intelligence outposts on U.S. soil
Through a letter written to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, 10 senators pressed for details of reports alleging that Chinese Intelligence outposts are operating inside the United States. Citing details from conservative news outlets, the lawmakers spoke of grave concerns about Overseas... Read More »
United States completes destruction of obsolete chemical weapons stockpile
Last week the United States destroyed its last declared chemical weapons stockpile, allowing the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to confirm that all such stockpiles worldwide are now verified gone. It was work spanning decades, following on from the ratification of... Read More »