Policy
Department of Justice awards West Virginia nearly $38M to fight opioid crisis
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded West Virginia nearly $38 million to improve community safety and fight crime associated with the opioid crisis. The grants are part of more than $333 million awarded to states, tribes, and communities. The Department of Criminal Justice... Read More »
Lawmakers initiate Russia, China START queries
Three lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Acting Director of National Intelligence seeking answers regarding the possible expiration of the Russia and China New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START). Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)... Read More »
Bill seeks to sanction drug cartels at the same level as terrorist groups
Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced Monday legislation designed to impose consequences on drug cartels. The Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act would subject certain foreign criminal organizations, such as drug cartels, to the same level of... Read More »
Appropriations legislative package bolsters funding for nation’s biodefense efforts
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Monday released the domestic priorities and international assistance appropriations minibus, which includes ramped-up final budget amounts for several biodefense-related items, including the Strategic National Stockpile. In releasing the text of the... Read More »
Senate committee passes bill to limit president from withdrawing from NATO
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for passing his bill that would prohibit any president of the United States from withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) without congressional approval. “Recent actions have raised serious... Read More »
Sen. Portman bill to criminalize fentanyl gets support from US attorneys general
Attorneys general from every U.S. state and territory have endorsed a bill by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) that would permanently criminalize fentanyl-related substances. In February 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary order to criminalize fentanyl-related... Read More »
Sen. Bennet advocating for Space Command base in Colorado
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) recently advocated for the Department of Defense to reestablish Space Command in the state, maintaining it is the epicenter of national security space. Bennet met with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and talked with the Commander of U.S. Space Command... Read More »
DoD inspector general to audit border wall contract
The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General is initiating an audit of the $400 million border wall construction contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. "We intend to initiate an audit of the solicitation and award of the $400 million... Read More »
Senate bill would allow cybersecurity agency to subpoena ISPs
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would allow the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to subpoena Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer information when necessary. The bill gives CISA authority to detect, identify, and receive information only related to critical... Read More »
Senate committee advances bill maintaining T-band spectrum for first-responder communications
The Senate Commerce Committee recently advanced legislation with a provision to preserve first responders’ access to T-band spectrum, which is used by police and firefighters for emergency public safety communication. The provision, included in the 5G Spectrum Act, repeals a 2012 requirement... Read More »
ICE joins Kansas City-area task force targeting drug traffickers
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel have joined a Kansas City-area task force targeting drug traffickers and violent criminals. U.S. Attorneys for the districts of Kansas and western Missouri said the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is a... Read More »
IDSS, One Resonance win DHS Opioid Detection Challenge
IDSS and One Resonance received the top two monetary awards in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Opioid Detection Challenge. The $1.55 million global competition searches for rapid, nonintrusive detection tools that will help find illicit... Read More »
Marine Corps announces multiple upgrades for Utility Task Vehicles
As a means of enhancing safety and performance, Marine Corps officials said the branch’s Utility Task Vehicles (UTV) are undergoing a series of revisions. “We bought the vehicle as a [commercial-off-the-shelf] solution, so it’s not going to have everything we want right from the... Read More »
Measure targets drug, human trafficking
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) are touting legislation designed to ensure the intelligence community prioritizes resources to combat Northern Triangle and Mexico drug trafficking, human trafficking, and human smuggling. The representatives previously introduced the... Read More »
Sen. Markey, Rep. Sherman introduce bill to strengthen WMD treaties
Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) introduced legislation Wednesday that would require the U.S. president to certify whether a foreign country is violating a weapons of mass destruction treaty. The Preventing the Spread of Nuclear Weapons Act says that if these conditions are... Read More »
House advances National Defense Authorization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – which sets policies for the military and authorizes funding passed. The bill advanced the House 377 to 48. “As a conferee on the FY2020 NDAA Conference Committee, I was proud to... Read More »
DARPA seeks to address electronic file vulnerabilities
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded a contract to BAE Systems to develop cyber tools preventing electronic file vulnerabilities that could potentially lead to cyberattacks. The development initiative would be part of DARPA's Safe Documents (SafeDocs) program, which... Read More »
Bill offers military bases weather protections
Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) recently espoused the benefits of legislation designed to protect military bases from extreme weather events by requiring potential disaster preparation and severe environmental condition changes. The Requiring Every American Defense Installation to Nullify Environmental... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative releases report on nuclear weapons use
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) issued a report recommending steps to improve the decision-making process for nuclear weapons use. The President and Nuclear Weapons: Authorities, Limits, and Process specifically looks at the state of domestic and international law related to the use of... Read More »
House advances bill strengthening security of inland waters
The U.S. House of Representatives recently voted to advance a bipartisan bill that strengthens the security of inland waters. Under the Inland Waters Security Review Act, the Department of Homeland Security secretary would be required to conduct an inland waters threat analysis that includes... Read More »
House advances transportation security bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced Monday the Emerging Transportation Security Threats Act of 2019 (H.R. 3318). The bill, introduced by U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA), creates a task force to analyze emerging threats to transportation security. It also requires the Transportation Security... Read More »
Senators concerned about overreliance on foreign-made pharmaceuticals
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently sent a letter to Mark Esper, the secretary of defense, expressing concern over the national security risks posed by U.S. reliance on foreign-manufactured pharmaceutical products. The letter is in response to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review... Read More »
House advances opioid detection bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced Monday legislation designed to bolster efforts to detect fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. The DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019, which was passed by a 393-1 margin, requires the Commissioner of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to... Read More »
California firefighting agencies receive FIREHAWK helicopters
The Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), and the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department recently received new S-70i FIREHAWK helicopters built by Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and United Rotorcraft, a division of Air... Read More »
GOP representatives urge State Dept to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations
A group of Republican congressmen recently urged the U.S. State Department to designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). “Think about this: a Mexican state that shares a 230-mile border with the U.S. holds the same State Department travel warning as Iran and... Read More »
Sen. Gardner calls on Congress to sanction North Korea
U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) is calling upon Congress to increase diplomatic and economic pressure on North Korea following statements from North Korea’s ambassador to the United Nations that the country has no plans to denuclearize. “Today’s announcement confirms North Korea never had... Read More »
GAO recommends passenger-screening technologies continue to meet airports’ detection requirements
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recommends the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) take steps to ensure screening technologies continue to meet requirements after they are installed at airports. The TSA is responsible for security operations at approximately 440 TSA-regulated... Read More »
FLIR secures Army heavyweight robot contract
The U.S. Army has earmarked a five-year contract worth up to $109 million for FLIR Systems to provide 350 Kobra robots for the Common Robotic System-Heavy (CRS-H) program. “We are pleased to be selected for the U.S. Army’s CRS-H program and deliver lifesaving robotic technology to our... Read More »
Chemical industry safety, security guidelines addressed during workshop
Chemical industry officials said the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) would be at the forefront of establishing guidelines promoting safety and security. During the recent second edition of the Workshop on Developing Tools for Chemical Safety and Security at Almaty in... Read More »
First Nipah Virus International Conference focuses global attention on Nipah solutions and threats
A joint effort by Duke-NUS Medical School and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) has built The Nipah Virus International Conference for experts and health stakeholders to address the threat of Nipah virus collaboratively. “There are currently no specific drugs or... Read More »
New York State conducts counterterrorism exercises
New York State’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services' Office of Counter Terrorism conducted more than 1,000 counterterrorism exercises throughout the state this year. In these exercises, counterterrorism experts went undercover as customers to assess the ability of businesses... Read More »
Bill to provide affordable housing for volunteer firefighters, first responders
A bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation last week designed to provide volunteer firefighters and first responders with affordable housing opportunities. Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said the... Read More »
Sen. King presses for cyberattack deterrence strategies
Sen. Angus King (I-ME) pressed Department of Defense leaders for information on U.S. cyberattack deterrence and efforts against emerging threats during a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing. “Let me focus on a particular issue of deterrence that I’ve been doing a lot of work on,... Read More »
DOJ awards $376M to jurisdictions to improve public safety
The Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP) awarded about $376 million in grants to reinforce public safety efforts across the United States. “Crime and violence hold families, friends, and neighborhoods hostage. They also rip those communities apart,” Principal Deputy... Read More »