Policy
Senate banking Committee advances bill to extend terrorism risk insurance
The Senate Banking Committee advanced legislation to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years. The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The program – created after Congress passed the Terrorism Risk... Read More »
GAO offers recommendation for TSA training coordination
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) a recommendation to enhance the agency’s security training program coordination efforts. After conducting a review of the TSA’s approach, the GAO has recommended the TSA Administrator... Read More »
Chinese biotechnology dominates U.S. Senate hearing on biological threats
China is rapidly gaining on the United States when it comes to creating technology that mitigates disease threats and developing pharmaceuticals faster, and it’s a phenomenon driven by a philosophy that the state, military, and the private sector are one in the same. That was the testimony of... Read More »
U.S. Senate holds hearing on Chinese talent recruitment plans
The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing on a report on a Chinese program that captures U.S. Intellectual property. Through its “talent recruitment plans” launched in the 1990s, China began recruiting U.S.-based scientists and researchers and providing... Read More »
House Committee advances Rep. Spanberger’s 5G bill
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced legislation to protect 5G and next-generation wireless communications systems in the United States. The bill -- the Secure 5G and Beyond Act – was introduced by Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA). The bill would require the Trump... Read More »
Democratic senators address DHS over cybersecurity funding shortfall
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), along with U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH), send a letter Tuesday to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to address a shortfall in funding efforts meant to support state and local data sharing and cybersecurity. The... Read More »
GAO offers transportation security recommendation
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) a recommendation regarding creating a federal transportation security national strategy governing document. GAO officials said after researching the issue, it has recommended DHS should, in... Read More »
DIA examines Iran’s military capability
The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) has released findings regarding Iran’s military capability, providing details on that nation’s defense and military goals, strategy, plans, and intentions. “As Tehran expands its capabilities and role as both an unconventional and conventional threat... Read More »
Reps. Eshoo, Diaz-Balart honored by Global Health Technologies Coalition
U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) were honored by the Global Health Technologies Coalition (GHTC) for their leadership in supporting global health research and development (R&D). The two were honored at GHTC’s 2019 Innovating for Impact Awards, which recognizes U.S.... Read More »
Democratic, Independent senators urge funding for election security
A group of Democratic and Independent U.S. senators recently urged the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding for election security grants and the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). The EAC is an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring accessible,... Read More »
DHS funds target blockchain security development
Austin, Texas-based Factom, Inc. has secured $197,292 in funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to enhance blockchain security system development. DHS officials said they envision agencies using the technology to create and verify... Read More »
Bill targets supply chain vulnerabilities
Reps. Mike Doyle (D-PA) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) recently introduced legislation they said would facilitate information sharing from the federal government to the private sector regarding supply chain vulnerabilities. The Network Security Information Sharing Act addresses the need for greater... Read More »
GOP committee leaders object to DHS proposal on drones
Republican leaders on the U.S. House Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees blasted the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) proposal to allow counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) equipment to operate near airports. This includes equipment that could be... Read More »
FDA final guidance clarifies stance on smallpox drug development
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week issued final guidance for developing smallpox treatment studies, providing clarity to drug manufacturers. “Despite recent advances in developing an effective treatment for smallpox, drug developers still face challenges in bringing... Read More »
With new EB-5 program regs going into effect, Grassley goes after bad actors
Federal regulatory updates to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program that go into effect on Nov. 21 could receive some additional muscle to knock out bad actors if recently introduced federal legislation is enacted. “I still have concerns about fraud and abuse in the program that can only be... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster CBP hiring, retention
Bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate was introduced to improve the hiring and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers. U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and John Hoeven (R-ND) said the CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act, S. 2813, creates a Customs and... Read More »
Federal funds target NH human trafficking
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $780,038, for the New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) to combat human trafficking in that state. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) to announce that NHDOJ would... Read More »
Rep. Rose urges terrorist organization designation for white nationalist groups
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) issued a statement related to the U.S. State Department's response to his request to designate violent white nationalist extremist groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO). Rose was among 40 members of Congress who called upon the State Department to designate... Read More »
Lawmakers tout election security measure
A group of legislators have introduced a bill designed to bolster election security via new resources enabling research promoting voting systems modernization. U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) said the Election... Read More »
NTI releases new report on Russia’s nuclear weapons systems
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) released a report assessing the five new nuclear weapon systems announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Based on its analysis, NTI called for an extension of the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty or START Treaty. The report, called Russia’s New... Read More »
Senate approves bill calling for better management of FEMA advanced contracts
The U.S. Senate passed the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act, which requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to more effectively manage its advance contracts for goods and services. Specifically, the legislation requires federal preparedness actions to be... Read More »
DHS awards Austin company contract to develop proof-of-concept application for CBP
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded Transmute Industries, an Austin, Texas-based company, a $198,642 Phase 1 award to develop a proof-of-concept application for Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The application must support... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster stadium security
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced last week the Stadiums Operating under New Guidance (SONG) Act, which empowers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue temporary flight restrictions for stadium concerts and other events. “Whether... Read More »
Partnership targets enhancement of emergency communications system
A group of public safety organizations recently agreed to work together to enhance global emergency communications systems that serve nearly 1 billion people. Under the agreement, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials, Canada (APCO Canada), the European Emergency Number... Read More »
Bill would reauthorize $110M for border security along northern U.S. border
A bill advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee seeks to reauthorize and increase funding for the northern United States border’s Operation Stonegarden program for the next five years, injecting $110 million into border security operations. U.S. Sen. Jon... Read More »
Lawmakers praise FBI for thwarting synagogue bombing
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently extended praise to the FBI for stopping an attempted synagogue bombing in Colorado. Reps. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick... Read More »
DHS doing road tour for Small Business Innovation Research program
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is embarking on a road tour to meet with small businesses. The National SBIR 2019 Road Tour will begin with stops in Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico. “We are continually seeking new... Read More »
Leader of Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons briefs UN
The head of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) briefed the United Nations Security Council on issues related to Syria’s chemical weapons last week. The UN officials expressed their support for the objectives of the Chemical Weapons Convention and the work of the... Read More »
Justice Department awards $95M for Tennessee public safety efforts
Three agencies under the Department of Justice umbrella have earmarked $95 million to support Tennessee public safety efforts. The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funding allotment would target... Read More »
Senators urge Trump Administration to combat human trafficking
U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently sent a letter to members of the Trump administration urging the federal government not to do business with contractors that have forced labor or human trafficking in their supply chains of companies. Two... Read More »
Johns Hopkins named WHO Collaborating Center for health security
The Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security has been designated as a Collaborating Center for Global Health Security by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). Collaborating Centers are institutions that are selected to carry out activities and... Read More »
Bill offers firefighter PFAS protection
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced Wednesday a bill to protect firefighters from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act of 2019 has... Read More »
Legislation targets terrorist organization use of illegal tobacco trade
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to address criminal and terrorist organizations’ use of the illegal tobacco trade to fund activities. The Combating the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Act, which authorizes the executive branch to deny development and security... Read More »