Policy
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 »
Rep. Banks praises Reagan Task Force initiative
Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) recently espoused the work of the Reagan Institute’s Reagan Task Force, which recently released a report outlining recommendations to strengthen America’s National Security Innovation Base (NSIB). “The Reagan Task Force’s report is the product of a year’s worth... Read More »
Nearing development of a universal influenza vaccine, experts caution there’s more to accomplish to combat the flu
The constantly changing nature of the influenza virus makes it an annual effort of scientists, manufacturers, and the medical community to devise and disseminate vaccines to combat the disease. What if those efforts could be streamlined to develop a universal flu vaccine that could attack any... Read More »
Sen. Markey criticizes proposal by DHS to take travelers pictures at airports
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) blasted a proposal by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that would require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to be photographed upon entry and/or departure from U.S. airports. “The Department of Homeland Security should immediately withdraw plans to... Read More »
Senate bill would protect people’s data online
A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week that seeks to protect people’s personal data online. The Data Care Act would require websites, apps, and other online providers to take steps to protect users’ personal information and prevent the misuse of users’ data. “People have a... Read More »
Agencies test border patrol technologies
U.S. Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) conducted 11 days of exercises and demonstrations in August in Sweetgrass, Mont. The field test simulated illegal border crossings and evaluated portable, surveillance technologies that provide... Read More »
PMO Marines conduct active shooter training
Provost Marshal Office (PMO) Marines recently conducted an active shooter training initiative at Camp Foster as a means of ensuring readiness and reliability in the event of such a scenario unfolding. “The training we do ensures that we do not become complacent,” Cpl. Jonathan Cosgrove, a... Read More »
Climate risks to health continue to grow despite lack of prioritized funding
A new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) shows that despite more countries recognizing and prioritizing the dangers of climate change and its potential impacts on health, they are not entirely acting to confront the situation. Of 101 countries surveyed, half have developed a... Read More »
Sen. Markey commends FCC Chair’s call not to auction off T-band spectrum
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) commended Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai’s call for Congress to repeal the mandate to auction T-Band spectrum. Markey was among several senators who introduced a bill that would repeal a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief... Read More »
Reps. Torres Small, Crenshaw introduce bill to enhance border security
U.S. Reps. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) and Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced a bill to improve border security through enhanced detection technology at land ports of entry. The Securing America’s Ports Act seeks to increase the scanning rates of vehicles entering the United States by land with... Read More »
DOD seeking 5G development input
The Department of Defense (DOD) is seeking industry input regarding 5G technology development to address the creation and issuance of formal Requests for Prototype Proposals related to testing and experimentation projects. In addition to the notice, "Intent to Announce - Request for Prototype... Read More »
Partnership will provide Central Ohio first responders with safety kits
A partnership between the emergency management directors of 14 counties, the Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and citizenAID will provide nearly 1,000 Public Safety Drop Kits to first responders throughout Central Ohio. The kits, made by Columbus-based citizenAID,... Read More »
New York man arrested for trying to support ISIS
Zachary Clark, a Brooklyn resident, recently appeared in a Manhattan federal court on charges of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) and distributing bomb-making instructions. The charges have a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.... Read More »
INTERPOL exercise in Southeast Asia nets arrests, seizures
The International Criminal Police Organization, or INTERPOL, conducted a security exercise in Southeast Asia that led to various arrests and seizures of illegal goods. The exercise, dubbed Operation Anchor, featured law enforcement agencies in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam... Read More »