Policy
Medical professionals take course in chemical-casualty management
Medical professionals from 20 countries recently attended an international course on the medical management of chemical casualties at the Air Force Medical University in Xi’an, China. Participants were trained in the advanced hospital care of the victims of toxic chemicals or chemical weapons... Read More »
Anti-Defamation League report says 12 white supremacists arrested since Tree of Life attacks
In the year since the attack on Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue, 12 white supremacists have been arrested for their alleged roles in terrorist plots, attacks or threats against the Jewish community, the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) reported. The ADL’s Center on Extremism reports... Read More »
Bill seeks to offer election protections against foreign interference
A bipartisan delegation of legislators recently supported legislation seeking to prohibit foreign ownership or control of the nation’s elections systems. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) recently joined Reps. Kendra Horn (D-OK), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM), Dan Crenshaw... Read More »
Legislation targets IoT cybersecurity
Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) recently introduced a measure they said would create a voluntary cybersecurity certification program for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The Cyber Shield Act would establish an advisory committee of cybersecurity experts from academia,... Read More »
Task force launched to address challenges fire departments face in Pennsylvania
A recently launched joint federal/state task force will address workforce challenges and budgetary faced by volunteer fire companies in Pennsylvania. The task force was created by U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Congressional Fire Services Caucus member, and state Reps. Frank Farry (R-... Read More »
House bill would give border agents tool to detect synthetic opioids
A bill that would give U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents the equipment to detect synthetic opioids has been introduced in the U.S. House. The DHS Opioid Detection Resilience Act of 2019 requires the Commissioner of CBP to procure chemical screening devices that allow border patrol... Read More »
European Medicines Agency gives approval to Merck Ebola vaccine
The Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) gave the okay for a conditional marketing authorization for V920 Ebola Zaire vaccine developed by Merck. If affirmed by the European Commission, the vaccine will be authorized under the brand name... Read More »
Bill addresses IoT risks, cybersecurity training
Rep. Ro Khanna introduced Monday a measure designed to consider federal employee cybersecurity training and information on the risks of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. “The Internet of Things Cybersecurity Training for Federal Employees Act will ensure that our federal workforce is aware of... Read More »
Legislation would establish assistant secretary of defense for space
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) recently introduced H.R.4720, legislation that would establish an assistant secretary of defense for space. The position would be responsible for the growth and expansion of the United States Space Force and would report to the secretary of defense. “As China and... Read More »
Massachusetts Congress members urge DHS to help municipalities fight cyber attacks
Democratic members of Congress from Massachusetts are urging the Department of Homeland Security to broaden its efforts to help state and local governments to fight the growing number of ransomware attacks. The lawmakers expressed their concern with the rise in these attacks on police... Read More »
Commerce Department announces two appointments to FirstNet Board
The Department of Commerce has appointed Karima Holmes and Matt Slinkard to the First Responder Network Authority Board (FirstNet Authority). The FirstNet Authority’s mission, per authorities, is to ensure the building, deployment, and operation of FirstNet, the nationwide broadband network... Read More »
Sen. Ernst seeks ISIS elimination strategy
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) is calling upon the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of State to deliver a plan to Congress outlining efforts to eliminate ISIS permanently. Ernst recently issued a resolution in which the agencies would submit the plan of action within 30 days as a means of... Read More »Experts testify United States is underprepared for bioterrorism threats
Terrorist threats against the United States continue to grow and evolve, including the use of non-conventional weapons, begging the question of whether this country is well-equipped for such attacks. The conclusion of experts who testified Thursday before the U.S. House Homeland Security... Read More »
DHS, Houston partner to combat human trafficking
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that it has partnered with the City of Houston and the Houston Airport System (HAS) as a means of combating human trafficking. The effort stems from the Blue Lightning Initiative (BLI) program, officials said, which is an extension of the... Read More »
Senate confirms Barrett as Air Force secretary
Barbara Barrett has garnered Senate confirmation to become the nation’s 25th Secretary of the Air Force, with lawmakers voting 85-7 to approve the action. “I can think of no position that offers more excitement, challenge and meaning than the secretary of the Air Force,” Barrett, replacing... Read More »
Lawmakers laud Munitions Disassembly Complex project
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, praised Tuesday the awarding of $41 million for a new Munitions Disassembly Complex at Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, N.J. The... Read More »
Funding initiative targets antibiotic resistance, rare diseases
Reps. Mike Levin (D-CA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently introduced a bill targeting $10 billion investment in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) supporting antibiotic resistance and rare diseases research. “The National Institutes of Health support critically important research... Read More »
Sen. Markey calls on Trump to remove nuclear weapons from base in Turkey
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) is calling upon President Donald Trump to remove nuclear weapons stored in Turkey. Markey, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the U.S. stores roughly 50 B61 nuclear weapons at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. The airbase is located about 250 miles... Read More »
Sen. Rubio praises modification of Offshore Patrol Cutter contract
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) maintains the Coast Guard’s recent decision to modify the Offshore Patrol Cutter (OPC) contract with Panama City-based Eastern Shipbuilding provides certainty for Northwest Florida’s communities. “Hurricane Michael had a devastating impact on our local economy,... Read More »
Congressmen urging stronger coordination of technology supply chain
Four U.S. senators recently sent a letter to the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC), urging for stronger coordination of supply-chain risk management across the federal government. FASC was established to reduce federal supply-chain risks by creating a “combined information-sharing... Read More »
DHS funding targets customs processing speed, efficacy
KickView Corporation, based in Greenwood Village, Colo., has secured $147,413, from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate to aid customs processing speed and efficacy efforts. The scope of work would involve the firm adapting kvSonata, its existing software... Read More »
Rep. Rogers urges Congressional effort following CBP report of enforcement actions
Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL) is urging colleagues to take action regarding border security in the wake of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announcing nearly 1 million southwest border enforcement actions. The ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Rogers extended gratitude to CBP... Read More »
Agencies partner to bolster AD/CVD efficacy
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Office of Trade and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance have partnered to bolster antidumping and countervailing duties (AD/CVD) efficacy. “Our partnership with Commerce is critically important given our shared... Read More »
OPCW training targets ports, maritime chemical safety
Doha, Qatar, served as the site of a training initiative focusing on addressing risks arising from chemical accidents and the potential misuse of toxic chemicals in ports and maritime venues. “We aim to raise global standards and set norms for the safety, security, and efficiency of ports and... Read More »
Measure seeks to provide election protections
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) introduced last week legislation designed to prevent foreign intervention in domestic elections. The bill would amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to prohibit foreign nationals from paying for online advertisements created to attack or support federal... Read More »
CBP Field Operations seize $1.4M in mixed narcotics at Hidalgo International Bridge
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel staffing the Office of Field Operations at the Hidalgo and Anzalduas International Bridges foiled a drug smuggling attempt yielding a $1.4 million seizure. “These were two great interceptions of hard narcotics that our officers were able to detect... Read More »
Legislators urge against replacement delays for Ground Based Strategic Deterrent
Lawmakers are urging the Department of Defense (DoD) to prevent delaying the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) as a replacement for the Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM). Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) recently joined a group of legislators in forwarding correspondence to... Read More »
GAO issues security measure recommendations for Transportation Security Administration
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) three recommendations regarding security measure implementation and stakeholder involvement in such endeavors. The GAO report showed that the TSA’s process does not clearly define when or... Read More »
US, UK sign deal allowing law enforcement to demand data from tech companies
The United States and the United Kingdom entered into a recent agreement that will allow law enforcement agencies to demand electronic data from tech companies in either country for serious crimes. The US-UK Bilateral Data Access Agreement would apply to serious crimes, including terrorism,... Read More »
Funds earmarked for California fire protection
California’s Sonoma Valley Fire and Rescue Authority (SVFRA) recently received $3,382,458 grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s SAFER program. Authorities said the allotment would fund 12 Firefighter/Paramedic positions, enabling an increase in staffing levels on... Read More »
File, Jr. named IDSA president
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) this week named Dr. Thomas File, Jr. as its newest president, along with five new board members. File intends to lead the organization in a fight against antimicrobial resistance, developing relationships with state and regional infectious... Read More »
Senate resolution recognizes October as Cybersecurity Awareness Month
A U.S. Senate resolution recently recognized October as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2019. This year’s theme is “Own IT. Secure IT. Protect IT.” The goal is to emphasize personal accountability and to take proactive steps to enhance cybersecurity. Key areas of focus this year... Read More »
USDA appoints Clavijo as National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility director
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have appointed Dr. Alfonso Clavijo as director of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The NBAF, which is currently under construction by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is a research and diagnostic facility designed to... Read More »
DHS issues REAL ID compliance reminder
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reminding U.S. citizens that, beginning Oct. 1, 2020, all air travelers must be REAL ID-compliant to fly within the United States. Travelers must present a REAL ID driver's license, state-issued enhanced driver’s license or other acceptable forms of... Read More »