Policy
Bill would protect US elections from foreign interference
Thirteen U.S. senators introduced legislation Wednesday that aims to protect American elections from foreign interference. “The Russian government interfered in American elections in 2016, and if we don't stop them, they and other governments are going to do it again,” Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Lee introduce Cyber Ready Workforce Act
Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Susie Lee (D-NV) introduced a bill in the House this week that would direct the Department of Labor to award grants to businesses and organizations to develop apprenticeship programs in cybersecurity. Through the Cyber Ready Workforce Act (H.R. 6791), the... Read More »
Measure targets root causes of migrant crisis
A group of Democratic senators recently announced the reintroduction of legislation seeking to address the root causes of the Central American migrant crisis, outlining the coordinated regional response needed to manage violence and humanitarian concerns effectively. Senate Democratic Leader... Read More »
Bill addresses Chinese military scientists, American labs
Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced a measure designed to ban those employed or sponsored by Chinese military institutions from receiving American student or research visas. The... Read More »
House advances legislation designed to bolster Department of Homeland Security
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced two bills this week that support homeland security efforts. The first bill is the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act (H.R. 1313), sponsored by Rep. Peter King (R-NY). It seeks to standardize performance periods for the Transit Security Grant... Read More »
Rhode Island launches initial cybercrime support, recovery hotline
Rhode Island recently launched the nation’s first statewide cybercrime support and recovery hotline, enabling residents to address identity theft, financial fraud, cyberstalking, cyberbullying and other cybercrimes. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), who helped secure $282,600 in federal funding for... Read More »
GAO recommends USAID improve fund tracking, response planning
Though efforts by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have helped many countries hit by the Zika virus since its emergence in 2015, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) determined that its efforts could do with improvement, particularly when tracking funds and planning... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Van Hollen encourage markup of bill to prevent foreign election meddling
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are urging Senate committee leaders to hold a markup session on a bill that would discourage Russia and any other foreign actors from disrupting U.S. elections. The bill, the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines... Read More »
Senate slated to act soon on all-hazard preparedness, response legislation
The U.S. Senate is fast tracking bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the nation’s all-hazards preparedness and response law, according to the Alliance for Biosecurity. U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Bob Casey (D-PA) on May 8 sponsored S. 1379, which has been referred to the U.S. Senate... Read More »
Legislation would protect US elections from foreign interference
Legislation introduced in the House last week aims to protect U.S. elections against foreign interference and malicious attacks. The Election Security Act, introduced by Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), John Sarbanes (D-MD) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), includes seven provisions. The bill... Read More »
Democratic senators take issue with DoD decision to transfer $1.5B for wall
Senate Democrats blasted the U.S. Department of Defense for its transfer of $1.5 billion to build part of a wall on the southwest border. “Once again, the Department of Defense has ignored decades of precedent and cooperation with the Congress in carrying out a transfer of funds without... Read More »
FDA issues guidance extending expiration dates for stockpiled anthrax medical countermeasures
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently made final guidance available to government stakeholders on testing to extend the expiration date of stockpiled medical countermeasures (MCMs) used during public health emergency preparedness and response for anthrax exposure. Stockpiles of... Read More »
Lawmakers urge FCC to examine 5G security
A group of House Energy and Commerce Committee members are urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to examine fifth-generation (5G) infrastructure and technology security. Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Communications and Technology Subcommittee... Read More »
Bill retains Russian nuclear forces limits
Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot L. Engel (D-NY) introduced last week a measure designed to retain Russian nuclear forces limits. The Richard G. Lugar and Ellen O. Tauscher Act to Maintain Limits on Russian Nuclear Forces calls for an extension of New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New... Read More »
Sen. Schumer seeking additional funding to fight superbug in New York
U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer (D-NY) is seeking additional federal funds to fight a superbug called Candida Auris that is spreading throughout New York. Schumer is urging the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to designate the spreading and multidrug-resistant fungus an official emergency, which... Read More »
House committee appropriators approve $300M more in funds for Strategic National Stockpile
An amendment increasing federal funds by $300 million for the Strategic National Stockpile received U.S. House Appropriations Committee approval on Wednesday as part of an almost $190 billion fiscal year 2020 spending bill covering the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and... Read More »
Lawmakers express military border deployment concerns
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently joined 17 colleagues in expressing concerns over the expanding mission of active duty service members deployed to the southern border. The group of legislators forwarded correspondence to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan... Read More »
Report examines military funding, personnel gaps
A new RAND Corporation report maintains a significant gap exists between the nation's strategic and defense policies and funding and personnel resources required to implement those policies successfully. “Modernizing its nuclear deterrent over the next several decades is likely to consume most... Read More »
Coalition of senators pushes for $75M for security grants
A bipartisan coalition of 33 senators sent a letter this week urging that $75 million be provided in the 2020 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program. The letter was sent to Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations... Read More »
Lawmakers urge DHS not to transfer CBP officers from Northern to Southern border
A group of lawmakers recently urged the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain strong staffing levels at airports and ports of entry between the United States and Canada. The request, made by members of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, comes after the Department of... Read More »
Unprecedented volumes of aliens continue to arrive in South Texas
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said agents are continuing to process and receive illegal aliens in unprecedented numbers through the Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector. “We’ve exceeded our capacity and we’re doing all we can to house migrants in a humane place and transfer them... Read More »
Legislation would expand TSA PreCheck enrollment
Legislation recently introduced in the Senate would expand TSA PreCheck enrollment for people in positions of public trust. Positions of public trust include law enforcement officers and federal employees holding an active security clearance. These individuals have already passed an extensive... Read More »
Reps. Collins, Rogers seek additional funding for border response and operations
U.S. Reps. Doug Collins (R-GA) and Mike Rogers (R-AL) are proposing an amendment to fund the Trump Administration’s request for an additional $4.5 billion for humanitarian response and border operations. “The crisis at our southern border demands additional resources,” Collins, ranking... Read More »
Domestic terrorism is a growing threat to homeland, counterterrorism officials testify
Top U.S. officials testified on Wednesday during a U.S. House committee hearing that the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are focused on countering a rise in domestic terrorism threats. U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Homeland... Read More »
Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism finalizes update for Minimum Security Criteria
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency's Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT) program has finalized its review and update of its Minimum Security Criteria (MSC). The result stems from CBP formally requesting the Commercial Customs Operations Advisory... Read More »
More than 600,000 connections made under FirstNet platform
More than 600,000 devices used by more than 7,250 public-safety agencies have connected to the FirstNet communications platform. FirstNet is intended for public-safety agencies. In more than 600 markets, band 14 spectrum has been deployed, allowing agencies of all sizes in urban, rural and... Read More »
Air Force committed to rebuilding Florida’s Tyndall Air Force Base
The Air Force is committed to rebuilding Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, which was damaged last fall when Hurricane Michael hit the Florida panhandle. Speaking at a symposium last week at Florida State University-Panama City, John Henderson, assistant secretary of the Air Force for... Read More »
Legislation aids bulletproof vest initiative
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) recently introduced a measure designed to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program permanently. S. 1231 is a federal grant program that helps state and local law enforcement agencies purchase lifesaving bulletproof vests for... Read More »
Bill would protect faith-based community centers, houses of worship
The recently introduced Faith-Based Community Center Protection Act would allow Homeland Security Grant Program funds to be used to safeguard faith-based community centers and houses of worship. If the bill becomes law, the Homeland Security Grant Program would be provided with $75 million in... Read More »
House bill would limit transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey
Legislation that seeks to limit the transfer of F-35 aircraft to Turkey was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives last week. The Protecting NATO Skies Act of 2019 was introduced by Mike Turner (R-OH), John Garamendi (D-CA), and Paul Cook (R-CA). It is a companion bill to legislation... Read More »
Bill seeks to aid first responders following injury
Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jon Tester (D-MT) reintroduced last week a bill designed to ensure injured first responders do not have to pay taxes on injury-related compensation. The Putting First Responders First Act would clarify the current tax code and stems from the circumstance of the... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce Fentanyl Sanctions Act
Reps. French Hill (R-AR), Max Rose (D-NY), Anthony Brindisi (D-NY) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) recently introduced legislation designed to implore the Chinese government to honor its commitment of making fentanyl illegal while providing tools to address traffickers. The Fentanyl Sanctions Act... Read More »
GAO reports Army modernization efforts could use improvement
Building on two years of recommendations surrounding modernization efforts of the U.S. Army, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found areas in which they believe the Army could improve to avoid costly failures. Their report, which covers near and long-term modernization efforts,... Read More »
FDA approves first dengue vaccine for use in endemic areas
The most common mosquito-borne viral disease -- Dengue -- will now be preventable in endemic regions, thanks to the approval of the first dengue vaccine by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Dengvaxia, as it is called, blocks all dengue virus serotypes in ages 9 through 16, providing a... Read More »