U.S. Policy
Through reintroduction of the VA Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) seek to spur better training for staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked with handling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ran two counter-drug operations over the course of the last two months in Arizona and southern California – Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen – and results can be measured in thousands of pounds of illicit substances seized.
While focused... Read More »
As the U.S. Space Force continues to find its place, the Department of the Air Force this week announced three military sites it would prefer to house the Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) Headquarters and the three Space Force Deltas.
STARCOM is one of three U.S. Space Force field... Read More »
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are encouraging Puerto Rico residents to get their families and property prepared for hurricane season.
“Getting ready for hurricane season should be a routine to residents in the Caribbean area, since it only takes one weather event to... Read More »
A reckoning of transparency put online app stores firmly in its sights this week, with the introduction of the Know Your App Act in the Senate.
Its backers, which included U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), pitched the bill as one meant to better protect... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials have commended San Diego Field Office personnel for seizing $7.8 million worth of dangerous drugs in the week leading up to Memorial Day.
“Narcotics smuggling continues to be on the rise and our officers will relentlessly continue doing everything... Read More »
Renewing legislation first introduced in the last Congress, U.S. Reps. Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) last week brought up the TRICARE Fairness for National Guard and Reserve Retirees Act (H.R. 3668) to open up healthcare options for retired Reserve personnel.
They were joined in... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Bob Latta (R-OH) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA) are commending House of Representatives colleagues after approving their legislation addressing the permanent scheduling of fentanyl analogues.
The lawmakers noted the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act would permanently... Read More »
Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced grants of $18 million for 11 university-based faculty teams researching the underlying social and political concepts that may drive future conflicts worldwide.
These 11 teams were chosen from approximately 130 applicants across six... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently joined U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Pat Fallon (R-TX) in introducing legislation that seeks to bolster advanced defense capabilities.
The lawmakers recently detailed the Investing in American Defense Technologies Act,... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Troy A. Carter Sr. (D-LA) have introduced legislation that would help local governments improve natural disaster response through enhanced training.
The lawmakers recently detailed the Emergency Management Support Act (H.R. 3626). It ensures local... Read More »
A group of lawmakers are espousing the benefits of legislation they maintain would bolster efforts countering unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) security threats.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Sen. Gary Peters recently joined U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Kyrsten... Read More »
A group of lawmakers last week introduced the Wounded Warrior Bill of Rights (H.R. 3517) to the House, proposing cuts on red tape, improved transparency and greater appeal options for injured veterans navigating medical separation from service and disability benefits.
“All too often, wounded... Read More »
In a letter sent to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly this week, House House Homeland Security subcommittee leaders requested a briefing on any threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the information and communications technology (ICT)... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and Jenniffer González-Colón (R-PR) are espousing the benefits of newly introduced legislation they maintain would aid natural disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
According to bill proponents, the Preventing Our Next Natural Disaster Act would... Read More »
Four agencies are espousing the benefits of a newly published updated resource they indicated seeks to help organizations reduce the risk of ransomware incidents through a series of best practices.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation... Read More »
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials have outlined the Remote Identity Validation Technology Demonstration Track 2 launch.
DHS S&T indicated in conjunction with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Homeland Security... Read More »
As a wide-ranging proposal to revise the United States immigration system, U.S. Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and Veronica Escobar (D-TX) led the introduction of an updated Dignity Act this week, gathering a small bipartisan coalition to break Congressional deadlock on the issue.
Salazar... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Mike Bost (R-IL) recently reintroduced legislation that would raise police officer salaries and hire more police officers.
The David Dorn Thin Blue Line Retention Act is named in honor of David Dorn, a retired St. Louis Police captain killed in June 2020 while... Read More »
A bicameral, bipartisan group of lawmakers wrote Congressional leadership this week to secure FY 2024 Department of Defense (DoD) appropriations for the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 modernization efforts.
Led by U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV), the lawmakers called for... Read More »
By introducing the Land Port of Entry (LPOE) Modernization Trust Fund Act (H.R.3135) this week, a collection of five congressional lawmakers proposed creating a fund to advance new ports of entry, improve the old and gather both new staff and technology to assist border efforts.
Backed by... Read More »
Under a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) launched last week, the Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) announced efforts to strengthen outbreak response among decision makers through creation of a disease forecasting network.
CFA is a part of the Centers for Disease Control... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Peter Stauber (R-MN) and Dan Kildee (D-MI) revived pro-unionization efforts for public safety officers nationwide last week with the reintroduction of the Public Safety Employer-Employee Act.
That bill would allow public safety officers to form labor unions, collectively bargain for... Read More »
Three legislators recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), seeking insight regarding suspected terrorists illegally crossing the southern border.
U.S. Reps. Mark E. Green (R-TN), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, James Comer (R-KY),... Read More »
Fearing the proliferation of illicit versions of the drug xylazine – or tranq – and its effects on the U.S. public, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) wrote to Congressional leaders last week urging passage of the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act (H.R. 1839).
The legislation... Read More »
The Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act (S.1464) advanced to the Senate floor last week, after approval from the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is chaired its author, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
Together with co-author U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), Peters created a... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) noted his recent reintroduction of the Wildfire Emergency Act seeks to reduce American West wildfire risks and bolster preparedness via forest restoration, infrastructure investments and training.
“Despite this year’s severe storms, wildfire season will soon... Read More »
An effort to increase cybersecurity protections for commercial satellites gained traction in the Senate this week, as the Satellite Cybersecurity Act (S.1425) advanced out of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to the full Senate.
The bill was introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary... Read More »
U.S. Reps. David G. Valadao (R-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Mark Amodei (R-NV), John Curtis (R-UT) and Doug Lamborn (R-CO) recently introduced the Emergency Wildfire Fighting Technology Act, which would bolster firefighting technology initiatives.
The... Read More »
The House Homeland Security Committee took up a slew of bills this week, advancing five to the larger House’s consideration on cybersecurity, Chinese drones, approaches to weapons of mass destruction and support for first responders.
These bills included the Securing Open Source Software Act... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Dick Durbin have joined eight colleagues to introduce a bill that focuses on addressing immediate southern border needs.
The Border Management, Security, and Assistance Act of 2023 would strengthens border security, establish consequences for unlawful entry,... Read More »
A day ahead of testimony by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman before Congress on the concerns and possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI), U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Mike Braun (R-IN) introduced legislation to create an AI-based training program for federal managers.
While Altman would go on to... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), and eight colleagues recently introduced the Sensible Classification Act, which proposes an overhaul of the national classification system.
If passed, the legislation would seek to codify classification authority and specify how that authority is... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) have reintroduced legislation they maintain would enhance domestic printed circuit board (PCB) production while strengthening supply chain security.
Moore and Eshoo recently detailed the Protecting Circuit Boards and Substrates Act,... Read More »
Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) personnel are espousing the benefits of a new resource to aid school safety reporting programs.
The K-12 Bystander Reporting Toolkit supports kindergarten through grade 12... Read More »
