U.S. Policy
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel are touting Operation Blue Lotus, which has, in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), disrupted synthetic drug trafficking.
Operation Four Horsemen, the U.S. Border Patrol’s... Read More »
As a means to improve performance or substantially reduce the size, weight, power, and cost of current antennas, DARPA announced last week that it is soliciting novel designs, materials, manufacturing or processing concepts under its Bringing Classified Innovation to Defense and Government Systems... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill to enhance Department of Homeland Security (DHS) law enforcement personnel's mental health resources.
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the DHS Suicide Prevention and Resiliency for Law Enforcement Act, which would... Read More »
Reckoning with the increased influx of storms rattling the United States in recent years, United States Reps. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX) and Alex Mooney (R-WV) introduced the Improvement of Mapping, Addresses, Geography, Elevation and Structures (IMAGES) Act (H.R. 2568) this week to improve flood... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently installed a next generation carry-on baggage screening system at Boston Logan International Airport.
“This new carry-on screening system is an important next step in aviation security,” S&T... Read More »
Concerned about inadequacies in Military Criminal Investigative Organizations (MCIOs), a group of 18 Congress members recently issued a letter calling for adequate, stable funding and resources to aid investigations as part of the fiscal year 2024 Defense Appropriations funding bill.
“The... Read More »
After a trip that spanned 144 days, stops in four continents, and more than 25,000 miles of ocean covered, all to resupply the United States Antarctic stations, the Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star completed its journey home to Seattle on April 8, 2023.
“The completion of this mission is a... Read More »
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently issued new guidance to address bolstered supply chain disruption initiatives.
Cyber Incident Guidance for Customs Brokers would aid customs brokers in preparation, response, and recovery regarding cyberattacks, from proactively installing... Read More »
Air Force officials announced that Ravi Chaudhary has been sworn to duty as assistant secretary of the Air Force for Energy, Installations, and Environment.
The recent ceremony at the Pentagon followed Chaudhary's U.S. Senate confirmation on March 15. In his new position, Chaudhary will be... Read More »
In order to build relationships with those soon to be training in their state, U.S. Rep. Steve Womack (R-AR) and John Boozman (R-AR) went to Singapore last week.
On the heels of a decision to relocate an F-16 squadron to Ebbing Air National Guard base in Arkansas and train Singapore pilots on... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials recently announced the sentencing of Jorge Sanchez Morales, aka “Capulina,” 47, to life in prison for leading a large-scale drug trafficking organization.
In November 2022, an El Paso jury found Sanchez Morales guilty of conspiracies to import... Read More »
The rising dependence that the United States has on many Chinese pharmaceuticals is worsening the nation’s drug shortage and creating a national security risk that several members of Congress want to disrupt.
Lawmakers, in fact, have introduced legislation in Congress from both sides of the... Read More »
As the United States continues to reckon with gun violence nationwide, including in its schools, U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia (R-CA) introduced the latest legislative proposals for change, with the Safe Schools Act and the Strengthening School Security for Students Act.
Touted as ways to protect... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has planned a two-day, in-person event next month to highlight technology addressing DHS challenges and homeland security needs.
The Demo Week initiative funded by DHS's Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP)... Read More »
As a way to encourage stakeholders and partners to pursue rigorous supply chain risk management (SCRM) solutions, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and a mix of federal and industry partners are highlighting SCRM as the recipe for resilience in this National Supply Chain... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Steve Womack (R-AR) and
Dan Kildee (D-MI) joined four colleagues to introduce a bill that seeks to exclude military Basic Needs Allowance (BNA) benefits from taxable income.
The BNA Fairness Act would amend the tax code and place the BNA in line with the tax status of other military... Read More »
In a letter dispatched to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week, Republican chairs linked to the House Committee on Homeland Security pressed for answers on potential cybersecurity threats posed by Chinese-manufactured cranes used at U.S. ports.
“We are... Read More »
After seizing a flagless vessel in the Arabian Sea on Dec. 1, 2022, U.S. Central Command forces took more than 1 million rounds of ammunition, among other weapon supplies, and as of last week, the Justice Department filed a forfeiture complaint over it, accusing the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard... Read More »
The U.S. Army has awarded Raytheon Technologies a $1.2 billion foreign military sales contract to provide Switzerland with the Patriot air defense system.
The contract is in conjunction with the Global Patriot partnership that includes the United States, Switzerland, and 16 other nations.... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) has requested funding for the Canine Reimbursement Program, following President Joe Biden’s fiscal year 2024 budget determining the program was zeroed out.
Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson contacted Bacon when the president’s budget request was released.
“I... Read More »
Lawmakers and law enforcement personnel are expressing support for the SAFE School Act, which focuses on keeping children safe.
U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) would introduce the bill to establish a $900 million grant program enabling public and private schools to... Read More »
Through the introduction of the H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act last week, U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dick Durban (D-IL) took aim at visa programs, intending to reform them and reduce fraud while introducing greater scrutiny of the recruitment process for foreign workers.
Both visa... Read More »
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has advanced the Securing Open Source Software Act - noting it protects federal and critical infrastructure systems.
The measure introduced by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) now moves to the full Senate for... Read More »
In his first budget proposal, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro called for more than $50 million for 9-1-1 dispatch systems and $36 million to staff, equip and train firefighters and EMS providers.
“I know firsthand how our local municipal and county governments are on the frontlines of keeping... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Michael C. Burgess (R-TX) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) recently reintroduced the MISSION Zero Act, which would aid in addressing the emergency room care gap.
The bill would enable the Department of Defense (DoD) to continue assigning trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers.
“The... Read More »
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently introduced the Combating Illicit Xylazine Act, which seeks to classify the drug under Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act.
U.S. Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Ken Buck (R-CO), and Chris Pappas (D-NH)... Read More »
In a nod to evolving needs, fears, and digital capabilities, United States Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Artificial Intelligence for National Security Act (H.R. 1718) this week, pushing for A.I. enabled cybersecurity programs to increase security on Department... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently commended the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee's advancement of the IMPACTT Human Trafficking Act, which supports individuals impacted by human trafficking.
The bill introduced by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), James Lankford (R-OK), and John... Read More »
Air Force civilian and military personnel recently expressed to lawmakers the importance of passing a timely budget to ensure Air and Space Force modernization efforts are not delayed.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr., and Chief of Space... Read More »
During a hearing with the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this week, the latter’s administrator, David Pekoske, lent insight into the agency’s plans for its $10.4 billion allotment under a 2024 budget... Read More »
With a proposed $750 million grant program, the newly introduced FIRE STATION Act, put forth by U.S. Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), as well as U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), pushes for modifications, upgrades and build-up of fire and EMS facilities across the... Read More »
With the introduction of the United States-Israel Future of Warfare Act of 2023 last week, a collection of U.S. representatives are seeking to set aside $50 million annually for defense collaboration on emerging technologies between the two countries.
“The United States and Israel face a... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) and Bob Latta (R-OH) are commending the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee's advancement of legislation addressing fentanyl analogues permanent scheduling.
Bill proponents indicated the Halt All Lethal Trafficking of (HALT) Fentanyl Act... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice has detailed the arrest of the alleged founder and operator of BreachForums, an alleged marketplace for cybercriminals to buy, sell and trade hacked or stolen data.
Conor Brian Fitzpatrick, 20, of Peekskill, New York, made an initial appearance in the Eastern... Read More »
Concerned that 9-1-1 systems begun more than 50 years ago might be in danger of growing outdated, U.S. Reps. Anna Eshoo (D-CA) and Richard Hudson (R-NC) introduced the Next Generation 9-1-1 Act of 2023 last week to rally for modernization.
Communications have changed dramatically in the past... Read More »
