U.S. Policy
The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry advanced a bill to create as a national security laboratory to combat bio-and agro-terrorism threats.
The National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) Act of 2019 (S. 2695) would establish the National Bio and Agro-Defense... Read More »
A group of New York State Congress members recently urged the U.S. Air Force to select Stewart Air National Guard Base in Newburgh, N.Y., for the installation of a new Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron (AES).
U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), along with U.S. Rep. Sean... Read More »
Rep. Xochitl Liana Torres Small (D-NM) introduced Wednesday a measure designed to address Customs and Border Protection (CBP) challenges, including the need for a new position providing migrant processing administrative support.
The Border Workforce Efficiency Act creates a processing... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials to address concerns over national security threats posed by Chinese drones.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Rick Scott (R-FL), John... Read More »
Federal regulations that went into effect on Nov. 21 for the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program are already being challenged in federal court, just as one of New York’s most-influential federal legislators signs on to a proposal that some say doesn’t go far enough to end ongoing fraud in the... Read More »
Security officials from the United States and Panama struck an agreement this week that would improve collaboration between the two countries in battling security threats.
The Security Cooperation agreement will strengthen cybersecurity cooperation and policy planning, enhance customs processes... Read More »
Provisions from the Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act (VRIPA) were included in the final appropriations agreement, which passed in the House this week.
The Volunteer Responder Incentive Protection Act would allow communities to provide volunteer firefighters and EMS workers with up to... Read More »
Provisions included in the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) promise substantial federal funding for New Mexico’s military, labs, PFAS contamination cleanup efforts, and other initiatives throughout the state.
The funds track numerous fields, promising boosts to military... Read More »
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program is expected to be extended for seven years as is it part of a government funding package that is anticipated to pass in Congress this week.
The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program was established following the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Through a... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill Monday designed to secure the nation’s telecommunications supply chain.
The Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act (HR 4998) would prohibit the use of federal funds to purchase communications equipment or services from any company that... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice recently awarded West Virginia nearly $38 million to improve community safety and fight crime associated with the opioid crisis.
The grants are part of more than $333 million awarded to states, tribes, and communities.
The Department of Criminal Justice... Read More »
Three lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Acting Director of National Intelligence seeking answers regarding the possible expiration of the Russia and China New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START).
Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Todd Young (R-IN) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)... Read More »
Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced Monday legislation designed to impose consequences on drug cartels.
The Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act would subject certain foreign criminal organizations, such as drug cartels, to the same level of... Read More »
The U.S. House Appropriations Committee on Monday released the domestic priorities and international assistance appropriations minibus, which includes ramped-up final budget amounts for several biodefense-related items, including the Strategic National Stockpile.
In releasing the text of the... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) applauded the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for passing his bill that would prohibit any president of the United States from withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) without congressional approval.
“Recent actions have raised serious... Read More »
Attorneys general from every U.S. state and territory have endorsed a bill by U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) that would permanently criminalize fentanyl-related substances.
In February 2018, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a temporary order to criminalize fentanyl-related... Read More »
Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) recently advocated for the Department of Defense to reestablish Space Command in the state, maintaining it is the epicenter of national security space.
Bennet met with Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett and talked with the Commander of U.S. Space Command... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General is initiating an audit of the $400 million border wall construction contract the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded to Fisher Sand and Gravel Co.
"We intend to initiate an audit of the solicitation and award of the $400 million... Read More »
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would allow the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to subpoena Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to offer information when necessary.
The bill gives CISA authority to detect, identify, and receive information only related to critical... Read More »
The Senate Commerce Committee recently advanced legislation with a provision to preserve first responders’ access to T-band spectrum, which is used by police and firefighters for emergency public safety communication.
The provision, included in the 5G Spectrum Act, repeals a 2012 requirement... Read More »
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) personnel have joined a Kansas City-area task force targeting drug traffickers and violent criminals.
U.S. Attorneys for the districts of Kansas and western Missouri said the Kansas City Metro Strike Force is a... Read More »
IDSS and One Resonance received the top two monetary awards in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Opioid Detection Challenge.
The $1.55 million global competition searches for rapid, nonintrusive detection tools that will help find illicit... Read More »
As a means of enhancing safety and performance, Marine Corps officials said the branch’s Utility Task Vehicles (UTV) are undergoing a series of revisions.
“We bought the vehicle as a [commercial-off-the-shelf] solution, so it’s not going to have everything we want right from the... Read More »
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. 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
