U.S. Policy
Federal regulatory updates to the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program that go into effect on Nov. 21 could receive some additional muscle to knock out bad actors if recently introduced federal legislation is enacted.
“I still have concerns about fraud and abuse in the program that can only be... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Senate was introduced to improve the hiring and retention of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents and officers.
U.S. Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and John Hoeven (R-ND) said the CBP Hiring and Retention Innovation Act, S. 2813, creates a Customs and... Read More »
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $780,038, for the New Hampshire Department of Justice (NHDOJ) to combat human trafficking in that state.
Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) joined Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Chris Pappas (D-NH) to announce that NHDOJ would... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Max Rose (D-NY) issued a statement related to the U.S. State Department's response to his request to designate violent white nationalist extremist groups as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTO).
Rose was among 40 members of Congress who called upon the State Department to designate... Read More »
A group of legislators have introduced a bill designed to bolster election security via new resources enabling research promoting voting systems modernization.
U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and Frank Lucas (R-OK) said the Election... Read More »
The U.S. Senate passed the Federal Advance Contracts Enhancement (FACE) Act, which requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to more effectively manage its advance contracts for goods and services.
Specifically, the legislation requires federal preparedness actions to be... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded Transmute Industries, an Austin, Texas-based company, a $198,642 Phase 1 award to develop a proof-of-concept application for Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The application must support... Read More »
Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced last week the Stadiums Operating under New Guidance (SONG) Act, which empowers the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue temporary flight restrictions for stadium concerts and other events.
“Whether... Read More »
A bill advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee seeks to reauthorize and increase funding for the northern United States border’s Operation Stonegarden program for the next five years, injecting $110 million into border security operations.
U.S. Sen. Jon... Read More »
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently extended praise to the FBI for stopping an attempted synagogue bombing in Colorado.
Reps. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Kay Granger (R-TX), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Brian Fitzpatrick... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is embarking on a road tour to meet with small businesses.
The National SBIR 2019 Road Tour will begin with stops in Miami, Fla., and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
“We are continually seeking new... Read More »
Three agencies under the Department of Justice umbrella have earmarked $95 million to support Tennessee public safety efforts.
The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), and Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funding allotment would target... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently sent a letter to members of the Trump administration urging the federal government not to do business with contractors that have forced labor or human trafficking in their supply chains of companies.
Two... Read More »
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced Wednesday a bill to protect firefighters from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams.
The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act of 2019 has... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to address criminal and terrorist organizations’ use of the illegal tobacco trade to fund activities.
The Combating the Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products Act, which authorizes the executive branch to deny development and security... Read More »
Port of Savannah, Georgia, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized a port-record 2,133-pounds of cocaine via scrap aluminum and copper being shipped from South America to Europe.
“Drug Trafficking Organizations are relentless in their attempts to smuggle drugs into the... Read More »
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee recently held a hearing on the importance of the Department of Homeland Security actively combating the influx of deadly drugs across the Southwest border.
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH), a committee member, recently introduced new... Read More »
A bipartisan bill designed to bolster science education and cybersecurity programs within various federal agencies was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week.
The Harvesting American Cybersecurity Knowledge through Education (HACKED) Act Incentivize recruitment of cybersecurity educators... Read More »
Twitter suspended content affiliated with foreign terrorist organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, following a request by members of Congress.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Reps. Tom Reed (R-NY), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Max Rose (D-NY), sent a... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) blasted the decision by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to approve the exemption of the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station from the regulations for emergency planning and preparedness.
Markey, who serves on the committee, wrote to the Nuclear... Read More »
The Department of Interior recently decided to halt the use of non-essential Chinese-made drones or drones made from Chinese components pending a review of the program.
The exception would be drones used for emergency purposes.
All of the department’s 810 drones have Chinese hardware, and... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said an Austin, Texas-based start-up has secured funding designed to enhance security checkpoint operations.
S&T officials said the agency awarded $199,961.29 to Synthetik Applied Technologies to develop a... Read More »
The U.S. Air Force announced this week that the branch selected the Barking Sands Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kauai to house the Air National Guard’s Space Control Squadron.
Officials said the effort would create a new, highly technical squadron to monitor satellites in support of the... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agreed to 11 tentative, reimbursable services agreements this week to boost cross-border trade and travel.
The agreements are an expansion of the Reimbursable Services Program that has been in place since 2013. All are public-private partnerships that... Read More »
A bipartisan group of federal legislators introduced last week a bill to fight the spread of synthetic drugs.
Synthetic drugs are re-engineered to circumvent federal laws designed to outlaw them. The Stop Importation and Manufacturing of Synthetic Analogues (SIMSA) Act would allow substances... Read More »
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said infrastructure owners and operators are urged to be alert in accordance with November being designated National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month.
Critical infrastructure (CI) plays an essential role in... Read More »
El Centro Sector Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the division demonstrated a series of law enforcement achievements during fiscal year 2019.
“El Centro Sectors results are attributed to the combined effort of our agents out in the field, new technology, and the border wall... Read More »
A group of Democratic U.S. Senators introduced a bill that would preserve access to T-band spectrum for emergency personnel.
The bill – called Don’t Break Up the T-Band Act -- repeals a provision of the 2012 Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act, which directed the Federal... Read More »
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing last week focusing on the secure rollout of 5G networks, supply chain risks associated with 5G equipment, and the need for a national 5G strategy.
5G is the industry term that refers to the latest evolution in mobile... Read More »
Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced last week that he helped secure important victories for the state that bolster public safety while also enhancing Ohio law enforcement under a recently approved Senate appropriations package.
“One of the most important roles of government is keeping... Read More »
Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced last week over $11 million in federal funding would aid efforts to bolster firefighting efforts in Chicagoland communities.
The $11,194,763.84 funding allotment is being provided through the Department of Homeland Security, Federal... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the Senate would authorize the Operation Stonegarden program, which provides state, local, and tribal law enforcement grants to assist in border security.
Under the bill, the program would be authorized through 2024 at $110 million annually. The bill... Read More »
The Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC) has designated 25 targets affiliated with the Iranian regime’s terror-support networks in the region.
The designation is focused on entities supporting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Hizballah. Several of these... Read More »
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced legislation that would protect 5G telecommunications systems and mobile infrastructure in the United States.
The bill -- the Secure 5G and Beyond Act -- would require the administration to develop an unclassified, national strategy to maximize... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) received this week the Leadership in Homeland Security Award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP).
“Collaboration between the DHS Intelligence Enterprise and our state and local... Read More »
