News
Measure targets border security, DACA protections
Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced last week a bill designed to bolster border security and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program protections. The legislators said the bill would establish a $25 billion trust fund earmarked to enhance border security and... Read More »
Introduction of SHIELD Act would prioritize military pay during federal shutdown
A joint effort from U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has introduced an effort to protect military and law enforcement personnel from potential pay lapses as the federal shutdown stretches on. The Strengthening Homeland Security, Intelligence, and Essential Law... Read More »
FirstNet participates at Consumer Electronics Show 2019
Representatives of the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) spoke at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and CES Government 2019 in Los Vegas about technology innovations related to first responders. FirstNet members took part in panel discussions or were keynote speakers on... Read More »Reps. Kinzinger, Kelly re-introduce anti-trafficking bill
Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) re-introduced legislation that would encourage a more victim-centered approach to combat human trafficking. The Reducing the Demand for Human Trafficking Act (H.R.467) would provide greater protections for trafficking victims as well as seek out... Read More »
Calvert reintroduces Help Ensure Legal Detainers Act
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) has reintroduced the Help Ensure Legal Detainers (HELD) Act, which seeks to prevent criminal illegal immigrants from being released back into communities. The bill would require state and localities to adhere to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers, per... Read More »
Madariaga virus crosses from South and Central America into Haiti
The Madariaga virus (MADV), which was initially contained primarily to animals in South and Central America, was identified in eight children in Haiti in 2015 and 2016. The report, published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, said the symptoms in those children most closely mirrored those of... Read More »BAE opening innovation hub in Georgia
BAE Systems recently said it intends to sign a lease to open an office at the new Georgia Cyber Center. The office will allow the company to be near key customers and to take advantage of the city’s highly skilled workforce. The center is located on the Nathan Deal Campus for Innovation in... Read More »
Sen. Cornyn introduces bill to expand concealed carry privileges
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced last week a bill that would allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws. The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act would not allow concealed carry in... Read More »
Bill addresses assault weapons ban
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced this week the Assault Weapons Ban of 2019, which would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The lawmakers said the... Read More »
DOD program seeks to strengthen workforce
Department of Defense (DOD) officials are endorsing the benefits of a new endeavor designed to help the agency and private sector participants gain greater insight into workforce strengthening initiatives. The Defense-Industry Talent Exchange Pilot Program would enable 13 DOD and private partner... Read More »
AT&T, FirstNet expand wireless coverage by more than 50,000 square miles
AT&T and FirstNet announced this week that both entities boosted their LTE coverage area by more than 50,000 square miles in the United States last year, covering an additional 1 million individuals. “The demand for data has been on a nonstop, upward trajectory for years,” said Marachel... Read More »
Texas Medical researchers create universal Ebola treatment
Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) recently published in Cell Host & Microbe recently found that a single dose of a new medication could successfully protect against all strains of the Ebola virus. In tests, the researchers found their drug was capable of protecting... Read More »
Bill would fund Coast Guard during government shutdown
The Pay Our Coast Guard Parity Act of 2019, introduced Wednesday, aims to fund the Coast Guard during the government shutdown. The more than 41,000 active duty Coast Guard members, 6,200 reservists, and 8,500 civilian personnel are the only members of the U.S. military not being paid during the... Read More »
Rep. Jackson Lee reintroduces homeland security bills
U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) reintroduced a series of bills this week designed to improve cybersecurity, help first responders, protect federal elections, and strengthen homeland security. One is the FRIENDS Act (H.R. 42), which would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct... Read More »
Bill targets firearm background check expansion
A group of lawmakers reintroduced Tuesday a measure designed to expand federal background checks to all gun sales. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) said the Background Check... Read More »
Study shows small manufacturers’ role in supply chain security, need for awareness program improvements
A survey jointly conducted by international IT organization ISACA and the Digital Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute (DMDII) emphasizes the importance of small manufacturers when addressing the cybersecurity of the greater supply chain. The two organizations reached out to 167... Read More »
GAO examines best place for Federal Protective Service
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently studied eight potential parent agencies for the Federal Protective Service (FPS) and discovered none of them met all the key organizational placement criteria. Currently part of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Protection... Read More »
Sen. Portman applauds army’s plan to upgrade Abrams tanks
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) applauded Tuesday the U.S. Army’s plan to spend $714 million to upgrade 174 Abrams tanks with the latest technological advancements. The upgrades will improve communications, reliability, sustainment and fuel efficiency. They will also include upgraded armor. The... Read More »
House advances third iteration of bipartisan all-hazards legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives yesterday approved the newest version of bipartisan legislation that would keep Americans safe against natural disasters and chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) threats. Introduced on Jan. 8, the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness and... Read More »
Air Force training initiative targets officer quality, quantity
As a means of enhancing officer quality and quantity, Air Force officials said they are initiating training revisions designed to phase out separate officer programs in lieu of merged classes. The Total Force Officer Training and Commissioned Officer Training courses will be phased out... Read More »
KBR affiliate lands Army IT contract
An affiliate of the cyber and electronic security solutions firm KBR, SGT, LLC, has landed a role in the $12.1 billion Army Information Technology Enterprise Solutions-3 (ITES-3) Services Contract. SGT, LLC is a business unit of KBRwyle, which serves as KBR's global government services... Read More »
Singapore researchers discover new bat-based virus capable of infecting animals, humans
Researchers from Singapore’s Duke-NUS Medical School recently identified and characterized a new genus of filovirus in fruit bats. Their findings -- published in the journal Nature Microbiology -- called the virus Mengla, for the Chinese county in which it was discovered. It was identified... Read More »
Rep. Lowey introduces bill to provide relief for hurricane, natural disaster victims
Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY) introduced Jan. 4 a bill to provide relief for Americans affected by hurricanes, typhoons, wildfires, and other natural disasters. The bill would authorize $12.1 billion in emergency spending, including $3.0 billion for infrastructure and economic and community... Read More »
Rep. Thompson requests information on TSA’s operating during shutdown
Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter Monday to David Pekoske, Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administrator, inquiring about how the government shutdown is affecting agency employees. The partial government shutdown has... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster national cybersecurity
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) introduced last week a measure designed to enhance national cybersecurity efforts by modifying the Federal Chief Information Officer's (CIO) role. The representatives said the legislation elevates and reauthorizes the duties and responsibilities of... Read More »
Measure targets greater defense department efficiency
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA) recently introduced a bill designed to enhance various Department of Defense (DOD) civilian workforce initiatives. Calvert said the Rebalance for an Effective Defense Uniform and Civilian Employees (REDUCE) Act would require the DOD to systematically execute civilian... Read More »
UC Davis scientists identify wildlife most likely to host new flaviviruses
By running data on flavivirus-positive species through a machine-learning model of known mammal and bird species, scientists from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) believe they have honed in on those animals most likely to host future flaviviruses. Flavivirus refers to troublesome... Read More »
Bill seeks to combat tech threats especially from China
A bipartisan bill that would help combat tech-specific threats to national security posed by foreign nations and would improve interagency coordination across the U.S. government recently was introduced in the U.S. Senate. The legislation seeks to establish the Office of Critical Technologies... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee Chairman commends election security reform proposal
The chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), commended the inclusion of an election security reforms in a bill introduced in the House last week. The bill, the For the People Act (H.R. 1), would establish a series of reforms in the election process.... Read More »
CFR reviews 2018 election security efforts
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) recently offered a review of 2018 cybersecurity threats and election security efforts via a blog post on the agency's website. David P. Fidler noted that for the first time in the nation's history in 2018, the country conducted elections amid efforts to... Read More »
Scientists discover likely source of Yemen cholera epidemic
Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Institut Pasteu have potentially found the most likely source of Yemen’s worst cholera epidemic in recorded history. The disease, which has stricken more than 1 million people and killed nearly 2,500 people since it first appeared in the... Read More »
Senators reintroduce bill that would provide gun restrictions for those who pose a threat
Four U.S. senators re-introduced the Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act last week. The act would give law enforcement the authority to prevent individuals who pose a threat to themselves or others the ability to purchase or possess firearms. The act was first introduced in... Read More »
Sen. Cruz floats bill to use drug lord money to build wall
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today reintroduced a bill last week into the new Congress that would use money forfeited to the U.S. government from drug lords to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The bill -- called the Ensuring Lawful Collection of Hidden Assets to Provide Order (EL CHAPO)... Read More »
Security report focuses on Special Interest Aliens
The House Homeland Security Committee released a report this week examining the mobility of Special Interest Aliens (SIAs) and efforts to curtail their entryways to mitigate terrorist threats. “Individuals who may pose a serious national security threat, known as Special Interest Aliens... Read More »