News
Satellite Cybersecurity Act advances in Senate
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 »
Measure eyes bolstered firefighting technology
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 »
House Homeland Security Committee advances five bills on cybersecurity, drones and 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 »
Sens. Peters, Durbin tout bill targeting immediate southern border needs
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 »
AI training program for federal workforce leadership proposed in Senate
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 »
Sensible Classification Act introduced in Senate as means to reform, limit national classification system
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 »
Measure eyes printed circuit board production, bolstered supply chain security
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 »
Agencies tout school safety reporting programs resource
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 »
China’s role in opioid trafficking under scrutiny in Congressional letter to State Department
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) urged the Department of State to take steps to hold China accountable for the precursor chemicals used by Mexican drug cartels in the manufacture of synthetic opioids. The pair proposed... Read More »
Bipartisan Invest to Protect Act aims to increase funding for police departments
In an effort to reduce crime and increase public safety, the Invest to Protect Act was introduced by a bipartisan coalition in Congress this week, dangling the possibility of increased funding for police departments to recruit and retain officers, as well as outfit them. Announced at the start... Read More »
Legislation introduced to better support active National Guard, Reservists members
A group of lawmakers are seeking to incentivize employers to continue to pay National Guard and Reserves members while activated. U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), and Don Beyer (D-VA) have reintroduced the bipartisan Reservist Pay Equity Act, which would... Read More »
Anti-money laundering bill targets fentanyl trafficking
U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Andy Barr (R-KY) and Zach Nunn (R-IA) recently introduced the Stop Fentanyl Money Laundering Act, which targets money laundering within the fentanyl trafficking trade. “We cannot allow foreign drug manufacturers, money launderers, and... Read More »
Lawmakers urge implementation of TikTok national security finding
U.S. Reps. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and Tim Scott (R-SC) are urging President Joe Biden to implement a national security finding determining TikTok’s operations pose a national security risk to the United States. Officials noted in correspondence to Biden, McHenry, House Financial Services... Read More »
Bipartisan Cyberspace Solarium Commission urges White House nomination to fill National Cyber Director position
Although the position was created in 2021, the co-chairs of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) last week expressed extreme concern about the currently vacant National Cyber Director role, and urged President Joe Biden to nominate someone for the job soon. The Office of the National Cyber... Read More »
DARPA details High Operational Temperature Sensors program
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently outlined plans to develop microelectronic sensor technologies capable of withstanding extreme temperatures through its High Operational Temperature Sensors (HOTS) program. “Many of the defense and industrial systems that rely on... Read More »
Cornyn leads Senate Republicans to Back the Blue, proposing new penalties for attacks on officers
Together with 38 Republican colleagues, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) introduced the Back the Blue Act last week, which would mandate a new federal crime for offenses against federal officers and judges, limit court review of related challenges and expand officer rights. The act would take four... Read More »
House panel advances Beagle Brigade Act
Bipartisan legislators are commending the House Agriculture Committee's advancement of the Beagle Brigade Act (H.R. 1480), which authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Detector Dog Training Center. U.S. Reps. Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Drew Ferguson (R-GA), Dan Kildee... Read More »
Measure seeks to bolster defense-centric small business investment
U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Pat Fallon (R-TX), and Rob Wittman (R-VA) recently reintroduced the Investing in American Defense Technologies Act, which targets defense-centric small business investment. The legislation creates a federal public-private partnership to scale, support and... Read More »
Senate legislation introduced to simplify FEMA disaster recovery assistance process
In introducing the Disaster Assistance Simplification Act this week, a bipartisan three senators proposed the creation of a universal application for federal disaster recovery assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The current system, in the views of U.S. Sens. Gary Peters... Read More »
Legislation introduced to modernize, expand National Weather Service radio coverage
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has advanced two national weather targeting modernization and expansion of the nation’s weather communication and radio service. U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell (D-WA), committee chair, and Ted Cruz (R-TX), ranking member, introduced the... Read More »
Department of Defense awards $18M to 28 academic competitive research teams
Under the Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR), the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) this week awarded $18 million to 28 collaborative academic teams, encouraging their research capabilities to enhance U.S. science and engineering. “DEPSCoR allows us to tap... Read More »
DHS, DOJ detail lawful immigration pathways guidance
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the finalization of a new rule further incentivizing individuals to use lawful and orderly pathways to enter the United States. “This Administration has led the largest expansion of legal pathways for... Read More »
Lawmakers seek suspected terrorist southern border encounter insight
U.S. Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) has joined six North Carolina colleagues in forwarding correspondence to Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol officials regarding southern border suspected terrorist encounters. "The chaos at our southern border has created a humanitarian... Read More »
DHS eyes bolstered portable drug detection system capabilities
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is seeking methods to bolster portable drug detection system capabilities. DHS personnel indicated the agency is collaborating with the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to... Read More »
U.S. lawmakers propose expanded assessment tool, oversight in military housing accountability push
With the introduction of the Military Housing Transparency and Accountability Act, as part of May and Military Appreciation Month, U.S. Reps. Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) seek to increase housing information available to military members and their families. “As an Army dad,... Read More »
Operation Long Mile: one year, thousands of investigations and millions of drugs seized from Sinaloa and Jalisco Cartels
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reported the results of its year-long Operation Last Mile this week, touting millions of fentanyl pills and pounds of fentanyl power, methamphetamine, firearms and cash seized, alongside thousands of arrests made. Operation Last Mile was a targeted... Read More »
NFIP paid nearly $4B in federal allotments following Hurricane Ian
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) announced that it has paid more than $3.9 billion to over 48,000 policyholders in the wake of Hurricane Ian last year. “Flooding is the most common and most reoccurring natural disaster," NFlP Senior Executive and Federal Insurance Directorate... Read More »
Northrop Grumman finishes fifth successful test of U.S. Navy’s anti-radiation guided missile
In the fifth consecutive test of the U.S. Navy’s AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile Extended Range (AARGM-ER) this week, Northrop Grumman Corporation successfully detected, identified, located, and engaged a land-based emitter target. “AARGM-ER provides the Navy with a... Read More »
DARPA announces 2023 ERI Summit to highlight microelectronics innovation
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials are espousing the benefits of the 2023 Electronics Resurgence Initiative (ERI) Summit, noting the effort would address noteworthy microelectronics innovation advances. The theme of the event is Reinventing Domestic Microelectronics... Read More »
Maine Border Patrol turns to public for help combating human smuggling activity
While noting four separate successes against human smuggling in the past two weeks, the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) in Maine recently called on the general public for help to stop further illicit border activities. Despite a vast border area, USBP contended that it simply lacks the manpower to... Read More »
Sen. Rubio questions military approach to EV adoption
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) is expressing concerns regarding the Biden administration's approach to the military adopting an all-electric, non-tactical vehicle (EV) fleet by 2030. Rubio has forwarded correspondence to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, seeking insight amid citing a pattern of... Read More »
Legislation seeks to reduce student opioid deaths
U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Dean Phillips (D-MN) are espousing the benefits of the recently introduced School Access to Naloxone Act - maintaining the bill would reduce student opioid overdose deaths. “The number of young Americans dying due to an overdose doubled in 2020, underscoring... Read More »
USDOT seeks revamp of aging pipeline leak standards to decrease dangers, increase efficiency nationwide
Eying ways to increase national safety alongside emissions reduction efforts, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) last week released details of a planned overhaul to pipeline leak detection and repair standards. “We are proposing a long-overdue modernization of the way we identify... Read More »
Rep. Salazar urges DHS to bolster migration resources for Guatemalan government
U.S. Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) is urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bolster Guatemalan government resources to address the anticipated migrant surge ahead of Title 42’s expiration. Salazar has forwarded correspondence to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas regarding the... Read More »