News
House members introduce bill to help protect faith-based community centers
A bipartisan group of House members recently introduced legislation to increase federal penalties for making bomb threats and provide $20 million in additional funding to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to help safeguard faith-based community centers across the country. The members... Read More »
GAO report finds redundancies in overseas DOD, State Department security initiatives
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently conducted a report surveying the overseas inventory of Department of Defense (DOD) security cooperation, along with various State Department assistance efforts in order to determine if any redundancies exist. Since the Sept. 11, 2001... Read More »Smiths Detection awarded contract for delivery of baggage screening systems
Smiths Detection was recently awarded a contract to supply Amsterdam Airport Schiphol with new baggage screening equipment, including 24 HI-SCAN 10080 XCT systems. The contract includes an option for six additional scanners to be deployed at Lelystad, Rotterdam - The Hague, and Eindhoven... Read More »
Africa CDC launches new strategic plan for infectious disease control, prevention
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched a new strategic plan last week to improve the prevention, surveillance, and emergency response to infectious diseases on the continent. Prior to its approval, the plan was reviewed by Africa CDC experts, the advisory and... Read More »
Researchers pinpoint most likely area of Zika transmission in the United States
Researchers at the St. Louis University College for Public Health and Social Justice recently published an article pinpointing where Zika virus is most likely to be transmitted in the continental United States. Their study revealed the most likely point of transmission to be along the... Read More »
HHS Secretary cites emergency preparedness, response as federal budget priority
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tom Price told members of Congress on Wednesday that the nation’s emergency preparedness and response ranks high on the federal funding list at his agency. The goal of the Trump Administration is not to deconstruct HHS, Price... Read More »
FirstNet award of contract for National Public Safety Broadband Network expected soon
U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur L. Ross plans to make an announcement on Thursday regarding the signing of a 25-year contract for a public-private partnership to create the first nationwide public safety broadband network. AT&T is the only publicly known entity that is being considered for the... Read More »
Reps. Ratcliffe, Langevin participate in AIPAC panel to discuss two US-Israel cybersecurity bills
U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) recently participated in a panel at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) conference to discuss cybersecurity-related bills that recently passed through Congress. Langevin and Ratcliffe began their discussion by detailing... Read More »
Miami’s Miller School of Medicine move forward with development of early-stage Zika virus vaccine
A team of researchers at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine recently published their initial findings of an early-stage vaccine to protect against Zika virus infection. With new funding, the team is preparing to move forward with non-human primate testing and, eventually,... Read More »
House advances bill to provide accountability, oversight of DHS acquisition programs
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Authorities Act of 2017 last week, which aims to create greater accountability for major acquisition programs within the DHS by enhancing oversight and implementing cost-saving budget measures. The... Read More »
McSally introduces bill to increase penalty for cartel “spotters”
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced a bill that would enhance penalties for “spotters” who convey information related to the position and surveillance efforts of Border Patrol agents in order to disrupt their duties. The bill, titled the Transnational Criminal Organization... Read More »
House advances agro-terrorism preparedness bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced last week U.S. Rep. David Young’s (R-IA) Securing our Agriculture and Food Act (H.R. 1238), which aims to prevent acts of agro-terrorism from affecting the nation’s food supply. The bill requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to enhance the... Read More »
House unanimously advances bill to curb wasteful spending by DHS agencies
The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously last week to advance U.S. Rep. John Rutherford’s (R-FL) Reducing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acquisition Cost Growth Act (H.R. 1294), which aims to prevent wasteful spending by various agencies within DHS. The act is one of nine... Read More »
Designated, long-term federal funds needed to produce, amass medical countermeasures
Sustainable federal funding to develop and stockpile medical countermeasures is critical to the security and public health emergency preparedness of the United States, panelists said during a Bipartisan Policy Center event on Tuesday. And medical countermeasures are needed now as the United... Read More »
House unanimously advances McSally terrorist travel “stress test” bill
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced nine bills last week sponsored by the Homeland Security Committee, including unanimously voting on U.S. Rep. Martha McSally’s (R-AZ) Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017. “It is critical that we continue to re-examine our... Read More »Marines, sailors take part in large-scale chemical, biological response exercise
Marines and sailors assigned to the Chemical Biological Incident Response Force (CBIRF) in Indian Head, Maryland recently traveled to Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia to take part in Exercise Scarlet Response 2017. The annual exercise aims to develop skills related to chemical biological (CB)... Read More »Study finds that new dengue transmissions occur in or near home
According to a recent study led by the University of Florida and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, most cases of dengue fever occur very close to an individual’s home and are transmitted from the same family of mosquitoes. Findings from the study were published in the March... Read More »Interpol holds training course on identifying falsified, stolen travel documents in Thailand
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held a three-day training course in Thailand, which discussed various ways law enforcement entities can identify individuals who use forged travel documents. Participants included law enforcement officials, immigration agents,... Read More »
OPCW Director-General delivers keynote address at the international symposium on toxic substances in Singapore
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü recently paid an official visit to Singapore, where he gave the keynote address at the Singapore International Symposium on Protection Against Toxic Substances. In his address, Üzümcü touched on... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to interdict illicit fentanyl entering the United States
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently introduced the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act, which aims to reduce the flow of illicit fentanyl coming into the United States. Cosponsors of the bill include... Read More »
CBP AMO crews intercept two vessels carrying nearly 3,000 pounds of cocaine
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) recently intercepted two vessels carrying more than 2,900 pounds of cocaine traveling in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. “This latest seizure provides a glimpse of the vigilance our experienced aircrews exhibit when... Read More »
Tester calls for enhanced security presence along northern US border
During a Senate Homeland Security Committee Hearing this week, U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) received support from U.S. Border Patrol for enhancing security along the northern U.S. border with Canada. The hearing comes in the wake of President Trump’s request for 5,000 additional border agents... Read More »Sens. Markey, Blumenthal reintroduce bills to address vehicular cybersecurity vulnerabilities
U.S. Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) recently reintroduced two bills aimed at improving cybersecurity standards for both cars and aircraft. The first bill, the Security and Privacy in Your Car (SPY Car) Act, would direct both the National Highway Traffic Safety... Read More »
Dept. of Defense aims countermeasures at WMD, synthetic biological threats
The United States must prepare for surprise attacks at home and abroad from traditional weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and from the new, emerging and largely unknown consequences posed by synthetic biological threats, a senior defense official told House congressional members on Thursday. ... Read More »
House advances TSA bill to address leadership issues within the agency
The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed this week the TSA Administrator Modernization Act of 2017, which seeks to address various leadership issues within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The bill was authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) and is currently... Read More »Emmons introduces bill to continue OK2SAY program for Michigan school students
Michigan State Sen. Judy Emmons (R-Sheridan)introduced a bill this week to continue the state’s OK2SAY hotline, a 24-hour confidential tip line aimed at preventing school tragedies. Emmons current bill would extend the program by repealing its designated expiration date of Oct. 1, 2017.... Read More »
Interpol holds Digital Security Challenge to simulate ransomware scenario
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently hosted a Digital Security Challenge at its Global Complex for Innovation (IGCI) in Singapore, which saw digital forensic experts and cybercrime investigators from 20 countries compete to gather evidence, identify a suspect, and... Read More »
TSA transparency in technology acquisition bill advanced by House
The U.S. House of Representatives passed this week the Transparency in Technological Acquisitions Act of 2017, which aims to increase transparency in the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) technology acquisition process in order to ensure businesses both large and small can meet the... Read More »
Neipert sworn in as new CBP Presidio port director
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) new Presidio Port Director Michael Neipert was sworn into office during a formal change of command ceremony earlier this week at the Presidio Activity Center. As the new port director, Neipert will oversee operations in combating the flow of illegal... Read More »
Tester discusses budget concerns, security interests with Defense secretary
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) held a hearing this week with Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary James Mattis regarding the President’s recently-proposed budget priorities and the nation’s economic strength. Tester brought attention to the budget’s proposed cuts to agencies that help... Read More »Reps. Hurd, McSally request information on border wall funding from Homeland Security
U.S. Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently published an oversight letter, requesting specific details regarding the Trump Administration’s $999 million request for the planning, design, and construction of the first installment of the proposed border wall between the United... Read More »
Sandia National Lab researchers develop app, low-cost device for Zika virus testing
A group of Sandia National Laboratory researchers recently developed a smartphone-controlled, battery-operated diagnostic device that can detect Zika virus, dengue fever, and chikungunya in under 30 minutes. The device costs approximately $100 and weighs under one pound. Contemporary... Read More »