News
Coast Guard, MARAD reauthorization head for President Biden’s signature under FY 2023 NDAA
After being worked into the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act, and several oceans provisions are slated to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. As part of the larger... Read More »
Bill targets Latin America, Caribbean gun trafficking
U.S. Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Norma Torres (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently introduced legislation to address Latin America and Caribbean gun trafficking. The Americas Regional Monitoring... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman praise House passage of human trafficking legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are praising the House of Representatives' passage of their legislation to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act, which passed the Senate in April and now moves to President Joe Biden to be signed... Read More »
Bicameral legislation pushes for reduction in Pentagon spending, repeal of unfunded priorities list
In a rare flex against the military for the United States, a bipartisan mix of senators and representatives have introduced the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, which would repeal statutory requirements to provide unfunded priorities lists, increase oversight and reduce wasteful reporting... Read More »
Lobbying Disclosure Improvement push to increase foreign influence scrutiny advanced by Senate
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.B. 4893), introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), passed through the Senate by unanimous vote last week, bolstering efforts to increase oversight of foreign lobbying to the House. “Foreign influence in our nation’s... Read More »
IAEA report pushes for proper emergency response training and national radiological emergency plans
A new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) looked into a 2013 radiological incident in Hueypoxtla, Mexico, in which a radioactive source was stolen, and used the incident as a sign that security and law enforcement needs to be trained en masse in radiological protection and... Read More »
North Carolina fire department orders all-electric fire truck
The Charlotte, N.C., Fire Department recently announced that it has ordered an all-electric Vector fire truck, expected to be the first-of-its-kind operating in the state. The order was placed with fire apparatus manufacturer Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc. “We... Read More »
Randomized trials of three Ebola vaccine strategies for adults, children dub regimens safe
In two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of three Ebola vaccine administration regimens for adults and children, the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination (PREVAC) recently published results concluding that all regimens were safe and effective. Vaccine candidates included Ad26.ZEBOV,... Read More »
FBI, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities sign agreement to encourage more cooperative activities
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) recently detailed the benefits of a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) that encourages more cooperative activities. “I am honored to sign this agreement on behalf of the FBI... Read More »
DHS touts customer experience improvements
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are espousing the benefits of a series of initiatives the agency said has resulted in customer experience improvements. “Through the talent and dedication of the Department’s employees, we have made significant progress modernizing our delivery... Read More »
Northrop Grumman eyes bolstered hypersonics manufacturing technology
Global security technology company Northrop Grumman has secured an 8.8 million Air Force contract to enhance the firm's hypersonics manufacturing technology initiatives. Authorities indicated the funding allotment is via the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Manufacturing and Industrial... Read More »
NIH identifies new funding in support of Valley Fever vaccine research, development
Following up on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Notice of Special Interest from November that sought support for research into a Valley Fever vaccine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that additional funding avenues have been... Read More »
Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act heads to President Biden to become law
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R.7535) crossed its final legislative hurdle this week after a positive vote in the United States House, setting up its provisions for enhancing national cybersecurity to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill was introduced in... Read More »
Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act seeks increased scrutiny of foreign owners of U.S. agricultural land
Through the introduction of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act to the House this week, U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), along with nine other Republicans, seek to increase oversight of foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land. To do otherwise, they... Read More »
FBI releases 2021 hate crime statistics through Uniform Crime Reporting Program
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, has released 2021 hate crime statistics. The data was submitted by 11,834 law enforcement agencies providing information about offenses, victims, offenders, and hate crime locations. According to... Read More »
DHS, DOL outline additional H-2B Visa availability
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials noted the agencies are issuing a temporary final rulemaking 64,716 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas available. The action applies to temporary nonagricultural workers for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The... Read More »
Lockheed Martin details Artemis I mission conclusion following Orion spacecraft return
Lockheed Martin has detailed a successful conclusion of NASA’s Artemis I mission by the Orion spacecraft splashdown and recovery. Per Lockheed Martin, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, Orion spacecraft, and Exploration Ground Systems (EGS) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center performed... Read More »
Legislation seeks to provide premium-free healthcare for National Guard, Reserve members
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) recently introduced the Healthcare for Our Troops Act, which seeks to provide premium-free medical insurance coverage for National Guard and Reserve members. The legislation would provide premium-free, zero cost-sharing medical coverage... Read More »
National security updates en route as Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act passes Congress
Following its passage from the Senate last week, the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act officially navigated both chambers of Congress, setting up changes to national security through new quantum computer defenses if signed into law by President Joe Biden. The bill (H.R.7535) was... Read More »
Coast Guard, MARAD Reauthorization bills included in NDAA bill for 2023
Both the Coast Guard Authorization Act and U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act have been added to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) of 2023, increasing their odds of passage and the chance for new maritime funding. The NDAA advanced through the House last week... Read More »
New Senate report criticizes significant failures in initial federal COVID-19 response, pandemic preparedness
Following a two-year investigation by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, a new report detailed significant failures in the federal government’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic and overall preparedness. Released... Read More »
House advances $847.3B National Defense Authorization Act to Senate
With a vote of 350-80, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 (H.R. 7776) advanced out of the House last week, setting it up for further debate in the Senate. "For the sixty-second consecutive year, Members of Congress have crossed party lines to deliver a defense... Read More »
Sen. Padilla applauds passage of FIRE Act
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently touted the passage of his legislation, the FEMA Improvement, Reform, and Efficiency (FIRE) Act, which now heads to the president's desk for signature. The measure was co-sponsored by six Senate colleagues and is designed to strengthen Federal Emergency... Read More »
Bicameral legislators advocate global moratorium on anti-satellite missile tests
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) joined U.S. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and seven colleagues to introduce a resolution supporting the Biden administration's efforts to establish a global anti-satellite missile tests moratorium. “Destructive anti-satellite missile tests create large amounts of space... Read More »
S&T, CISA co-develop new test environments for transportation security technologies
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are testing out new technologies and tools to protect transportation infrastructure both online and off. Like most things today, that... Read More »
FY 2023 NDAA includes 16 Portman measures
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) announced this week that 16 of his key priorities have been included in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). “I’m pleased to announce that several of my initiatives to further protect our homeland have been included in the FY 2023... Read More »
Legislation to make permanent FEMA’s online National Risk Index tool passes Congress
President Joe Biden is expected to sign newly advanced legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) this week, making the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) permanent and advancing how government invests in disaster mitigation projects... Read More »
Lawmakers request Twitter insight regarding PRC social media influence
U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jackie Speier (D-CA), members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, recently forwarded correspondence to Twitter CEO Elon Musk regarding insight into People’s Republic of China (PRC) social media influence. The... Read More »
CEPI extends VBI Vaccines partnership for development of multivalent coronavirus vaccine
A partnership between VBI Vaccines Inc. and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) expanded this week with a new development agreement seeking the development of multivalent coronavirus shots for use against multiple coronavirus threats. Based on VBI’s proprietary enveloped... Read More »
DHS to launch series of challenges in search of new remote identity validation technologies to fight fraud
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced a series of technology challenges for 2023 to spur commercial identity validation technologies to counter identity fraud when users apply for various services. Potentially, this could help reduce... Read More »
U.S. officials to lead Dubai arson investigation training program
U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) and National Fire Academy (NFA) officials are espousing the benefits of the U.S. Arson Investigation Training program in Dubai slated for launch in 2023. As a means of preparing for the program's formal launch, authorities noted U.S. Fire Administrator Lori... Read More »
Sarcos Defense secures Army robotic solution testing contract
The Army Applications Laboratory, U.S. Army Futures Command has awarded Sarcos Defense a $1 million contract earmarked for testing a robotic solution Sarcos developed for ammunition handling and maneuvering. The Sarcos robotic ammunition handling solution utilizes a dexterous robotic arm... Read More »
Rocket Lab USA initiates national security subsidiary
Launch and space systems company Rocket Lab USA has created Rocket Lab National Security LLC (RLNS), a subsidiary the firm said would serve the defense and intelligence community. RLNS is slated to deliver reliable launch services and space systems capabilities to the domestic government and its... Read More »
DHS pushes back REAL ID full enforcement deadline another two years
The deadline for enforcement of the federal REAL ID requirements looks to be delayed again after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced its intention this week to push it back to May 7, 2025, to give states more time to meet requirements. “DHS continues to work closely with... Read More »