Threats
Bipartisan bill seeks investigation, plans for pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities
In introducing the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Risk Assessment Act last week, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) proposed an assessment of pharmaceutical supply chain vulnerabilities and toeing plans to reduce reliance on foreign manufacturing. The issue is a long-running one,... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $200,000 to AI startup for object tracking algorithm
As a means of tracking objects from the time they enter a location to when they exit, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently awarded $199,500 to a startup called Analytical AI for a new AI algorithm. Under the Security Soft Targets... Read More »
Senate advances simplified disaster assistance process
U.S. Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently commended Senate approval of legislation that would simplify the disaster assistance process. The Disaster Assistance Deadlines Alignment Act would establish one application deadline for two Federal Emergency... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee advances bill to improve DHS approaches to countering WMDs, health threats
The Offices of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction and Health Security Act, authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), advanced out of committee this week, clearing the first hurdle to reauthorizing and jumpstarting new efforts at the Department of Homeland... Read More »
Legislation seeks Chinese drone prohibition
A group of lawmakers have introduced legislation designed to prevent the federal, state and local governments from using taxpayer dollars to purchase drones manufactured in nations that include China. U.S. Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Max Miller... Read More »
Bill examines Iranian uranium production, possession
U.S. Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are espousing the benefits of legislation they have introduced to monitor highly enriched Iranian uranium production and possession. The Iranian Enrichment Monitoring Act of 2023 would require the Director of... Read More »
DoD, Indiana National Guard successfully conclude first joint Technology Readiness Experimentation
This week at Camp Atterbury, Ind., the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and the Indiana National Guard successfully deployed six technologies as part of a Technology Readiness Experimentation event. This event was the first of... Read More »
Measure offers agriculture disease outbreak export protections
U.S. Reps. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) recently introduced legislation that would enable animal products from unaffected areas to continue to be safely exported in the event of an animal disease outbreak. The Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act would structure the United... Read More »
House committee leaders question CISA over chemical facility security, CFATS program
With the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program approaching its sunset date, House committee leaders reached out to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly this week seeking information on its status and potential renewal. Barring further... Read More »
DARPA initiative targets battlefield-ready anesthetics
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched an initiative that targets safe, battlefield-ready anesthetics. The Anesthetics for Battlefield Care (ABC) program is a fundamental research effort seeking the production of anesthetics reducing trauma associated with injury... Read More »
Reintroduced legislation seeks stiffer penalties for criminals who steal from federally licensed gun dealers
Through new legislation led by U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a total of 23 Republican senators are pushing to inflict greater penalties on those who steal firearms from federally licensed gun dealers and dissuade others from trying. The Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) Protection Act has been... Read More »
TSA opens Nevada training academy
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently opened the TSA Academy West in Las Vegas, Nev., with a ribbon cutting event attended by TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “The TSA Academy West expands our ability to train our new officers in an airport environment and provides them... Read More »
DHS details Faith-Based Security Advisory Council session
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel detailed a recent Faith-Based Security Advisory Council (FBSAC) session focused on efforts to support faith communities nationwide regarding security and preparedness. During the meeting, DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Deputy... Read More »
Reps. Moore, Kuster reintroduce resolution backing J-1 visas through BridgeUSA
In support of the American tourism industry, cultural diversity and workforce needs, U.S. Reps. Blake Moore (R-UT) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) reintroduced a resolution expressing support for BridgeUSA programs. As a resolution, it’s a nonbinding effort, but rather, is meant to express... Read More »
Sen. Rubio asks federal agencies to bar members of Extinction Rebellion from U.S. soil
European climate activists earned the ire of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) this week over reported plans to bring their protests of fossil fuels across the ocean. In a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro... Read More »
Measure seeks to bolster enhanced wildland firefighter recruitment
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) joined 10 colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs regarding wildland firefighter recruitment and retention. "We urge the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Lankford introduce legislation to improve cybersecurity partnerships between U.S., international partners
With the introduction of the DHS International Cyber Partner Act this week, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and James Lankford (R-OK) sought to boost cybersecurity assistance partnerships between the United States and its partners and allies abroad. “Cyber-attacks against networks around the... Read More »
GAO issues DOD missile defense system oversight recommendations
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) a pair of recommendations to improve missile system sustainment and readiness oversight. The GAO noted the DOD's Missile Defense Agency (MDA) develops systems to detect attacks and track, intercept and... Read More »
Non-Intrusive Inspection Expansion Act reintroduced to increase screening of vehicles, cargo
In a bid to increase screening of vehicles and cargo at U.S. ports of entry, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced their Non-Intrusive Inspection Expansion Act this week. Generally, the bill would require U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to increase use of... Read More »
DHS resource aids tribal gaming, hospitality industry
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are espousing the benefits of a newly released human trafficking awareness toolkit the agency noted is tailored to tribal gaming and hospitality professionals. The Human Trafficking Response Guide for the Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Industry... Read More »
Bill targets increased cybersecurity awareness
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently introduced legislation that would increase Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) community outreach regarding efforts to offer cyberattack protections. Specifically, the Cybersecurity Awareness Act would direct the Cybersecurity... Read More »
Unlawful entries along Southwest Border down more than 70 percent since Title 42 health order lifted
Despite significant concerns in the lead up to lifting of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC’s) Title 42 public health order in May, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this week that unlawful entries between ports of entry have fallen more than 70 percent... Read More »
Northrop Grumman touts FAAD C2 capabilities
Aerospace company Northrop Grumman is touting the Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control (FAAD C2) system's air and missile defense interoperability among Baltic states, NATO, and U.S. forces. “FAAD C2 will enable the Baltic region forces to make faster, better-informed decisions to... Read More »
Philadelphia Border Patrol officers seize nearly $15M of counterfeit currency
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officers based in Philadelphia seized four massive loads of counterfeit currency last month, raking in a combined total of $14,368,160 in various denominations of fake U.S. currency. “Law enforcement knows that counterfeit and fictitious bank notes have been... Read More »
Imported, disposable e-cigarettes are a vaping disaster for America’s youth, experts say
Congressional lawmakers who have called for a ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on imported flavored disposable e-cigarettes from China and other countries hope they’re getting closer to having their request met. There’s been recent activity at the FDA, which has issued... Read More »
Lawmakers seek extended support for state medical supplies with introduction of State Strategic Stockpile Act
In a bid to extend authorization of and funding for a program supporting state-developed stockpiles of critical drugs, vaccines and other medical supplies, U.S. Reps. Early Carter (R-GA) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) introduced the State Strategic Stockpile Act (H.R. 3631) last week. Such... Read More »
Senators press FAA to finalize Saracini Aviation Safety Act, counter airplane hijacking after years of inaction
More than two years after a mandated deadline, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Ed Markey (D-MA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) wrote to federal officials last week urging implementation of the Saracini Aviation Safety Act of 2018 that required secondary cockpit barriers for new commercial aircraft. The... Read More »
Defense Department to host Climate Resilience Workshop
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have outlined the 2023 DOD Climate Resilience Workshop slated for July 10-13 in St. Louis, Mo. The effort is in conjunction with the DOD's Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations, and Environment, providing a forum for DOD... Read More »
DHS debuts National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) finished building and commissioning a first of its kind National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Kansas last month, opening the doors of the only U.S. lab with biosafety level-4 containment capable of housing large livestock. Supported by... Read More »
Measure seeks to enhance rural emergency medical services
A group of legislators are espousing the benefits of legislation that would bolster rural access to emergency air medical services critical to saving lives. U.S. Reps. Ron Estes (R-KS) and Suzan DelBene (D-WA) recently joined U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to... Read More »
Senate legislation reintroduced to improve training for VA personnel handling PTSD claims
Through reintroduction of the VA Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Processing Claims Improvement Act, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) seek to spur better training for staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) tasked with handling post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)... Read More »
Thousands of pounds of fentanyl and narcotics seized, hundreds arrested in latest DHS operations
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ran two counter-drug operations over the course of the last two months in Arizona and southern California – Operations Blue Lotus and Four Horsemen – and results can be measured in thousands of pounds of illicit substances seized. While focused... Read More »
FEMA encouraging hurricane season preparedness
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials are encouraging Puerto Rico residents to get their families and property prepared for hurricane season. “Getting ready for hurricane season should be a routine to residents in the Caribbean area, since it only takes one weather event to... Read More »
Newly introduced Know Your App Act would require online app stores to display origin details
A reckoning of transparency put online app stores firmly in its sights this week, with the introduction of the Know Your App Act in the Senate. Its backers, which included U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC), Roger Wicker (R-MS) and James Lankford (R-OK), pitched the bill as one meant to better protect... Read More »