Threats
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act fuel $63M investments into fuel breaks
As part of efforts to invest in America, made through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law of 2021 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $63 million in wildfire barriers, or fuel breaks, to slow wildfires and protect firefighters. “For... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation reintroduced to strengthen public-private partnerships with DHS to detect illicit drugs
In a bid to improve Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detection and interdiction capabilities for illicit drugs and their precursor chemicals, U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) reintroduced the Enhancing DHS Drug Seizures Act last week. Although the legislation was... Read More »
Justice Department details Operation SpecTor results
Justice Department officials have detailed the results of Operation SpecTor - described by authorities as a globally coordinated effort spanning three continents to disrupt dark web fentanyl and opioid trafficking. “Operation SpecTor was a coordinated international law enforcement effort,... Read More »
Legislation introduced to reauthorize funding for Project Safe Neighborhoods program
A group of lawmakers recently introduced the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act, which would reauthorize funding for the nationwide law enforcement program. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Gary Peters (D-MI), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), Thom Tillis... Read More »
New House legislation seeks mental health task force to recommend strategy for U.S. military issues
Under the Servicemembers Mental Health Improvement Act (H.R. 3011) introduced this week, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) could be required to create a mental health task force to recommend a path of address for issues facing the U.S. military. Between 2016 and 2020, the DoD reported... Read More »
Center for Health Security recommends adequately funded, authorized and targeted CDC in response to Congressional reformation queries
Following up on a request for information (RFI) from U.S. Rep. Marionette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), in which she pushed for changes at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security delivered a proposal for a well-funded, appropriately authorized and... Read More »
Rep. Clarke introduces legislation to ensure DHS climate change preparedness
U.S. Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY) has joined colleagues to introduce the Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act (H.R. 2924), which ensures the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is prepared to address climate change impacts. U.S. Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS),... Read More »
Measure seeks to enhance hazardous weather forecasting
A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced legislation seeking to improve hazardous weather forecasting that includes tornadoes. U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) recently joined seven colleagues in detailing the Tornado Observation Research Notification and Deployment to... Read More »
U.S. Chamber of Commerce gathers more than 430 business groups for LIBERTY campaign on border security, immigration
Citing recent polling that placed Republican and Democrat voters in support of strengthened border security policies and easier paths for immigration, the United States Chamber of Commerce and more than 430 business groups this week formed the LIBERTY Campaign to push for reform at the national... Read More »
Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act reintroduced in bipartisan push to address staffing shortages
A second attempt at legislation, introduced to the Senate last week, would compel the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire at least 600 additional officers per year until its staffing needs are filled. The Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act was proposed by U.S. Sens. Gary... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee votes Border Reinforcement Act forward
Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee achieved a major goal last week when they advanced the Border Reinforcement Act of 2023 (H.R. 2794) out of committee and to the House floor to revamp border security and stymie Biden administration changes. “This legislation takes a targeted... Read More »
DHS initiative seeks enhanced software supply chain
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently announced seven awards stemming from an innovative technologies topic call will enhance software supply chain visibility tools. S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) issued the... Read More »
Reintroduction of MADE in America Act pushes for domestic drug manufacturing
Looking to loosen the grip of foreign nations on the pharmaceutical supply chain and favor domestic manufacturing instead, a dozen Republican representatives reintroduced the Manufacturing API, Drugs, and Excipients (MADE) in America Act last week. “The success of United States supply chain... Read More »
Reps. Garbarino, Swalwell seek insight on CISA program office goals
U.S. Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) recently requested details regarding the new Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) program office goals. Garbarino, chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection, and Swalwell, ranking... Read More »
Briefing details effort combating civil aviation terrorist threats
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar recently briefed the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding combating global civil aviation terrorist threats. The ICAO is a United Nations agency that helps 193... Read More »
Bicameral TRANQ Research Act introduced to promote research, testing and more for Xylazine
Worried about the growing illicit use of the animal tranquilizer Xylazine, also known as Tranq, a group of senators and representatives introduced the TRANQ Research Act of 2023 this week to mandate the creation of new tests for its detection and improve understanding overall. In the Senate,... Read More »
Deployment of self-serve credential authentication tech at BWI Airport allows near real-time ID confirmation
In a move that may speed up processing, 36 credential authentication technology (CAT) units have now been deployed to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) security checkpoints at Baltimore-Washington International (BWI)/Thurgood Marshall Airport. At the least, it has increased... Read More »
TSA awards $128M contract to Idemia for new airport security checkpoint credential authentication systems
Through an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) this week awarded an agreement worth up to $128 million to Idemia Identity and Security USA, LLC to create and maintain next-generation Credential Authentication Technology... Read More »
Measure targets bolstered southern border security
U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), current member and former chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, current Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), and GOP committee members introduced the Border Reinforcement Act of 2023, which seeks to bolster southern border security. “As chairman... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee press for more details following FBI crackdown on Chinese-operated police stations in U.S.
After arrests were made in New York last week over an alleged illegal overseas police station, House Committee on Homeland Security chairs wrote to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for information on potential Chinese-operated stations nationwide.... Read More »
Bill seeks to stop fentanyl trafficking across U.S. border
U.S. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and eight colleagues are espousing the benefits of reintroducing the Stop Fentanyl Border Crossings Act. Specifically, the legislation adds drug smuggling as an additional basis for Title 42 immigration enforcement authority, preserving for... Read More »
National Nuclear Security Administration plan calls for revitalized nuclear security, stockpiles without explosive testing
In its 2023 Stockpile Stewardship and Management Plan, recently submitted to Congress, the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) called for modernization, ongoing production of warheads and plutonium pits, and better nuclear security. “The SSMP... Read More »
Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act proposes stronger violent crime laws nationwide
A new bill reintroduced to the Senate this week – the Combating Violent and Dangerous Crime Act – seeks to address what its Republican sponsors call ambiguity and conflicting application of existing mandates, strengthening violent crime laws in a number of areas. Attacks on law enforcement,... Read More »
U.S. Commerce Department advocates climate resilience funding
The U.S. Department of Commerce recently recommended $562 million in funding for projects the agency maintains would aid communities and the economy with climate change resilience. Authorities recently outlined 149 projects across 30 coastal states and territories in accordance with the... Read More »
DHS Clean Power for Hours competition seeks clean energy sourced backups for essential services
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced last week a new competition meant to tap into clean, innovative energy sources to keep essential services functioning even at times of disaster. The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) launched the Clean Power for Hours Challenge, a... Read More »
Locked Shields: NATO hosts world’s largest cyber defense exercise for 38 countries in Estonia
More than 3,000 participants from 38 countries gathered in Tallinn, Estonia, last week for the annual Locked Shields program – the world’s largest cyber defense exercise. Under their hosts, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defense Center of Excellence (CCDCOE), NATO allies and partners, and others... Read More »
Senate resolution commends Coast Guard border response
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a resolution commending the U.S. Coast Guard for border response and ability to adapt and respond to increased maritime threats. Officials said 17 lawmakers served as resolution co-sponsors, detailing Coast Guard efforts to safeguard the American people... Read More »