Transportation
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled a new Trusted Traveler comparison tool, which helps prospective DHS Trusted Traveler applicants find programs that best matches their citizenship and travel preferences.
DHS Trusted Traveler programs allow low-risk travelers to... Read More »
In the wake of a recent decision to ban personal electronic devices (PEDs) larger than a cell phone in passenger cabins of select international commercial flights, the Flight Safety Foundation urged caution to United States legal authorities regarding the risks associated with lithium ion batteries... Read More »
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators recently reintroduced the Surface Transportation and Maritime Security Act, which seeks to address concerns regarding the safety of the nation’s rail, transit, highway, and maritime passenger and freight transportation infrastructure.
The group includes... Read More »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
Democrats serving on the House Committee on Homeland Security recently appointed its members to the committee’s Task Force on Denying Terrorists Entry into the United States.
Democratic members on the temporary panel include U.S. Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), vice ranking member of the... Read More »
According to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, more actions are needed from federal agencies to strengthen transportation security for risk-significant radioactive materials during ground transport.
GAO was originally asked to review federal procedures over risk-significant... Read More »
The U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday marked up a bill that requires a stress test of various U.S. government protection and prevention programs against potential terrorist attacks.
The Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel Exercise Act of 2017 was introduced by U.S. Rep.... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) introduced this week the Strengthening Oversight of TSA Employee Misconduct Act, which requires senior Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials to oversee the review of disciplinary actions given in response to employee misconduct.
Under current rules,... Read More »
AM General, a manufacturer of military, commercial and consumer vehicles, recently received a $1.4 million Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund to support a $9.5 million capital investment, and the creation of 55 new jobs in Auburn Hills.... Read More »
Civil Liberties Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted for stronger entry protections and a shorter retention period for traveler data stored in the new European Union (EU) entry/exit system, which aims to modernize checks on non-EU nationals traveling to EU member countries.
The move... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently installed the new advanced imaging technology (AIT) system at the Erie International Airport, providing an enhanced layer of security for passengers.
The “state-of-the-art” AIT machine combines new automated target recognition... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced the indictment of 12 current and former TSA and airport employees for smuggling approximately 20 tons of cocaine through TSA security systems at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz International Airport between 1998 and 2016.
The... Read More »
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security recently released a report on America’s airports that detailed how inconsistencies in aviation security continue to pose a threat to the public in the fight against terrorism.
The report, titled America’s Airports: The Threat From Within, is the... Read More »
Sen. Steve Daines publicly urged last week the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to accept non-REAL ID compliant licenses when implementing third class medical reform.
Passed by Congress and signed into law in 2005, the REAL ID Act set specific requirements for state driver’s licenses and... Read More »
Greater coordination is needed between the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), transportation security officers, and private security technology stakeholders to combat long wait times for travelers at the nation’s airports, a group of industry experts said on Thursday.
The House... Read More »
Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma returned to its homeport on Friday after completing a 49-day operation in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea, where it conducted a series of drug interdiction efforts.
The crew’s operations centered on strategically intercepting and boarding suspected... Read More »
In order to stay one step ahead of potential emergencies, the Houston Airport System has begun utilizing a new 40-foot mobile incident command vehicle equipped with cutting-edge technology to improve public safety.
The three airports in the Houston area form one of the largest airport systems in... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently began posting notices at airports to inform travelers that the agency will begin enforcing REAL ID requirements at airport security checkpoints beginning in Jan. 2018.
The REAL ID program stipulates that any traveler suing their... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Earl L. Carter (R-GA) on Monday introduced the TSA Screening Transparency and Accountability Act, which will analyze cost effectiveness, efficiency and customer satisfaction of the screening partnership program (SPP) compared to the screening procedures of the Transportation Security... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) said efforts by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to possibly expand preclearance operations to 11 new foreign airports would bolster border security.
Last week’s preclearance announcement by DHS aims to support the... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized more than $17,000, along with a fraudulent permanent resident identity card and a fraudulent social security card from a 54-year old woman at the Washington-Dulles International Airport.
The woman arrived into the United States... Read More »
A group of legislators recently urged Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Jeh Johnson to ensure enhanced due process protections for individuals placed on the No Fly List.
U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ted Poe (R-TX) and Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) requested further clarification on the... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives passed six bipartisan bills on Tuesday to enhance national security efforts within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“I commend the work of my committee on the passage of these important pieces of legislation which seek to provide necessary... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed two homeland security-related bills introduced by U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) with a bipartisan voice vote.
“Your government’s chief responsibility is to protect you and your family from attack,” Donovan said. “Last weekend’s bombings... Read More »
Germany’s Procurement Agency of the Federal Ministry of the Interior recently contracted Smiths Detection to provide baggage-screening equipment for the German Federal Police at the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport.
The HI-SCAN 10080 XCT system utilizes a high-resolution x-ray scanner, computed... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives on Monday passed the Securing Our Agriculture and Food Act, H.R. 5346, which included an amendment introduced by U.S. Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ).
Payne, Jr.’s amendment seeks to enhance coordination among U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) introduced the Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility Act, H.R.5943, on Thursday to improve the ability of transit agencies to prevent and respond to terror attacks.
Donovan said that his bill will give flexibility to the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP),... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY) called for a hearing on Wednesday to investigate emergency preparedness and response procedures at multiple American airports in the wake of incidents in New York and Los Angeles.
Rice’s call to action follows an Aug. 14 incident at John F. Kennedy International... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) applauded U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) on Wednesday for introducing the Cuban Airport Security Act in the Senate.
“I welcome the support of Senators Rubio and Menendez on the issue of the safety and security of Americans traveling to... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) expressed concern on Wednesday about resumed commercial flights to Cuba.
“Recent tragedies have shown us that insider threats to aviation are real, and it is clear that the U.S. government currently lacks sufficient information to ensure that Cuban airports are not... Read More »
