Homeland Newswire Report News
Hearing Confirms CCP Threat to U.S. Intellectual Property, Critical Infrastructure
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
This week, the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, led by Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX), held a hearing to assess the U.S. homeland’s vulnerabilities to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression, featuring testimony from Iranga Kahangama, the Assistant Secretary for Cyber, Infrastructure, Risk and Resilience at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS); Tyrone Durham, the Acting Director of the Nation State Threats Center at DHS; and Jill Murphy, the Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Their written testimony can be found here. Read highlights of the hearing below.
Homeland Republicans Probe Admin Handling of Afghan, Pakistani Nationals on Terrorist Watchlist Crossing Southwest Border
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
This week, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX), and Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement Chairman Clay Higgins (R-LA) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Christopher Wray investigating the reported arrests of an Afghan national and a Pakistani national on the FBI’s Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB), who were apprehended illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on May 10 and May 12, 2023, respectively
Homeland Security Republicans Request Admin Briefing on Threats Posed by CCP to ICT Supply Chain
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Today, House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Protection Chairman Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) sent a letter to Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly requesting a briefing on the threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to the information and communications technology (ICT) supply chain. Specifically, the letter requests more information regarding CISA’s efforts through the Federal Acquisition Security Council (FASC) to protect against the CCP’s use of source code in infiltrating and maintaining access to ICT supply chains. Today’s letter follows previous letters by Members of the Committee regarding threats posed to the U.S. ICT supply chain and preceded a Subcommittee hearing today on the CCP’s numerous threats to the homeland, featuring testimony from government witnesses.
Pfluger: We Must Confront The CCP’s “Grave Security Threat” to the Homeland Together
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Today, Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Chairman August Pfluger (R-TX) delivered the following opening remarks in a hearing to assess the U.S. homeland’s vulnerabilities to Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression.
Chairmen Green, Comer, Jordan Investigate Biden Admin’s Handling of Suspected Terrorists Crossing U.S.-Mexico Border
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Today, House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark E. Green, MD (R-TN), Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY), and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas investigating how DHS is handling the elevated national security risk presented by an increasing number of known or suspected terrorists illegally crossing our Southwest border, which has risen to 96 encounters this fiscal year alone. In a letter, the Committee chairs seek documents and information, including the alien files of those apprehended on the border with terrorist ties.
NEWSLETTER: What We’ve Learned From Law Enforcement This Year
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
As the end of National Police Week nears, the House Committee on Homeland Security gives our sincerest gratitude to the men and women of law enforcement who have generously shared their time, expertise, and firsthand experiences with the Committee Members and staff. In addition to the below activity, Homeland Security Republicans are grateful to have received numerous briefings and staff site visits with law enforcement personnel. Our homeland is safer because of their courage and dedication to public service.
Committee Passes Peters & Collins Bipartisan Bill To Improve Efficiency Of The Legislative Process
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) to provide the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) with timely access to information they need to complete reports on the budgetary impacts of legislation has advanced in the Senate
Peters & Hawley Bipartisan Bill To Expand Mental Health Support For Dhs Law Enforcement Advances In Senate
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to increase mental health resources for law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has advanced in the Senate.
Peters & Cassidy Bipartisan Bill To Save Taxpayer Dollars By Improving How Federal Agencies Purchase Software Advances In Senate
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) to save taxpayer dollars by improving management of how the federal government purchases and uses software has advanced in the Senate.
Committee Advances Peters & Hawley Bipartisan Bill To Correct Retirement Error For Customs And Border Protection Officers
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to ensure U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers (CBPOs) can receive the retirement benefits they were promised when starting their service has advanced in the Senate.
Peters, Cornyn & Padilla Bipartisan Legislation To Strengthen Federal Workforce And Delivery Of Government Services Advances In Senate
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) to authorize Federal Executive Boards (FEBs), which help improve collaboration among federal agency offices located outside of Washington, D.C., has advanced in the Senate
Peters Statement On New Postal Service Performance Website
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the United States Postal Service launched a new website for the public that shows mail delivery performance in every community across the nation. The performance dashboard website was required by a historic law Peters championed last year to place the Postal Service on a more sustainable financial footing and support the goal of providing long-term reliable service across the country:
Committee Passes Peters & Hawley Bipartisan Bill To Bolster Dhs Efforts To Detect And Seize Illicit Drugs
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) to ensure that the Department of the Homeland Security (DHS) is efficiently using existing resources and expanding available tools to stop the flow of deadly and illicit drugs like fentanyl into our nation has advanced in the Senate.
St. Joseph Woman Pleads Guilty to Using Prison Inmates in Covid Fraud Scheme
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
A St. Joseph, Mo., woman pleaded guilty in federal court today to using the stolen identities of prison inmates to fraudulently obtain federal unemployment benefits under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Former Board Member of Connecticut Energy Cooperative Sentenced to Prison for Misusing Funds
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney, for the District of Connecticut, announced that JOHN BILDA, 59, former City of Norwich representative on the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”) Board of Directors, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to six months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for misusing CMEEC funds
U.S. Resolves Civil Claims Against Medical Device Manufacturer for Falsely Claiming that Chinese Components Sold to the Federal Government Were American Made
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
The United States has resolved civil claims against a Massachusetts medical device manufacturer for selling Chinese-made products to the federal government that were required by law to have been made in America, announced United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha.
Former CEO of Connecticut Energy Cooperative Sentenced to Prison for Misusing Funds
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney, for the District of Connecticut, announced that DREW RANKIN, 62, the former chief executive officer of the Connecticut Municipal Electric Energy Corporation (“CMEEC”), was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to 12 months of imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release, for misusing CMEEC funds.
Spokane Resident Sentenced to 6 Months for COVID-19 Relief Fraud
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Vanessa R. Waldref, the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced today that Natasha Ann Opsal, 41, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced to 6 months in federal prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $50,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. United States District Judge Thomas Rice announced the sentence, the most recent obtained by the COVID-19 Relief Fraud Strike Force.
Waterbury Man Admits Theft of Pandemic Unemployment Benefits
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
Vanessa Roberts Avery, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, today announced that OLAJUWON HARRINGTON, also known as “OJ Harrington” 31, of Waterbury, waived his right to be indicted and pleaded guilty yesterday before U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams in Hartford to a fraud offense related to his theft of pandemic unemployment benefits.
U.S. Border Patrol Agent Charged with Attempting to Distribute Methamphetamine and Receiving Bribes
By Homeland Newswire Report | May 31, 2023
U.S. Border Patrol Agent Hector Hernandez made his initial appearance in federal court today on charges that he agreed to accept $25,000 in bribes to distribute methamphetamine and to open a restricted border gate to allow unauthorized migrants to illegally enter the United States.