News from May 2023
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 & 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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
Secret Service and CISA Release Toolkit for K-12 Schools to Strengthen School Safety Reporting Programs
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: Joint toolkit includes action-oriented guidance, self-assessment worksheets, reference resources, and useful checklists
Over $8.1 Million Obligated to Repair Roads Damaged by Fiona
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: San Juan, Puerto Rico - Over $8.1 million were obligated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair roads and bridges damaged by Fiona in Humacao, Jayuya, Las Piedras, Mayagüez, Patillas and Yauco. Among the permanent projects are the Los Pilones Road in Mayagüez and Puente Gladys, in Barrio Guardarraya, Patillas that have completed their construction.
CISA Launches the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announces the launch of the SAFECOM Nationwide Survey (SNS). The SNS provides critical data on federal, state, local, tribal and territorial emergency communications capabilities and gaps. Results from the survey will impact the future of emergency...
Hours to Change at Disaster Recovery Centers on June 1
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: OKLAHOMA CITY - FEMA and the State of Oklahoma Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) in Cleveland, McClain, Pottawatomie counties will begin new hours of operation on Thursday, June 1.
FEMA Awards Over $1 Million to New Haven for Wind Proofing Water Treatment Plant
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: BOSTON - The Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending more than $1 million to the State of Connecticut to reimburse New Haven’s regional water utility for part of the cost of strengthening its treatment plant against future storms.
DHS Improves Customer Experience by Simplifying Services Used by the Public
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that it has reduced the total amount of time the public spends accessing DHS services by 20 million hours annually, a goal set by Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas in 2022 to build a more equitable and accessible experience for DHS ...
California Man Pleads Guilty in Identity Theft and Fraud Scheme
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: RICHMOND, Va. A Los Angeles, California, man pleaded guilty today to fraud and identity theft charges in connection with stealing the identity of the owner of a Richmond auto shop, Lotsey & Hardy Tire Company.
FEMA Approves $3.46 Million for Hurricane Ian Debris Removal in Sarasota
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: LAKE MARY, Fla. - FEMA Public Assistance has approved a grant totaling $3,465,179 to reimburse the City of Sarasota for debris removal expenses after Hurricane Ian.
FEMA Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Changes to Increase Funding Access, Reduce Disaster Risk for Vulnerable Communities
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON -- FEMA has published a notice in the Federal Register seeking comment on how to apply new legislation that will designate areas where communities are most at risk to natural hazards.
Hundreds of Federal Personnel on the Ground in Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Supporting Recovery Efforts Following Typhoon Mawar
By Homeland Newswire | May 31, 2023
News Release: WASHINGTON -- Hundreds of personnel from federal agencies and voluntary organizations are in Guam supporting the ongoing response and recovery efforts from Typhoon Mawar. FEMA continues working with local, territorial, federal, nonprofit organizations and private sector partners to get essential services reopened and operational.