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• Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network Airlines and Regional Airlines: Hearing before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, August 6, 2009 [video]

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  This recorded video feed is from the August 6, 2009 hearing, "Aviation Safety: The Relationship Between Network Airlines and Regional Airlines," before the U.S. Senate, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security. From John D. Rockefeller's opening statement, "The crash of Flight 3407 outside Buffalo, New York, in which 50 people lost their lives, serves as a tragic reminder that the aviation industry and the federal government must work vigilantly to maintain the safety of the air transportation system. This Committee recently held two hearings examining the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) oversight of the airlines and each carrier's role in guaranteeing the safety of its own operations. This hearing will focus on the relationship between the major, or network, airlines and their regional airline partners." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John D. Rockefeller, IV, Committee Chairman; Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ranking Member; Philip H. Trenary, President and Chief Executive Officer, Pinnacle Airlines Corp.; Peter Bowler, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Eagle Airlines; Captain Don Gunther, Vice President for Safety, Continental Airlines, Inc.; and Captain Stephen M. Dickson, Senior Vice President Flight Operations, Delta Air Lines, Inc.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

  2009-08-06
• NASA: Hurricanes/Tropical Cyclones

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  This is a webpage of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) which provides the latest information (images and data) on hurricanes and tropical cyclones.

  United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
• Federal Civil Defense Administration Annual Report for 1955

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  "The close of 1954 found the Federal Civil Defense Administration engaged in revamping its basic concepts, policies, and techniques of defense. The advent of the thermonuclear weapon, with its terrifically augmented power of destruction and dangerous fallout, capable of reaching hundreds of miles from a target area, brought virtually the entire country into the civil defense picture and called for wholesale revision of Federal, State, and local civil defense planning. The year 1955 was mainly given to this task. At the close of it the Administrator summarized the Agency's position and progress as follows: Some of the important components of the national security policy of the United States are: skillful diplomacy, a high degree of military preparedness, and a civil defense program for every segment of our population, from the residents of the Capital City to the citizens of the smallest township. The civil defense role in national security planning is indispensable. In this age of terrible new weapons, a major deterrent to a potential aggressor will be precisely those programs that this Nation develops to defend its population. It seems logical that an enemy's temptation to attack the United States will shrink in proportion to the advance measures the Nation adopts to keep the greater part of its population alive during and after an attack. The FCDA is working to develop a civil defense program so capable of protecting millions of people in time of danger that it will also help to convince a potential aggressor of the futility of attempting to destroy the Nation."

  United States. Federal Civil Defense Administration

  1955
• Role of the Social and Behavioral Sciences in National Security: Hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities and the Science and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, April 24, 2008 [video]

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  This recorded video feed is from the April 24, 2008 hearing, "Role of the Social and Behavioral Sciences in National Security," before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee joint with the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education of the Science and Technology Committee. From Adam Smith's opening statement: "Our subcommittees hope to learn from our panel today of the potential offered by social and behavioral sciences for improving our understanding of our enemies and their local contexts so that we can increasingly deny terrorists the base of support and the freedom to operate in a given region. In addition, we'd like to hear from the panel their thoughts as to how we coordinate and leverage investments in social and behavioral sciences across government agencies. Overall, I hope to learn more from you about how we use our investments in social and behavioral sciences to improve our approach to national security." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Terrorism Subcommittee Chairman Adam Smith; Research Subcommittee Chairman, Brian Baird; Colonel Martin Schweitzer, USA, Commander, 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg; André van Tilborg, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Science and Technology), Department of Defense; Mark Weiss, Director, Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, National Science Foundation; David R. Segal, Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology (2007-2011); United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services

  2008-04-24
• Federal Civil Defense Administration Annual Report for 1954

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  "Many significant things which affect civil defense have happened in the world in the year since the Federal Civil Defense Administration last reported to the President and the Congress of the United States on our Nation's civil defense. This is a report on the state of civil defense readiness of the Nation. It is not a report on the Federal Civil Defense Administration alone but rather a summary of the evidence that we at FCDA have of the progress and deficiencies of civil defense at all levels. While we are all justified in looking back over the past year and checking off some solid accomplishments, we should not mistake the progress that has been made for the completion of the job of civil defense. We have a long difficult road to travel, perhaps longer and more difficult than could have been anticipated at the beginning of the year, before we can feel confident that our civil defense is adequate. Here are a few accomplishments of 1954, in no particular order of importance: We staged the first continental alert in history. This was one of the finest examples of teamwork on the part of local, State, and Federal people, together with our friends north of the border, that I know of. The Washington Conference of Governors, followed by one for the Mayors in December, produced an awareness of civil defense problems among the State and municipal leaders of America and support for our objectives greater than we have ever before enjoyed."

  United States. Federal Civil Defense Administration

  1954
• Federal Civil Defense Administration Annual Report for 1953

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  "The progress of Civil Defense at Federal, State and local levels during 1953 should be assessed against the momentous events of the year. When the new administration took office, it was an accepted fact that the United States had not had a monopoly on atomic weapons since 1949. However, there had been no recent confirmations of actual atomic tests by the Russians. The British were known to be proceeding independently with the development of atomic weapons and the study of their effects. No other nation had engineered a successful atomic explosion. There had been some rumored reports of successful American experiments with a hydrogen device in the Pacific. As the new year began, however, these had not been confirmed officially by either the Atomic Energy Commission or the Department of Defense. A statement released by the AEC on November 10, 1952, had said only, '...the test program included experiments contributing to thermonuclear weapons research'. A series of atomic tests was being readied at Yucca Flats in Nevada. An important feature of these tests was to be the measurement of a number of damage effects important to Civil Defense. Then, on March 17, 1953, the entire Nation witnessed-on live television and newsreel films-the detonation of an actual atomic bomb and its effects on sample American homes, cars, and house furnishings. Department store mannequins represented live men, women, and children in this graphic demonstration. Thus, for the first time, Americans everywhere were able to see for themselves both the tremendous explosive power of such a bomb, and the actual tests of shelter precautions which could increase their personal chances for survival in an atomic attack."

  United States. Federal Civil Defense Administration

  1953
• Federal Civil Defense Administration Annual Report for 1952

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  "This progress report on Federal Civil Defense Administration and the national Civil Defense program during 1952 is one about which reasonable men may honestly differ. Some will read it with real satisfaction in comparing our current state of readiness with that of just one year ago. Others, contrasting our present state of civilian readiness with what would be required in the event of all-out attack on this country with new and more powerful weapons, will take this report as reason for justified alarm. Civil Defense has made real progress despite its newness, lack of funds, and other handicaps. Yet, those who live with Civil Defense are acutely aware of how much more remains to be done before America has the kind of civil defense that will be a formidable force either to keep the peace or to help win a war. Civil Defense preparedness can be a major force in helping keep the peace. This vital reason for civil defense in being has been determined by the National Security Council in weighing the balance of security forces in modern war. Unity, strength, and preparedness on the homefront can help prevent attack on this country. On December 23, 1949, President Truman announced that an atomic explosion had recently taken place in the Soviet Union. From that moment on the program for civil preparedness, particularly against nuclear weapons, became an urgent need for our total national security program."

  United States. Federal Civil Defense Administration

  1952
• National Industrial Security Program: Addressing the Implications of Globalization and Foreign Ownership for the Defense Industrial Base: Hearing before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services, One Hundred Tenth Congress, Second Session, April 16, 2008 [video]

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  This recorded video feed is from the April 16, 2008 hearing, "National Industrial Security Program: Addressing the Implications of Globalization and Foreign Ownership for the Defense Industrial Base," before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Armed Services. From Ike Skelton's opening statement: "Today, we will examine in greater depth what reasonable measures need to be taken to protect U.S. national security. Industry is changing as the economy globalizes. How rapidly are issues of foreign ownership, control, and influence impacting the defense industry as a result? Will new investment vehicles like hedge funds and sovereign wealth funds require us to change how we determine what constitutes foreign ownership? Can the National Industrial Security Program keep up with the scope and pace of these changes? Is the Defense Security Service staffed, trained, and equipped to implement the policy?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Committee Chairman Ike Skelton; Toby Sullivan, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Counterintelligence and Security; Kathleen Watson, Director of the Defense Security Service; Bill Schneider, Chairman of the Defense Science Board, and Ann Calvaresi-Barr, Director of Acquisition and Sourcing Management at GAO.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Armed Services

  2008-04-16
• DCPA Attack Environment Manual

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  This document contains the complete U.S. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency Attack Environment Manual which was first published in June 1973. The pdf file contains all eight chapters which include an introduction to nuclear emergency operations, and what the emergency planner needs to know about blast and shock, fire ignition and spread, electromagnetic pulse, nuclear radiation, the shelter environment, and the post-shelter environment. These digitized chapters have been downloaded from the FEMA Emergency Management Institute's website as individual chapters and compiled into one complete document by Homeland Security Digital Library staff.

  United States. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency

  1973-06
• Disaster Operations: A Handbook for Local Governments

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  "This handbook can serve as a planning and operations guide for officials of local government who may be confronted with various types of peacetime as well as attack-caused emergencies. The handbook may also serve as a guide for local leaders who are not members of local governments, such as labor leaders, industrial plant superintendents, and Red Cross Chapter officials. 'This handbook is intended primarily for smaller municipalities and counties, and includes checklists pertaining to a number of specific types of emergencies and disasters that could confront such communities. It should be recognized, however, that the checklists are not aired at professionals. For example, the forest-fire checklist is not for professional foresters or firefighters, but is rather intended for mayors and other officials of smaller communities that could be threatened by a forest fire. While the primary audience for this handbook is the smaller city or county, the checklists contain material that can be useful to civil defense directors and other officials in larger communities in developing the more complex plans that are needed in the larger jurisdiction. The guidance in this handbook is basic and brief. The purpose is to assist local officials in preparing their own flexible plan for actions to be taken by government and by citizens when disaster threatens or strikes. A community prepared to cope with peacetime disasters is that much better prepared to cope with the effects of enemy attack."

  United States. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency

  1972-07
• Foresight: U.S. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency Annual Report 1973

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  "In keeping with President Nixon's desire to make the Federal Government more responsive to the needs of State and local governments, the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency (DCPA) program takes into account all of the hazards and dangers which confront the Nation's population today. Local government is the keystone of civil preparedness. The Federal and State governments provide guidance and assistance to municipal and county governments in this readiness effort. The objective at all levels is to develop the capability to protect life and property in any type of disaster. In furthering that objective, the 'dual-use' concept long advocated by the Defense Civil Preparedness Agency is applied wherever possible. This is the concept of developing emergency systems useful both in the everyday routine of government as well as during emergencies; and of being useful both during peacetime or in event of war. Current program changes include: Enhancement of State and local capability to cope with attacks and other disasters, reorientation of the program to emphasize, wherever possible, available protection from nuclear weapon effects and natural disasters, and shifting of some ongoing programs to systems that would only be implemented in a crisis in order to reduce peacetime costs and avoid rapid obsolescence."

  United States. Department of Defense; United States. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency

  1973
• Civil Defense: Are Federal, State, and Local Governments Prepared for Nuclear Attack?

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  "This report reviews the U.S. civil defense program, discusses the need for a more defined national policy on civil defense, and makes recommendations for improving the program's effectiveness. We made this review because of the increasing congressional interest in the U.S. civil defense posture and in the Federal organizational structure for preparedness. […] The United States lacks a comprehensive civil defense policy. Yet it is vital that we overcome obstacles to meeting and surviving a nuclear attack. Civil defense in the United States has not been a high-priority or high-dollar program. The present situation can be traced in part to the Federal Civil Defense Act, as amended in 1958. This act made Federal, State, and local governments jointly responsible for civil defense. This joint responsibility had a dual effect-all levels of government were involved in civil defense efforts, but these efforts were weakened as a result of State and local government disagreement and disinterest in nationally set goals concerning nuclear preparedness and because of the program's low priority. Federal-state and Federal-local matching funds have not created the impetus for a large-scale civil defense program because the Government can only encourage, not mandate, State and local participation. The question thus becomes: Can a civil defense program, based on voluntary State and local participation, be fully effective? The need for such a program could be justified by its potential life-saving capabilities, if for no other reason."

  United States. General Accounting Office; United States. Department of Defense; United States. General Services Administration . . .

  1977-08-08
• Introduction to Civil Preparedness

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  "Since the beginning of time, man has sought protection from the dangers of a hostile environment. The cave, the forest, even hollow logs provided refuge for many of our forebears. Where the shelter and the actions taken were suitable to meet the emergency conditions, man survived. History contains countless references to individual, group, and community actions for protection from famine, flood, fire, and the effects of war. It was not, however, until the onset of World War II, with the threat of large-scale aerial attacks on cities and industrial centers, that civil defense planning gained impetus. Added impetus resulted from the advent of atomic and thermonuclear weapons and advanced delivery systems. […] The origin of civil defense preparedness in the United States may be traced to August 1916, when Congress established the Council of National Defense to coordinate 'industries and resources for the national security and welfare, and to create relations which will render possible, in time of need, the immediate concentration and utilization of the resources of the Nation'. The Council consisted of the Secretaries of War, Navy, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and Labor. In December 1918, this Council was dissolved, and from that time until 1940, civil defense in a formal sense did not exist in the United States. On May 28, 1940, President Roosevelt established the National Defense Advisory Commission, which included the Division of State and Local Cooperation. In May 1941, a Presidential Executive Order replaced the Division of State and Local Cooperation with the Office of Civilian Defense."

  United States. Defense Civil Preparedness Agency

  1975-07
• American Civil Defense 1945-1975: The Evolution of Programs and Policies

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  "This is a study of the evolution of civil defense policies and programs in the United States for the period 1945-1974. Written as a doctoral dissertation at the University of Virginia over a 3-year period (1978-1980), this study draws heavily on a large selection of executive and legislative branch hearings, reports, studies and government-sponsored research. It is reproduced in the belief that the information it contains will be of use to those conducting research in civil defense-related fields and to those responsible for the administration of civil defense programs."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Blanchard, B. Wayne

  1980-05
• Climate Change Policy: Preliminary Observations on Options for Distributing Emissions Allowances and Revenue under a Cap-and-Trade Program, Statement of John Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Testimony before the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate

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  "Congress is considering proposals to establish a price on greenhouse gas emissions through a cap-and-trade program that would limit overall emissions and require covered entities to hold tradable emissions permits, or allowances, for their emissions. The purpose of such a program is to raise the cost of activities that produce emissions and thereby provide an economic incentive to decrease emissions. […] Today's testimony provides preliminary results of ongoing work assessing the potential effects of (1) allowance allocation methods, and (2) options for distributing program revenues or the economic value of allowances."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Stephenson, John B.

  2009-08-04
• MedCon:Pre-Event - A Tool to Estimate the Pre-Event Population at Risk of Medical Consequences in a Disaster

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  "The MedCon:Pre-Event has been designed to estimate the baseline medical care requirements (i.e., the number of persons that would require medical care) of a displaced population following a disaster due to pre-existing medical conditions. Users of MedCon:PreEvent should note that the MedCon:Pre-Event has not been designed for estimating the medical care requirements due to direct impact of the event (e.g., injuries and illness) or additional medical care requirements resulting from the aggravation of the existing medical condition. The intended users of the MedCon:Pre-Event model are public health preparedness planners at local, state, and federal levels involved in addressing the large scale medical care requirements resulting from man-made and natural disasters." Microsoft Excel-based tool and manual available for free download.

  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)

  Meltzer, Martin; Shrestha, Sundar S.; Sosin, Daniel M.

  2009-07-28
• Hurricane Katrina: Barriers to Mental Health Services for Children Persist in Greater New Orleans, Although Federal Grants Are Helping to Address Them, Statement of Cynthia A. Bascetta Director, Health Care, Testimony before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate

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  From the report: "I am pleased to be here today to discuss the protection of children during disaster recovery and to provide highlights of our July 2009 report entitled Hurricane Katrina: Barriers to Mental Health Services for Children Persist in Greater New Orleans, Although Federal Grants Are Helping to Address Them. The greater New Orleans area has yet to fully recover from the effects of Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005. One issue of concern in the recovery is the availability of mental health services for children. In our report, we estimated that in 2008 about 187,000 children were living in the greater New Orleans area-which we defined as Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, and St. Bernard parishes."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  Bascetta, Cynthia A.

  2009-08-04
• Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities

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  "The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) strives continuously to improve the delivery of disaster assistance to State, local, and tribal governments. One important goal of disaster assistance is to reduce the vulnerability of communities to damage from future disasters. This Wildfire Hazard Mitigation Handbook for Public Facilities (Handbook) is intended to assist facility owners affected by wildfire disasters by suggesting mitigation measures that can be taken to reduce the vulnerability of damaged facilities to future wildfire incidents. The measures described in this Handbook are applicable to the Public Assistance (PA) Program and are intended to help Applicants for assistance under the program identify options that can be implemented during post-disaster repair and rebuilding to reduce the potential for future damage. FEMA provides assistance to State, local, and tribal governments under the authority of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act), 42 United States Code §§ 5121 5206, as amended. Under the Stafford Act, FEMA is authorized to provide resources necessary to reduce the loss of life and property caused by emergencies and major disasters. FEMA works with Federal, State, local, and tribal liaisons to carry out this mission through a comprehensive emergency management program."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  2008-10
• Northern Illinois University Shooting: Dekalb, Illinois: February 14, 2008

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  "On February 14, 2008, less than 1 year after a senior at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) murdered 32 people and committed suicide, the campus community at Northern Illinois University (NIU), in DeKalb, Illinois, faced a similar horror. A former NIU graduate student walked onto the stage of a large lecture hall and began firing on startled students and faculty. […] The fire/EMS, university police, and university events management partners had worked together frequently in planned and unplanned events, so Command and control procedures were well practiced. They also had studied the official report on the Virginia Tech shootings and had integrated the lessons learned enumerated in that report into the university's and the City of DeKalb's emergency response plans, especially from the chapters that reported on the law enforcement and EMS response to that April 16, 2007 incident. The value of that report, their training, and their joint planning was apparent in the excellent response to Cole Hall. The DeKalb Fire Department has stated they hope that what they discovered from their internal debriefings and reports can add to the lessons that were documented from Virginia Tech so that the body of experience can expand to include this most recent tragedy and help other universities, law enforcement agencies, and fire departments as the Virginia Tech report helped them. The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is pleased to enable the sharing of information from the NIU shooting with emergency response organizations nationwide."

  United States Fire Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency

  Stambaugh, Hollis

  2008-02
• Secretary Napolitano Announces New Agreement for State and Local Immigration Enforcement Partnerships & Adds 11 New Agreements [July 10, 2009]

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  "Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has standardized the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) used to enter into '287(g)' partnerships --improving public safety by removing criminal aliens who are a threat to local communities and providing uniform policies for partner state and local immigration enforcement efforts throughout the United States. Additionally, today ICE announced eleven new 287(g) agreements with law enforcement agencies from around the country. 'This new agreement supports local efforts to protect public safety by giving law enforcement the tools to identify and remove dangerous criminal aliens,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'It also promotes consistency across the board to ensure that all of our state and local law enforcement partners are using the same standards in implementing the 287(g) program.'"

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2009-07-10
• Recommendations for Integrating Information Security into the Capital Planning and Investment Control Process (Draft)

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  "Traditionally, information security and capital planning have been treated as separate activities by security and capital planning practitioners. However, with Federal Information System Management Act (FISMA) legislation, existing federal regulations that charge agencies with integrating the two activities. Additionally, with increased competition for limited federal budgets, agencies must effectively integrate their information security and capital planning processes. This guidance discusses how information security considerations, including continuous monitoring, Plans of Action and Milestones (POA&M), external evaluations, new mandates, evolving threats, and system life cycle considerations impact capital planning considerations. This guidance also discusses considerations and frameworks agencies can use to prioritize security investments and help ensure that security concerns are incorporated into the capital planning process to deliver maximum security and mission value to the agency. […] Information security is an important element in the planning, acquisition and management of federal information systems. Information security drivers impact an investment's business requirements and must be addressed throughout the Select, Control and Evaluate life cycle phases. Planning for information security is strategically important to ensure that the investment is adequately funded to satisfy information security requirements and that cost-effective security controls are in place to meet information security requirements and to protect the investment's information assets."

  National Institute of Standards and Technology (U.S.)

  Bowen, Pauline; Scholl, Matthew; Kissel, Richard

  2009-07
• Immigration Enforcement Actions: 2008

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  "This Office of Immigration Statistics Annual Report presents information on the apprehension, detention, return, and removal of foreign nationals during 2008. […] Each year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) undertakes immigration enforcement actions involving hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals. These actions include the arrest, detention, return, and removal from the United States of foreign nationals who are in violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Violations include losing legal status by failing to abide by the terms and conditions of entry or by engaging in crimes such as violent crimes, document fraud, terrorist activity, and drug smuggling. Primary responsibility for the enforcement of immigration law within DHS rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). CBP is responsible for the inspections of all arriving persons and conveyances at ports of entry and the deterrence or apprehension of illegal immigrants between ports of entry. ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws within the interior of the United States."

  United States. Office of Immigration Statistics

  2009-07
• Industry and Public Sector Cooperation for Information Sharing: Ports of Puget Sound

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  "This report presents the findings of the Maritime Information Sharing Taskforce (MIST) research effort for the Washington State Puget Sound ports. Using a participatory design approach, the researchers partnered with federal and commercial stakeholders to assess the information sharing needs of security personnel in this port region. The research design included an issues workshop, field studies of port personnel, and local networking events. The findings indicate the need for increased interagency collaboration in maritime domain awareness (MDA) and highlight local recommended practices and incentives for information sharing with the private sector. In addition, we gathered usability data on two federal policies/programs. The Maritime Information Sharing Taskforce (MIST) is an interagency effort to capture best practices in information sharing, create a structure for collaborative problem solving, and convey unique local issues to national policy makers. The MIST team is led by the Maritime Defense and Security Research Program (MDSRP) at the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) in partnership with several federal agencies: the Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Office of Global Maritime Situational Awareness (OGMSA), Global Maritime and Air Intelligence Integration (GMAII), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS). The MIST process consists of a series of activities that are designed to help us surface issues important to private sector shipping. Each local event builds upon lessons learned from earlier events and invites participants to join in on the design of specific activities."

  Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.). Maritime Defense and Security Research Program

  Walsh, Wendy; Salem, Anita; Englehorn, Lyla

  2009-07
• Privacy Impact Assessment for the Department of Homeland Security Web Portals

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  "Many Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operations and projects require collaboration and communication amongst affected stakeholders including employees, contractors, federal, state, local and tribal officials, as well as members of the public. One method of effectuating such collaboration is the establishment of an online 'portal' allowing authorized users to obtain, post and exchange information, access common resources, and generally communicate with similarly situated and interested individuals. DHS has written this general privacy impact assessment (PIA) to document these informational and collaboration-based portals in operation at DHS and its components which collect, use, maintain, and share limited personally identifiable information (PII) about individuals who are 'members' of the portal or who seek to gain access to the portal 'potential members.' The Department's mission encompasses a wide variety of activities including emergency response, law enforcement and intelligence, critical infrastructure protection, immigration processing, and research and development of new technologies. In order to facilitate these activities the Department requires contact with the public as well as partners in other federal, state, local, and international governmental organizations (hereinafter known as 'partners'). Part of the Department's interaction with its partners involves the need to establish a means of communication that allows individuals from many different geographic regions to collaborate in a meaningful way. DHS and its components have created varying types of online portals designed to facilitate this collaboration."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Privacy Office

  2009-06-15
• Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General: Management Oversight Challenges Remain for DHS' Intelligence Systems Information Technology Security Program [Unclassified Summary]

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  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) states the following about this report: "We evaluated the security program and practices for the Department of Homeland Security's Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information systems according to Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) annual requirements. We focused on the security program management, implementation, and system administration of the department's intelligence systems. We primarily assessed the department's Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M), system certification and accreditation, and incident reporting processes, as well as its security awareness training program. The objective of our evaluation was to determine whether the department is properly protecting Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information and the systems that support the department's intelligence operations and assets. We assessed the effectiveness of the information systems security controls for the department's intelligence systems, and the remediation of the findings that we reported as a result of our Fiscal Year 2007 assessment. This is the department's first year reporting on U.S. Coast Guard's (USCG) FISMA compliance. Fieldwork was conducted from May through October 2008, at the Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) and USCG."

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General

  2009-02
• Personnel Security Clearances: An Outcome-Focused Strategy Is Needed to Guide Implementation of the Reformed Clearance Process, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "Personnel security clearances are used to verify that national security information--which in some cases could cause exceptionally grave damage to national security if disclosed--is entrusted only to those who have proven reliability and loyalty to the nation. In response to long-standing problems with timeliness and backlogs, Congress mandated clearance reforms as part of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA), and since 2005 the Department of Defense's (DOD) clearance program has remained on GAO's high-risk list despite improvements in timeliness. In 2007, a Joint Reform Team, led by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), was established to improve the clearance process across the government. GAO was asked to review the extent to which reform efforts (1) align with key practices for organizational transformations and (2) address identified factors for reforming the personnel security clearance process. To assess these objectives, GAO compared joint reform reports to key transformation practices and essential factors for reform."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2009-05
• Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 3371: Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009

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  "H.R. 3371 would establish several new procedural requirements and policies related to aviation safety. Assuming appropriation of the necessary funds, [Congressional Budget Office (CBO)] estimates that implementing the bill would cost $15 million over the 2010-2014 period. Enacting the bill would not affect direct spending but could result in additional revenues from civil penalties and regulatory fees. CBO estimates, however, that any such amounts would be negligible. H.R. 3371 contains intergovernmental and private-sector mandates, as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA), because it would impose new requirements on certain public and private entities that employ pilots. CBO estimates that the aggregate cost of intergovernmental mandates in the bill would fall below the annual threshold established in UMRA ($69 million in 2009, adjusted annually for inflation). In addition, the bill would impose private-sector mandates on certain commercial air carriers and sellers of air carrier tickets. Because the cost of complying with some of those mandates would depend on future regulations, CBO cannot determine whether the aggregate cost to comply with the private-sector mandates in the bill would exceed the annual threshold established in UMRA ($139 million in 2009, adjusted annually for inflation)."

  United States. Congressional Budget Office

  2009-09-08
• Department of Homeland Security and Seneca Nation of Indians Announce Agreement to Develop Enhanced Tribal Card [September 10, 2009]

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  "The Department of Homeland Security and the Seneca Nation of Indians today formalized an agreement to develop a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant Enhanced Tribal Card (ETC)--signed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Assistant Commissioner Thomas S. Winkowski and Seneca Nation President Barry E. Snyder, Sr., at a ceremony at Liberty Park in Niagara Falls, N.Y. The ETC establishes identity, tribal membership and citizenship for the purpose of entering the United States by land or sea--enhancing safety and security of U.S. borders while facilitating legitimate travel and trade. 'This agreement will strengthen safety along our borders while providing Seneca Nation members a secure and standardized ID card,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'In the months ahead, we will continue to build upon these efforts--from secure identification to preparing for emergencies--with our tribal partners across the country.'"

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2009-09-10
• Secretary Napolitano Leads Naturalization Ceremony for 31 Service Members at the Pentagon [September 10, 2009]

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  "Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano commemorated the milestone of more than 52,000 American military service members becoming U.S. citizens since Sept. 11, 2001, by joining Department of Defense Secretary Robert Gates and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas at a naturalization ceremony for 31 military men and women today at the Pentagon. 'Since 9/11, we have helped more than 52,000 courageous soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors gain the benefits and rewards of U.S. citizenship,' said Secretary Napolitano. 'I am proud to swear in these brave men and women who have come from all over the world to serve our country and become its newest citizens.'"

  United States. Department of Homeland Security. Press Office

  2009-09-10
• Homeland Defense: U.S. Northern Command Has a Strong Exercise Program, But Involvement of Interagency Partners and States Can Be Improved, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  "U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) exercises to test preparedness to perform its homeland defense and civil support missions. GAO was asked to assess the extent to which NORTHCOM is consistent with Department of Defense (DOD) training and exercise requirements, involving interagency partners and states in its exercises, using lessons learned and corrective actions to improve preparedness, and integrating its exercises with the National Exercise Program (NEP). To do this, GAO reviewed NORTHCOM and NEP guidance and postexercise documentation, assessed NORTHCOM compliance, and compared DOD and NEP exercise requirements. GAO is making recommendations to DOD to direct NORTHCOM to consistently involve the states in planning, executing, and assessing exercises and improve oversight of corrective actions. GAO is also recommending that DOD define when NORTHCOM should use NEP planning and documentation requirements. DOD agreed or partially agreed with the recommendations and cited ongoing and future efforts to satisfy the recommendations' intent. DOD did not fully address a recommendation on training to NORTHCOM staff on specific state emergency management structures. GAO believes such training would benefit NORTHCOM personnel in advance of a crisis and for exercise planning."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2009-09