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United States-India Strategic Dialogue on Biosecurity: Report from the Eighth Dialogue Session, Focused on the Second Year of COVID-19 Responses in India and the United States and the Pandemic's Impact on Global Biosecurity
From the Executive Summary: "On February 8 and 9, 2022, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security co-hosted a virtual dialogue session with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology of the Department of Biotechnology in the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology. The meeting focused on successes, challenges, opportunities, and lessons learned in the COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] responses in India and the United States, and how COVID-19 responses can continue while also preparing for future health security crises. The dialogue focused on COVID-19 developments that occurred since the last meeting in January 2021. Discussions centered around national response efforts, mass vaccination, surveillance approaches, causes and biosecurity implications of COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation, synthetic biological risks, global biosecurity governance, and the need for future collaboration among countries and within the scientific community. The meeting convened senior thought leaders, scientists, public health practitioners, and medical experts from the United States and India. In accordance with the dialogue format, participants offered insights based on personal expertise and did not represent the government of either country in an official capacity."
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security
Gronvall, Gigi Kwik; Trotochaud, Marc; Cicero, Anita
2022-02
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 7675, a Bill to Amend the Department of Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 to Establish an Agricultural and Food System Supply Chain Resilience and Crisis Response Task Force, and for Other Purposes
From the Document: "H.R. 7675 would establish a task force in the Department of Agriculture to evaluate the stability and reliability of the nation's agriculture and food system supply chain. Under the bill, the Secretary of Agriculture would appoint a special advisor to head the task force and consult with the Secretaries of Commerce and Transportation as part of the evaluation. The bill also would require the advisor to report the task force's findings to the Congress and recommend ways to improve the supply chain's safety, security, and resilience. The task force's authority would end on September 30, 2023. Using information about the costs of similar activities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing the bill would cost less than $500,000; any spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2022-05-27
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Sexual Harassment and Assault: The Army Should Take Steps to Enhance Program Oversight, Evaluate Effectiveness, and Identify Reporting Barriers, Report to Congressional Requesters
From the Highlights: "Reports of sexual harassment and assault in the Army continue to rise. Soldiers reported about 1,000 and 2,500 incidents occurring during military service, respectively, in fiscal year 2020. According to DOD survey data, many additional incidents go unreported. While the Army has taken steps to respond to such incidents through its SHARP [Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention] Program, a November 2020 independent review of the command climate at Fort Hood found structural flaws in the program Army-wide. The review also found a pervasive lack of confidence in it among soldiers at that installation. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review the Army's administration of the SHARP program. This report examines, among other things, the extent to which the Army has (1) implemented policies and programs to prevent, respond to, and resolve incidents of sexual harassment and assault; and (2) mechanisms in place to oversee the SHARP program and determine its effectiveness. GAO reviewed policies and guidance; conducted a generalizable survey of SHARP personnel; interviewed DOD and Army officials; and interviewed officials and commanders at three Army installations selected based on risk level, among other factors. [...] GAO is making nine recommendations, including that the Army expedite and establish a timeline for the issuance of a consolidated SHARP regulation, design its oversight structure to address identified challenges, develop a suite of performance measures, and develop and implement a continuous evaluation plan. The Army concurred with these recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-05
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United States-India Strategic Dialogue on Biosecurity: Report from the Seventh Dialogue Session, Focused on COVID-19 Responses in India and the United States: Lessons Learned and Path Forward
From the Executive Summary: "On January 26 and 27, 2021, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security hosted a virtual dialogue discussion, focused on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) responses in India and the United States. The session explored lessons learned thus far and the path forward for both nations in responding to the pandemic. The meeting was held in collaboration with the Regional Centre for Biotechnology of the Department of Biotechnology in the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology. The dialogue focused on a range of emerging issues related to COVID-19, including national response efforts, security implications of COVID-19 with respect to bioterrorism/biodefense preparedness, biosafety and biosecurity, vaccine and therapeutics development and use, diagnostic and surveillance approaches, use of nonpharmaceutical interventions, health misinformation in the context of the pandemic, and political influence in response operations and policies. Through the discussion, participants gained an increased understanding of shared challenges in the responses of both the United States and India to COVID-19, which may be addressed to increase future preparedness. The meeting convened senior thought leaders, scientists, public health practitioners, and medical experts from the United States and India. In accordance with the dialogue format, participants offered insights based on personal expertise and did not represent the government of either country in an official capacity."
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Center for Health Security
Gronvall, Gigi Kwik; Trotochaud, Marc; Hosangadi, Divya . . .
2021-03
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Global Food Security: Coordination of U.S. Assistance Can Be Improved, Report to the Acting Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, House Committee on Appropriations
From the Highlights: "The number of food-insecure people has increased since 2014, and an estimated 768 million people were undernourished in 2020, according to the United Nations. The Global Food Security Act of 2016 required the President to coordinate the development and implementation of a whole-of-government global food security strategy. According to the GFSS [U.S. Government Global Food
Security Strategy], increased interagency engagement is intended to build effective coordination among agencies that contribute to global food security. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review U.S. global food security assistance. This report examines (1) U.S. agency coordination of global food security assistance at the global level and in selected countries; (2) the extent to which U.S. agencies coordinate this assistance in accordance with leading collaboration practices; and (3) U.S. agencies' management of any duplication, overlap, or fragmentation of assistance in the selected countries. GAO reviewed GFSS documents and interviewed representatives of GFSS agencies and other stakeholders, including implementing partners and host governments in Bangladesh, Guatemala, Kenya, and Niger. GAO selected these countries using criteria such as geographic diversity and high levels of U.S. food security funding. [...] GAO is making two recommendations to USAID to ensure all relevant agencies are included in planning and coordination of food security assistance and can readily access information about each other's current and planned assistance. USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] concurred with both recommendations."
United States. Government Accountability Office
2022-06
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R-Tech Newsletter: The Newsletter of the First Responder Technologies Program [Volume 2 Issue 6, June 2009]
"This issue of the First Responders Technologies Program newsletter has four articles. The first article, "Mapping the Future," discusses Hazards U.S. Multi-Hazard (HAZUS-MH), computer software that uses geographic information systems to "estimate the probability and potential consequences of earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods." The second article, "Random Acts," describes the Assistant for Randomized Monitoring Over Routes (ARMOR) program, which "eliminates the predictability of security patrols, checkpoints, and other scheduled and routine security measures." The third article, "Long-Distance Triage Technology," examines the Standoff Patient Triage Tool (SPTT), which takes physiological readings from up to 40 feet away. Finally, the last section discusses the Responder Knowledge Base's exhaustive product list."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-06
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FY 2010 Preparedness Grant Programs Overview: Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP)
"The purpose of the FY 2010 Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP) is to create a sustainable, risk-based effort to protect critical surface transportation infrastructure and the traveling public from acts of terrorism, major disasters and other emergencies. The FY 2010 TSGP Guidance and Application Kit will be available on December 11, 2009. Eligible agencies were determined by the Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) list and the National Transit Database. TSGP Tier I will continue to be comprised of the transit agencies in the highest risk urban areas and will continue to utilize the cooperative agreement process. TSGP Tier II will consist of all other eligible transit agencies. Certain ferry systems are eligible to participate in the FY 2010 TSGP and receive funds under the TSGP Tier I cooperative agreement process. However, any ferry system electing to participate and receive funds under the FY 2010 TSGP cannot participate in the FY 2010 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) and will not be considered for funding under the FY 2010 PSGP. Likewise, any ferry system that participates in the PSGP cannot be considered for funding under the TSGP. TSGP Tier I awards are subject to a non-competitive review process, whereas TSGP Tier II awards are determined by a fully competitive review process. TSGP Tier I allocations are subject to change based on the result of the TSGP Tier II competitive review process."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-12-11
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Secretary Napolitano Announces Southwest Border Task Force [June 4, 2009]
"U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced today the formation of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) Southwest Border Task Force, a diverse group of national security experts charged with examining the Department's efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border and providing advice and recommendations directly to the Secretary. The new task force underscores DHS' emphasis on Southwest border security in response to ongoing drug cartel violence in Mexico. Secretary Napolitano asked the 20-member group to focus on two major challenges: ensuring rigorous inspections processes at ports of entry while facilitating commerce; and assessing the practical consequences of border violence and DHS' response to communities along the Southwest border."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-05-28
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R-Tech Newsletter: The Newsletter of the First Responder Technologies Program [Volume 1 Issue 3, June 2008]
This issue of the First Responders Technologies Program newsletter has four articles. The first article, "The Eight Man" discusses TALON, a new robot that can enter a hazardous area in less than five minutes, as opposed to a traditional hazmat team's fifteen to thirty minutes. The second article, "Nose for Danger," describes the GUARDION-7, a portable capillary gas chromatograph-toroidal ion trap mass spectrometer that can detect a wide range of chemicals in less than five minutes. The third article, "Skin Deep," examines the Lumidigm Venus Series Biometric Fingerprint Sensor, which "takes multiple, sequential photographs of the finger under different lighting conditions." Finally, the last section discusses the Responder Knowledge Base website's customization option.
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-06
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Refugees and Asylees: 2008
"The United States provides refuge to persons who have been persecuted or have a well-founded fear of persecution through two programs: one for refugees (persons outside the U.S.) and one for asylees (persons in the U.S.). This Office of Immigration Statistics Annual Flow Report provides information on the number of persons admitted to the United States as refugees or granted asylum in the United States in 2008. A total of 60,108 persons were admitted to the United States as refugees during 2008. The leading countries of nationality for refugees were Burma, Iraq, and Bhutan. During 2008, 22,930 individuals were granted asylum, including 12,187 who were granted asylum affirmatively by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and 10,743 who were granted asylum defensively by an immigration judge during removal proceedings. The leading countries of nationality for persons granted asylum were China, Colombia, and Haiti."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
Hoefer, Michael; Martin, Daniel C.
2009-06
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Implementing the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative at Land and Sea Ports: Are We Ready?: Hearing Before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, May 7, 2009
From the opening statement of Loretta Sanchez: "Today the subcommittee will receive testimony on the current status of the implementation of the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative or WHTI at our land and sea ports. We have two great panels this morning that will allow us to hear from the government officials responsible for the implementation of WHTI as well as representatives from industry groups who will speak about how implementation will affect their respective industries." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Richard Barth, Thomas Winkowski, Mark E. Souder, Henry Cuellar, Al Green, Sheila Jackson Lee, Zoe Lofgren, Eric J.J. Massa, John Brennan, Angelo Amador, Maria Luisa O'Connell, and Louise M. Slaughter.
United States. Government Printing Office
2010
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Evolving the U.S. Approach to Cybersecurity: Raising the Bar Today to Meet the Threats of Tomorrow, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, November 3, 2021
This is the November 3, 2021 hearing on "Evolving the U.S. Approach to Cybersecurity: Raising the Bar Today to Meet the Threats of Tomorrow," held before the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "While I appreciate the administration doing what it can by leveraging the authorities it has, this committee is working hard to provide many of the additional authorities necessary for CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] to take on the challenges ahead. For example, bipartisan members of the committee offered amendments to the NDAA [National Defense Authorization Act] that would establish a mandatory cyber incident reporting framework, authorize the CyberSentry program, and establish the Joint Collaboration Environment. I am hopeful that today we can discuss how you will implement those measures when they are enacted into law, as I expect them to be." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: J. Chris Inglis and Jen Easterly.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2022
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President Bush Discusses Global War on Terror [September 29, 2006]
From President Bush's discussion on the Global War on Terror: "I want to speak to you today about the struggle between moderation and extremism that is unfolding across the broader Middle East. At this moment, terrorists and extremists are fighting to overthrow moderate governments in the region, so they can take control of countries and use them as bases from which to attack America and from which to impose their hateful ideology. This is the challenge of our time. This is the call of a generation, to stand against the extremists and support moderate leaders across the broader Middle East, to help us all secure a future of peace."
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
2006-09-29
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President Bush Welcomes President Karzai of Afghanistan to the White House [September 26, 2006]
This document is a transcript of President Bush's welcome of President Karzai of Afghanistan to the White House. Topics covered include the war on terror.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
2006-09-06
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H. Rept. 117-118: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022, Report of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, on H.R. 4350, Together with Additional and Dissenting Views, Including Cost Estimate of the Congressional Budget Office, September 10, 2021
From the Document: "The Committee on Armed Services, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 4350) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military activities of the Department of Defense and for military construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. [...] The bill would: (1) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for procurement and for research, development, test, and evaluation; (2) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for operation and maintenance and for working capital funds; (3) authorize for fiscal year 2022 the personnel strength for each Active Duty Component of the military departments, and the personnel strength for the Selected Reserve for each Reserve Component of the Armed Forces; (4) modify various elements of compensation for military personnel and impose certain requirements and limitations on personnel actions in the defense establishment; (5) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for military construction and family housing; (6) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for the Department of Energy national security programs; and (7) authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 for the Maritime Administration."
United States. Government Publishing Office
2021
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Illuminating the Path: The Research and Development Agenda for Visual Analytics
This document from the Department of Homeland Security and National Visualization and Analytics Center details the mandate for the development of a research and development agenda for the program. From the documents: "Visual analytics is the science of analytical reasoning facilitated by interactive visual interfaces. People use visual analytics tools and techniques to synthesize information and derive insight from massive, dynamic, ambiguous, and often conflicting data; detect the expected and discover the unexpected; provide timely, defensible, and understandable assessments; and communicate assessment effectively for action. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chartered the National Visualization and Analytics Center™ (NVAC™) in 2004 with the goal of helping to counter future terrorist attacks in the United States and around the globe. A major objective for NVAC is to define a long-term research and development (R&D) agenda for visual analytics to address the most pressing needs in R&D to facilitate advanced analytical insight. Under the leadership of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the R&D agenda for visual analytics was developed to define the directions and priorities for future R&D programs focused on visual analytics tools. This agenda, Illuminating the Path, provides a coordinated technical vision for government and industrial investments and helps ensure that a continual stream of technology and tools enter the hands of analysts and emergency responders."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
Thomas, James J.; Cook, Kristin A.
2005
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Protecting Our Passengers: Perspectives on Securing Surface Transportation in New Jersey and New York, Field Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 21, 2016
This is the June 21, 2016 hearing on "Protecting Our Passengers: Perspectives on Securing Surface Transportation in New Jersey and New York," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Daniel Donovan: "Today, stakeholders from State and local government, the private sector, and surface transportation networks are giving their time to share with us their perspectives on achieving our shared goal of protecting millions of regional commuters. We will look specifically at the preparedness and response capabilities of surface transportation systems in New York and New Jersey, one of the highest threat regions in the world." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Sonya Proctor, Thomas Belfiore, Raymond Diaz, Christopher Trucillo, Martin Conway, W. Greg Kierce, Richard Sposa, Richard Gorman, Vincent Glenn, and Mike Mollahan.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017
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Joint CBO/JCT Study: Subsidizing Infrastructure Investment with Tax-Preferred Bonds
This report addresses ways the U.S. Government could stimulate infrastructure investment with tax-preferred bonds. From the text: "The estimated $26 billion in annual federal revenue forgone through tax-exempt bond financing of infrastructure is greater than the associated reduction in borrowing costs for state and local governments. Some analysts have estimated the magnitude of that differential and conclude that several billion dollars each year may simply accrue to bondholders in higher income-tax brackets without providing any cost savings to borrowers. Replacing tax-exempt interest with tax credits could, in principle, increase the efficiency of financing infrastructure with tax-preferred debt. Tax-credit bonds transfer to issuers all of the federal revenues forgone through the tax preference; in addition, the amount of the tax credit can be varied across types of infrastructure projects, thus bringing the federal revenue loss in line with the benefits expected from the investment ."
United States. Congressional Budget Office; United States. Congress. Joint Committee on Taxation
2009-10
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Securing Our Nation's Mass Transit Systems Against a Terrorist Attack, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, May 4, 2011
From the opening statement of Peter T. King: "The committee is meeting today to hear testimony on the security of our mass transit systems in order to identify where progress has been made since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and where shortfalls remain. We shall examine issues such as assessing the threat that mass transit systems face; information sharing between the Federal Government and the individual transit entities; the impact of the Transit Security Grant Program; and the extent of coordination between Federal, State, and local partners." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Peter T. King, Bennie G. Thompson, Laura Richardson, John S. Pistole, W. Craig Fugate, Richard Daddario, Richard L. Rodriguez, Daniel O. Hartwig, and the American Bus Association.
United States. Government Printing Office
2012
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Long Lines, Short Patience: Local Perspectives, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 26, 2016
This is the May 26, 2016 hearing on "Long Lines, Short Patience: Local Perspectives," held before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the House Committee on Homeland Security,. From the opening statement of John Katko: "a crisis at our airports. American families are planning to enjoy their time off traveling to points near and far, business men and women are doing the same that they do all year round, and the added crush of the travel season, leisure season, is causing particular problems. As they begin their journeys, they will arrive at airports around the country only to be confronted with longer and longer lines at many airports at TSA checkpoints, causing some to return home after missing their flights and stranding others to take up temporary residence at the airport on a cot, like we saw in Chicago a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, this is not an isolated incident, and this committee continues to receive reports from around the country describing delays at TSA checkpoints in excess of 2 hours." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Christina Callahan, Bonnie Allin, Lydia Beairsto, Kerry Philipovitch, and J. David Cox.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2017
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Internet of Cars, Joint Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Information Technology of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, November 18, 2015
This is the November 18, 2015 hearing on "The Internet of Cars," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets and the Subcommittee on Information Technology of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the opening statement of John L. Mica: "But we today are going to address the issues relating to, again, what we call the Internet of Cars and look at some of the implications of that technology. And I think some of this was highlighted just some time ago when, I guess it was a Jeep vehicle was hacked. And fortunately it wasn't folks who chose to do harm, but it did demonstrate that vehicles with certain types of electronic capability can, in fact, be hacked, and it does pose some questions. We've called together today leaders of industry and some others. We have NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration). But I particularly want to thank the private sector partners. Several weeks ago we had a roundtable and an open and frank discussion of kind of where we are and where we're going and what the industry's doing to deal with some of these issues. And I think they've been most cooperative and I appreciate that. And we learned a lot from that particular informal meeting." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Nat Beuse, Harry M. Lightsey, Sandy Lobenstein, Diarmuid O'Connell, Dean C. Garfield, and Khaliah Barnes.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2016
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How TSA Can Improve Aviation Worker Vetting: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Transportation Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, June 16, 2015
This is the June 24, 2015 hearing on "How TSA [Transportation Safety Administration] Can Improve Aviation Worker Vetting," held before the House Subcommittee on Transportation Security. From the opening statement of John Katko: "In May, the inspector general released a report that found that TSA did not have the appropriate controls in place to ensure that screening equipment has necessary maintenance work performed. A few weeks ago, news outlets reported test results showing that screeners failed to detect prohibited threat items 96 percent of the time. Just last week, we learned that 73 airport employees with potential ties to terrorism were issued credentials which allowed them to get access to secure areas of airports. These more recent findings come out on the heels of revelations earlier this year of security breaches by employees at major U.S. airports involving a Nation-wide gun-smuggling ring and an employee of the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] bypassing security and flying with a loaded firearm using his SIDA [Security Identification Display Area] badge." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Roth, Stacey Fitzmaurice, and Jennifer Grover.
United States. Government Publishing Office
2015
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Press Briefing by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Deputy Secretary of State Jim Steinberg and Deputy Attorney General David Ogden on U.S.-Mexico Border Security Policy [March 24, 2009]
From the statement of Secretary Napolitano: "Our goal is twofold. One is to provide assistance to the government of Mexico, to break up these huge cartels which are funneling tonnage quantities of illegal drugs into our country on a regular basis, and are conducting this war of violence within Mexico that has resulted in over 6,000 homicides, over 550 of which were assassinations of law enforcement and public official personnel. The second is to guard against an increase in violence in the United States as a result of the actions undertaken in Mexico. There are a number of issues involved, a number of actions being undertaken by DHS in conjunction with the Department of State, the Department of Justice, with respect to Mexico. And I'm just going to go through a whole inventory of actions that are underway. Some we have already undertaken in the last several weeks; others are being taken either today or in the immediate future. First we are doubling the number of law enforcement personnel that are working in border-enforcement teams along the border. These are called BEST teams. These are teams that combine state and local with ICE and CBP personnel. Every state along the border will now have BEST teams. New Mexico previously had not had one. But just to give you a sense of how effective they are, they have already made more than 2,000 criminal arrests and seized nearly 8,000 pounds of cocaine. We are also strengthening Operation Armas Cruzadas. This is our operation where we work to seize arms that are going south to be used in this violent war in Mexico. Just this past week, March 7-13, we seized 997 firearms in one week that were going into Mexico, along with $4.5 million in conjunction with those firearms. So that is underway."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-03-24
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Secretary Napolitano Announces Major Southwest Border Security Initiative [March 24, 2009]
This March 24, 2009 press releases announces "several Southwest border initiatives designed to crack down on Mexican drug cartels through enhanced border security. The plan calls for additional personnel, increased intelligence capability and better coordination with state, local and Mexican law enforcement authorities. The announcements reflect an emphasis on information sharing and integration with state and local law enforcement agencies, as well as an effort to further engage Mexican authorities. With violence escalating across the border, Secretary Napolitano will increase personnel and improve screening and technology to help Mexico target illegal guns, drugs and cash. In addition, DHS will initiate strategic redeployments totaling more than 360 additional officers and agents at the border and in Mexico. Costs across the board, totaling up to $184 million, will be revenue neutral, funded by realigning from less urgent activities, fund balances, and, in some cases, reprogramming."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-03-24
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DHS Releases Conficker/Downadup Computer Worm Detection Tool [March 30, 2009]
This March 30, 2009 press release provides information on the release of a "DHS-developed detection tool that can be used by the federal government, commercial vendors, state and local governments, and critical infrastructure owners and operators to scan their networks for the Conficker/Downadup computer worm. The department's United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) developed the tool that assists mission-critical partners in detecting if their networks are infected. The tool has been made available to federal and state partners via the Government Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (GFIRST) Portal, and to private sector partners through the IT and Communications sector Information Sharing and Analysis Centers (ISACs). Additional outreach to partners will continue in the coming days."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-03-30
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Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program Procedures Manual
"This Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program Procedures Manual (Manual) provides guidance governing PCII and the PCII Program as established by Section 214 of the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002 (CII Act) and Section 29.(b)(4) of the implementing Regulation(Regulation). Terms and acronyms used herein are defined in Appendix 2, Definitions. This revised Manual reflects the evolution of the PCII Program as an information sharing tool, the operational experience the PCII Program Office gained over the last 3 years, and the issuance of the Regulation in September 2006 that amended the interim rule under which the PCII Program had been operating. The Secretary of Homeland Security designated the Under Secretary of the National Protection and Programs Directorate as the senior DHS official responsible for the direction and administration of the PCII Program and the PCII Program Manager (PM), appointed by the Under Secretary, administers the PCII Program's daily operations. PCII is a category of Sensitive but Unclassified (SBU) information that is afforded protections from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and similar State and local disclosure laws and use in civil litigation or for regulatory purposes. The PCII Program is unique because it provides a method for critical infrastructure owners to submit information voluntarily to the Federal government that the government would not otherwise have access to. Once information is submitted and the PCII Program has validated it as PCII, Federal, State, and local government entities can use the information to protect the Nation's critical infrastructure."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-04
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DHS/DOJ Fusion Process Technical Assistance Program and Services: Considerations for Fusion Center and Emergency Operations Center Coordination: Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 502 [DRAFT]
"In order for there to be successful interfacing and cooperation between fusion centers and emergency operations centers (EOCs), a familiarity should be built with each other's roles and capabilities. In addition to understanding roles and capabilities, it is imperative that the two develop a solid relationship in order to effectively work together to achieve the objectives of each. The relationships forged between these two entities will allow them to have continuous, meaningful contacts which will enhance their ability to share information and intelligence regardless of the activation status of the EOC. Policies on how they will interact should grow out of mutual trust and respect, paving the way for effective operations in steady state and emergency operations. In addition to formalizing a relationship through development of a joint concept of operations, standard operating procedures should be created, reviewed and updated to define the roles of each entity on a daily basis and during periods of activation. Familiarization with and definition of the processes for information flow is only the beginning of the relationship. Both the fusion center and the EOC should make it a part of their concept of operations (CONOPS) and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure continuous contact and exchange of information to improve public safety across the prevention, protection, response and recovery mission areas. This planning guide focuses on this critical partnership and the exchange of information between these entities."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security; United States. Department of Justice. Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative
2009-09
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30-Day Review of Spending by U.S. Customs and Border Protection under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for Construction of Land Ports of Entry
"When Congress enacted its economic stimulus legislation, it appropriated a sum of money far in excess of what the legacy organizations of the Department of Homeland Security had ever received for upgrades to the United States land ports of entry along the northern border. The facilities at those ports of entry have a long history of little or no investment in maintenance and improvements. By the time Congress enacted the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ('Recovery Act'), key officials in the Congress and the Executive Branch shared a mutual understanding that the current state of the facilities at those ports of entry were outdated in a manner that hindered the mission of the officers staffing those ports. We reviewed the plans for spending tax dollars on these facilities. We have concluded that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection component of the Department has followed the intent of Congress and has followed sound methodologies in implementing the spending instructions of the Recovery Act. We did not find any inappropriate interference (political or otherwise) in the merit-based decisions made with respect to upgrading these facilities."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-10-23
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Immigration Detention Overview and Recommendations
"This Report provides a comprehensive review and evaluation of the U.S. Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) system of Immigration Detention. It relies on information gathered by Dr. Dora Schriro, most recently the Director of the Office of Detention Policy and Planning, during tours of 25 facilities, discussions with detainees and employees, meetings with over 100 non-governmental organizations and federal, state, and local officials, and the review of data and reports from governmental agencies and human rights organizations. The findings are based on analyses of the ICE detainee population and arrest activities conducted specifically for this review. The Report describes the policy, human capital, informational, and management challenges associated with the rapid expansion of ICE's detention capacity from fewer than 7,500 beds in 1995 to over 30,000 today, without the benefit of tools for population forecasting, management, on-site monitoring, and central procurement. The Report identifies important distinctions between the characteristics of the Immigration Detention population in ICE custody and the administrative purpose of their detention-which is to hold, process, and prepare individuals for removal-as compared to the punitive purpose of the Criminal Incarceration system. The Report underscores the opportunity for ICE, in coordination with stakeholders, to design and implement a detention system with policies, facilities, programs, and oversight mechanisms that align with the administrative purpose of Immigration Detention. The Report provides a seven part framework for meeting the challenge of developing a new system of Immigration Detention. It concludes with concrete recommendations for reform in each of the seven areas of focus."
United States. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Schriro, Dora
2009-10-06
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Proposed Guidance for Protecting Responders' Health During the First Week Following a Wide-Area Anthrax Attack [DRAFT]
"This document provides policy recommendations for protection of personnel responding to a wide-area anthrax attack from exposure to Bacillis anthracis spores. A Federal interagency working group, consisting of subject matter experts in biodefense, infectious diseases, and occupational health and safety, has developed this draft consensus guidance regarding appropriate protective measures for responders in the immediate post-attack environment of an aerosolized anthrax attack. This proposed guidance statement reflects the most current understanding of the unique environment that will exist after a wide-area anthrax release. These recommendations will evolve with stakeholder input, scientific developments, and availability of new environmental monitoring techniques. This guidance applies to a particular scenario: a wide-area anthrax attack in a large U.S. city. These recommendations may not be appropriate for all biological attack scenarios, or even for all anthrax attack scenarios. A wide-area, outdoor aerosol attack employing B. anthracis spores would present different challenges than a smaller scale or indoor anthrax attack or attacks involving other agents. Specifically, these recommendations apply to a scenario in which a quantity of B. anthracis spores in a liquid or dried preparation is disseminated as a small-particle aerosol generated by a spraying device. The spores could be released from a single point or along a dissemination line from either a ground-based (e.g., truck mounted sprayer) or an airborne (e.g., crop-duster) delivery vehicle. The scenario assumes meteorological conditions that would favor maximum plume dissemination and could result in an affected area that could encompass hundreds of square miles and potentially expose hundreds of thousands to spores."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2009-09-29
