Legislative Activity Impact of Government Shutdown on DHS The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retained more staff than other agencies because many of its operations cover fields deemed “essential,” such as law enforcement and national security. However, DHS officials still report increased challenges due to the overall impact of the shutdown. In response, House … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Impact of Government Shutdown on DHS Despite the government shutdown, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) retained more staff than other agencies because much of its operations cover fields deemed to be “essential,” such as law enforcement and national security. However, DHS officials still report increased challenges due to the overall impact of … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity U.S. Department of Homeland Security Nomination Hearings On Tuesday, October 1, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will consider Obama administration nominees for U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the General Counsel and Under Secretary of Homeland Security. The committee is expected to report out the two nominees to … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY WRDA Reauthorization Floor consideration of H.R. 3080, the Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2013 (WRRDA), is expected in early October but pressing action on the continuing resolution and the debt ceiling may cause some delay. This Week’s Hearings: Tuesday, October 1: The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Panel on 21st Century … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Cybersecurity Legislation Last week, the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies marked up two cybersecurity bills – the Critical Infrastructure Research and Development Advancement (CIRDA) Act of 2013 (H.R. 2952) and the Homeland Security Cybersecurity Boots-on-the-Ground Act (H.R. 3107). The subcommittee passed both bills by voice vote and … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity U.S. Department of Homeland Security Nomination Hearings Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Thomas Carper (D-DE) and Ranking Member Tom Coburn (R-OK) continue to criticize the outstanding number of open leadership slots at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Last week, the committee held a hearing to consider nominees to … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Cybersecurity Legislation Although the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee has already completed its work on a cybersecurity bill this Congress, many stakeholders are waiting to see what the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is planning for its cybersecurity legislation. At a hearing last week, Chairman Tom Carper (D-DE) laid … Continue Reading
LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY DHS 10-year Anniversary As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hits the 10-year mark, the House and Senate are reviewing the progress and remaining challenges facing the Department since its inception. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee members from both sides of the aisle have acknowledged that Congress needs to reduce … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Cybersecurity Legislation The House Homeland Security Committee is currently circulating a revised draft of the National Cybersecurity and Critical Protection Act (NCCIP), the committee’s cybersecurity legislation. The bill would codify many of the current cybersecurity roles of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation Last week, Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Cybersecurity Act of 2013 (S. 1353) and also held a hearing related to the legislation. The bill would give authority to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Secretary of Homeland Security After Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano’s announcement last week that she will be stepping down from her position, it remains unclear who will be chosen to replace her as the head of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Several names have been mentioned in connection with a possible … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is expected to mark up a bipartisan cybersecurity bill before the end of this month. A draft of the bill is currently being circulated and contains provisions that would codify the role of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to continue … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee is expected to mark up a bipartisan cybersecurity bill drafted by Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) and Ranking Member John Thune (R-SD) by the end of this month. The bill will be focused on defining industry standards for critical infrastructure and strengthening cybersecurity … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Budget and Appropriations The House approved its version of FY 2014 Homeland Security appropriations on June 6, but the Senate is just beginning the appropriations process. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) has announced that the Homeland Security Subcommittee 302(b) allocation for FY 2014 will be $39.1 billion (plus $227 billion for … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) The Senate Armed Services Committee filed its bill, S. 1197, on Thursday, June 20. Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member James Inhofe (R-OK) would like to bring the bill to the Senate floor in July, but that remains uncertain at this time. Defense Appropriations Last week, … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation In the Senate, the committees with jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues continue to work on drafting legislation that will be introduced in the coming weeks, including the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and the Senate Intelligence Committee. Previous efforts to pass cybersecurity … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Comprehensive Immigration Reform This week, the Senate will continue to consider its comprehensive immigration reform bill – the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744) – though an amendment introduced by Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) regarding border security may hold up the process. Senator Cornyn’s amendment would add requirements to … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity Cybersecurity Legislation The House Homeland Security Committee will introduce a new piece of cybersecurity legislation that would codify the cyber roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as address other key aspects of cybersecurity. The committee has been working with stakeholders for several weeks on its draft … Continue Reading
Legislative Branch Activity House Homeland Security Committee Legislation According to House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX), the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies is planning to mark up legislation on Thursday, June 13 that would codify the cyber roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Budget and Appropriations On May 22, the House Appropriations Committee approved the FY 2014 Homeland Security appropriations bill, which provides $38.9 billion in discretionary funding to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) overall: $35 million below the president’s request, $618 million below the fiscal 2013 enacted amount and $981 million above the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Homeland Security Committee Legislation The House Homeland Security Committee is drafting legislation that will codify the cybersecurity roles and responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as well as address other key aspects of cyber. This is the last of the cyber bills the House is expected to move through the … Continue Reading
