• First responders want more spectrum for safety network

    A 10-MHz swath of spectrum in the 700 MHz band freed up by last year’s switch to digital TV broadcasting already has been set aside for the nationwide network for first responders; public safety officials, though, said the additional bandwidth is necessary to create a robust, high-speed network capable of handling multiple kinds of data, as well as video and voice traffic

  • Earmarks in the 2010 DHS budget

    There were 186 earmarks the Homeland Security Appropriations bill approved by the House ten days ago; we offer a complete list of these earmarks, containing the names of the projects, how much money is involved, and the names of the lamwakers backing it; in a few days we will offer a list detailing which of these earmarks survived — and what earmarks were added during — the Senate authorization and the conference deliberations, and which were included in the $44.1 billion bill sent to President Obama on 20 October for siging

  • Analyzing Congress's homeland security agenda

    Heritage Foundation’s report offers useful analysis of what Congress should — and should not — do on the homeland security legal front

  • DHS authorization bill more likely next year

    An authorization bill sets policy and spending priorities for a departmental budget; since its creation in 2003, DHS has never operated under an authorization bill — and the administration has asked Congressional committees not to mark up the FY 2010 DHS bill

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  • Senate begins consideration of DHS budget

    The House approved a a $42.9 billion measure to fund DHS; the Senate picked up the measure yesterday; debate looms over whether to make the E-Verify measure permanent

  • NYC to receive $50 million for radiation detection

    The House approves the homeland security appropriation bill — with three Republican amendments; one of them, offered by Rep. Peter King of New York, added $50 million to restore funding for the Securing the Cities program, created to place radiological and nuclear sensors around New York City

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  • Hardin, Montana, wants to take in Guantanamo prisoners

    Hardin, Montana (pop. 4,300) had a problem: it invested $27 million in a 464-bed modern prison facility which is standing empty; the city council offered to use it to house Guantanamo prisoners; Montana’s congressional delegation objects

  • Senators urges Gates to continue production of Stealth fighter

    Utah senators lead group of legislators urging Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to continue production and procurement of the F-22 Raptor and the C-117; other legislators form group to fight Gates’s cancellation of other weapon systems

  • Obama's budget cuts off most funds for Yucca Mountain repository

    The future of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository appears grim; Obama campaigned against the project, which is already more the 10 years behind schdule; new scientific evidence showing that water flows through Yucca Mountain much faster than initially believed raises the prospect that the nuclear waste would leach over time

  • NSA gains support for cyber security role

    New Director of national Intelligence tells Congress DHS not up to task

  • President's proposed 2010 budget shows DHS priorities

    Proposed budget increase DHS budget by 6 percent; priorities include cyber security, helping TSA screen travelers, increase bomb disposal and counter-IED capabilities, border security, emergency response

  • Hill committees put authorization, chemical security bills on top of agendas

    Top House and Senate Homeland Security committees staffers say their top priorities would be authorization of DHS budget and chemical plants safety measure which may include “inherently safer technologies”

  • Political wrangling over House homeland security panel's priorities

    Democratic majority on panel wants DHS authorization bill completed by 1 May - but panel chairman admits schedule may “slip”; Republicans want to make sure authorization is completed before appropriations are set, arguing that the authorization bill would give direction to appropriators

  • TSA meets initial screening cargo goal

    Congress has mandated through the 9/11 law that 50 percent of cargo on passenger carrying aircraft be screened by February 2009 and 100 percent of cargo be screened by August 2010; TSA says it currently screens all cargo on narrow body, passenger-carrying aircraft; these account for more than 90 percent of all passenger carrying aircraft in the United States

  • Neither presidential campaign has contacted DHS about transition

    DHS has set up transition teams to facilitate a smooth and effective transmission of information and transition of authority to the new administration, but neither the McCain or the Obama campaign has contacted the teams