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April 22, 2008
- House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Heads to Brooklyn
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security Gets Progress Report on Fusion Centers
- Thompson Outlines Upcoming Hearings
- Firm Develops Interoperable Radios for First Responders
- Army Requests $252.5 M Transfer to Boost FCS Priorities
- OMB Watch-Lists More than 950 Government IT Projects
- Binghamton Press Sun Bulletin: Lockheed Consortium Bids for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program
- Plattsburgh Press Republican: Quebec & NYS Sign Homeland Security Information Sharing MOU
- Los Angeles Times: On the Border with Michael Chertoff
- Washington Post: Government To Require Digital Fingerprints on All Exiting Foreigners
- Government Accountability Office: Recent Reports
- Federal Register: Regulation Promulgation
Congressional Roundup
House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee Heads to Brooklyn
The Subcommittee on Transportation Security & Infrastructure Protection takes its work on the road this week to the Brooklyn Public Library. The Field Hearing, “Protecting the Mass Transit Critical Infrastructure in New York City and In the Nation” will get underway at 9:30 am on Friday, April 25th and will not be web cast. Witnesses invited to testify include Deputy Secretary for Public Safety Michael Balboni; James Little, the International President of the Transportation Workers Union; Thomas Lambert, Senior Vice President & Chief of Police for Houston METRO; and Raymond Kelly, Commissioner, New York City Police Department.
Senate Committee on Homeland Security Gets Progress Report on Fusion Centers
In a hearing last week convened by the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, members heard from two different panels discussing the status of fusion centers, which were formed post-9/11 to address information sharing gaps relating to criminal or terrorist activity. The GAO provided testimony that provided an overview on the characteristics of various fusion centers and federal efforts to help alleviate challenges these centers identified. Challenges identified by the fusion centers included funding and obtaining personnel. The GAO’s full testimony can be found at: www.gao.gov/new.items/d08636t.pdf
Thompson Outlines Upcoming Hearings
House Homeland Security Committee chairman Bennie Thompson outlined hearings he plans to hold in the coming months including an immigration enforcement bill backed by Republicans; and on border security issues including a bill introduced by Rep. Heath Shuler (D-NC). In a speech at the Center for American Progress, Thompson noted that over the next month his committee will examine the Homeland Security Department’s plans for transitioning to a new presidential administration; and to examine how resilient critical sectors of the economy and country are. He also indicated that hearings in June and July will explore how the department is meeting mandates of a massive law enacted last year to implement most of the unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. He noted that he did not see a need for the committee to go through a full-blown authorization bill.
Around Town:
Firm Develops Interoperable Radios for First Responders
The Homeland Security Department has signed a $6.275 million contract with MD-based Thales Communications, Inc. to test the Liberty, the first land mobile radio system capable of broadcasting across all public safety frequency bands and designed to meet the specifications of first responders. Several prototypes of the device have been developed and the firm is now making copies to test the technology in large and small first-responder agencies across the country. The radio is approximately the same size and weight as conventional portables but will cost around $6,000 and is intended for use by commanders and other supervisory personnel. The new Thales radio has a built-in scanner enabling users to move from channel to channel, and lock on to conversations.
Army Requests $252.5 M Transfer to Boost FCS Priorities
Army officials have asked Congress for permission to shift $252.5 million in FY08 accounts to pay for high-priority portions of the service’s massive Future Combat Systems program. If approved, the reprogramming request would help ameliorate the effects of the $228 million trimmed from FCS in the FY08 Defense Spending bill. The reprogramming request would cut funding from two non-FCS accounts: $45 million from a military satellite communications effort that is facing a delayed contract award and $33 million from ground vehicle research and development funding the Army says it no longer needs. Most of the requested reallocations - $174.5 million – would shift money from other areas of the FCS budget and require a reduction in the size of the contract personnel working on the program.
OMB Watch-Lists More than 950 Government IT Projects
OMB has placed more than 950 government information technology projects, together worth $40 billion, on two watch lists that call for high-level special attention. One list covers major IT investments, the other “high risk” initiatives. The watch lists, a legacy of the 1996 Clinger-Cohen Act, required agencies to submit business plans for IT investments to OMB. If an agency’s roadmap contains flaws, it is put on the watch list and targeted for follow-up actions to fix potential problems prior to execution. The high risk list was created in 2005 to focus on planning for major investments and to ensure that agencies are meeting IT goals and achieving results. The Defense Department had the most projects on the “management watch list” with 63; and the Department of Homeland Security had 42. The Treasury Department topped the “high risk” list with 83 projects; Homeland Security had 43.
In the News:
Binghamton Press Sun Bulletin: Lockheed Consortium Bids for Joint Light Tactical Vehicle Program
The Press-Sun reports on the application submitted by Lockheed Martin Systems Integration and their team to bid on the next generation JLTVs for the US Army and Marine Corps: www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080415/BUSINESS/804150303/1043/stbn
Plattsburgh Press Republican: Quebec & NYS Sign Homeland Security Information Sharing MOU
The Press Republican reports on the recently signed MOU between New York State and the province of Quebec, stressing the economic and cultural ties which also mean a shared responsibility to fight crime and terrorism: www.pressrepublican.com/archivesearch/local_story_106220055.html
Los Angeles Times: On the Border with Michael Chertoff
The LA Times spends time with Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff as he observes “virtual fence” border progress in Arizona and Texas: www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-chertoff19apr19,0,2681560.story
Washington Post: Government To Require Digital Fingerprints on All Exiting Foreigners
The WP reports that all commercial airlines and cruise lines must be prepared to collect digital fingerprints of all foreigners before they depart the country, as part of the Homeland Security Department’s US-VISIT program. DHS is expected to issue their regulations April 22nd with a 60-day comment period to follow. The full article can be found at:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/21/AR2008042103036_pf.html
Government Accountability Office: Recent Reports
GAO weighs in on steps taken by the US Northern Command to better coordinate with states and the National Guard Bureau. The GAO identified three gaps in coordination between NORTHCOM, the states and the National Guard: NORTHCOM minimally involved the states in the development of its homeland defense and civil support plans; NORTHCOM was not familiar with state emergency response plans and has no process for obtaining this information; and a 2005 agreement which is intended to provide the procedures by which NORTHCOM and the National Guard interact does not clearly define each agency’s roles and responsibilities for planning for homeland defense and civil support. The full report can be found at: www.gao.gov/new.items/d08251.pdf
The GAO convened a forum on strengthening the use of risk management principles in homeland security recently. The forum addressed effective practices, challenges federal agencies face in applying risk management to homeland security, and actions that can strengthen homeland security risk management. The participants included a wide array of public policy experts, economists, educators, public officials including NYS Deputy Secretary for Homeland Security Michael Balboni, and private sector representatives from across the country. The forum highlights document can be accessed at: www.gao.gov/new.items/d08627sp.pdf
Federal Register: Regulation Promulgation
The Defense Department, General Services Administration and National Aeronautics & Space Administration promulgated a series of final rules in the April 22, 2008 Federal Register amending Federal Acquisition Regulations to reflect the President’s delegation of the Defense Production Act’s priorities and allocations; and adding conditions regarding violation of federal criminal tax laws and delinquent federal taxes to standards of contractor responsibility and causes for debarment and suspension. Full text of the final rules can be found at:
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8508.pdf
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-8451.pdf
Don’t forget to check out our Events page which lists numerous upcoming opportunities to learn and network on homeland security issues!
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