Health Experts: Holistic Disease Tracking, Response Would Improve International Security – CQ Homeland Security
America needs to start treating international health work as less of a charity and more of a national security priority or face the threat of conflict with poorer countries, experts said at a U.S. Institute of Peace discussion Tuesday.
It’s amazing how events halfway around the globe can change the daily life for us here in the United States. That was the case for anyone who rode DC’s Metro system yesterday, as its police force was very visible following the double suicide bombings in Moscow that killed more than three dozen people. For DC Metro riders, the presence of uniformed police officers with canine units was meant to offer assurance that they were on top of things. But for all of our usage of the word “resilience,” we are not the resilient society we need to be. We’ve made big strides towards becoming that community in many ways, but there is still a cultural weathering that has to take place for the resilient attitude and character to take firm root.
In a town that has seen just about everything, especially after all the drama of the health care debate, you couldn’t help but shake your head in laughter late Friday night when word came that TSA Administrator Nominee MG Robert Harding, withdrew his name from consideration. After going through two confirmation hearings last week and emerging relatively unscathed, it appeared Harding was on his way to confirmation. But along came some strategic and completely fair questions by the Washington Post and, “BOOM!” Harding’s quest went up in smoke. Someone in the White House was either so desperate to fill this critical position that they just put Harding out there without taking a good hard look at things or they are just plain incompetent at doing their job.
Obama Defies Senate GOP, Makes First Set of Recess Appointments – CQ Homeland Security
Craig Becker, a controversial union lawyer whose appointment to the National Labor Relations Board had been blocked by Senate Republicans, was among 15 recess appointments announced Saturday by the White House.
Utilities take wait-and-see approach to smart grid investment, survey finds – NextGov
Despite unprecedented spending to spur investment in smart grid energy technologies — $3.4 billion in the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act — utilities have not embraced the effort.
T.S.A. Could Be Leaderless for Months After the Withdrawal of a Second Nominee – NY Times
The agency that guards airline security inside the United States is likely to remain without a Senate-confirmed leader for months to come after President Obama’s nominee for the position abruptly withdrew late Friday night amid questions from Congress about his work as a defense contractor.
Proposed Cargo-Screening Cuts a Concern to Lawmakers – CQ HS
The Obama administration’s proposal to cut millions of dollars from programs that scan U.S.-bound freight in foreign ports had House appropriators worried Wednesday over Customs and Border Protection’s plans for the future of cargo screening.
Only two months ago, Erroll Southers withdrew his name from nomination for TSA Administrator. His withdrawal came after months of waiting, with holds placed on his confirmation for various reasons; largely, because of the much-debated issue of collective bargaining rights for TSA employees. Recently, he made a move to the private sector.
With back-to-back confirmation hearings before the US Senate’s Commerce and Homeland Security Committees under his belt, it would appear that MG Robert Harding is on a clear approach to be the next TSA Administrator. With two different rooms of aviation industry representatives, union activists and other interested observers looking on, Harding answered a range of anticipated questions about his tenure as a business owner, his intelligence experience and his thoughts on collective bargaining for TSA employees. I just hope the White House has the resolve and character to fight for MG Harding. It would be a shame to watch another good nominee have his name and reputation soiled for political gamesmanship.
Bioterrorism Threats Highlighted in Hearing – Counterterrorism Blog
State Department and non-government experts have told Congress that a biological weapons attack is a clear and present danger and that countering the threats overseas is essential to protect the United State.
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