Policy

Bipartisan Senators Want Commodity Regulations For Crypto

A new bill would task the Commodity Futures Trading Commission with imposing more consumer protections and other oversight regulations on digital asset trading.

Cybersecurity

New Bill Would Unlock Cybersecurity Funding for Small Businesses

Sen. Maggie Hassan’s proposed law would help set up funds to protect smaller organizations from malware.

Digital Government

Accurate U.S. Crime Data Demands More State Participation

FBI Director Christopher Wray discussed federal data reporting from state and local jurisdictions, and how advanced technologies stand to help.

Modernization

Senate Committee Approves AGILE Procurement Act for IT and Communications Tech

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs advanced the AGILE Act of 2022 in an effort to help improve the federal government’s IT procurement process.

Emerging Tech

NASA Authorization Act Aims to Strengthen U.S. Space Exploration

The NASA Authorization Act was passed as part of the CHIPS Act and is the first authorization bill for NASA in five years.

Ideas

China Has a New Global Development Initiative, But Who Will Actually Benefit From It?

China has another plan to enhance its global political and economic power.

Digital Government

Government Authority to Counter Drones Gets Expansion Under New Legislation 

The Senate bill  would extend the DHS and DOJ’s drone-countering abilities that are set to expire in October, while also implementing some of the Biden administration’s recommendations for mitigating risks posed by potentially malicious drones.

Policy

Senators Propose Cybercrime Training Center Get 6 More Years of Congressional Support

Legislation to reauthorize the National Computer Forensics Institute through 2028 comes after House lawmakers passed a similar proposal included in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.

Digital Government

Audits of CBP’s Facial Recognition Partners ‘Vital to Building Trust,’ Lawmaker Says

The agency has “a ways to go” in auditing facial recognition partners for privacy and security, a watchdog noted.

Digital Government

Senators Introduce Bill to Ensure Resiliency of Federal Data Centers

The proposal would establish baseline safeguards for cybersecurity and physical issues like natural disasters.

Cybersecurity

Banking Groups Urge Senators to Reject NDAA Provision as Harmful to Cybersecurity

The provision for identifying “systemically important entities” included in the House-passed NDAA could still hitch a ride on the massive defense bill when it’s called to the floor in the upper chamber.

Modernization

Lack of Oversight Continues to Harm Accessibility of Federal Websites, Senators Say

DOJ has not issued reports on federal agencies’ compliance with accessibility standards in a decade, despite many federal websites still remaining inaccessible.

Policy

Warren Set to Introduce New Bill Targeting Crypto Scams

The Democratic senator said she will unveil new legislation to better regulate cryptocurrency investment from larger firms “vampire sucking” money from smaller entities.

Policy

Bill Aims To Reclassify Broadband As Essential To Promote Net Neutrality

Two Democratic senators unveiled a new bill to codify broadband as an essential service and prevent discriminatory practices.

Emerging Tech

Prolific Crypto Market Demands Regulation, Investor Education, Experts Say

Financial regulation experts tell Congress a lack of regulation on digital currencies and lending exacerbates lack of consumer education.

Artificial Intelligence

AI Could Help Congress Schedule and Find Unexpected Consensus, Expert Says

Members of the House Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress discussed how artificial intelligence and machine learning could help improve policy outcomes.

Cybersecurity

Lawmakers Question DOJ’s National Security Division on Cybersecurity, Surveillance

The House Judiciary Committee raised concerns over  three hostile foreign actors that breached court systems in early 2020, in addition to questions about the surveillance of Americans.

Modernization

Top Republican to 'Seriously Consider Pulling the Plug' on VA's New EHR System

The ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee plans to introduce legislation before the end of the year to address deficiencies in the rollout of the new Oracle-Cerner electronic health record system.