People

Bill proposes new employee verification system

The system, which would be based on databases operated in each state, would offer an option of including biometric data.

People

DHS: SBInet system not being mothballed

Homeland Security Department officials say they accepted the prototype for Project 28 because the basic design will work in some, though not all, terrains.

People

Coast Guard tests waters with new patrol programs

The Coast Guard is working to interdict coastal smugglers and illegal cross-border traffickers in Canada and using biometrics to catch human traffickers near Puerto Rico.

People

Demand for hybrid driver's licenses high in Washington

The state has issued more than 2,000 new hybrid drivers license-passport cards in the past month, and 13,000 more people have signed up for them.

People

DHS directorate elusive, CRS report states

Industry executives have a hard time reaching officials at the Science and Technology Directorate, according to the Congressional Research Service.

People

FBI awards NGI contract to Lockheed Martin

Under the contract, potentially worth $1 billion, the company will develop the bureau's Next Generation Identification system.

People

EU may require biometrics for entry

Visitors would have to submit biometric and personal information in a proposed European Passenger Name record, before being allowed entry into European Union countries, media reports state.

People

IG: National icons at risk

The Park Police needs to do a better job of projecting the Washington Monument and Statue of Liberty, according to a report from Interior's inspector general.

People

SBInet hits software snag

DHS says it needs to perform additional tests on the initial 28-mile segment of the SBInet border surveillance system.

People

IG: DHS suffers from poor management

Integrating IT systems at DHS remains one of the greatest challenges, IG Richard Skinner wrote.

People

GAO to Customs: Improve cargo assessments

More and better performance measures are needed to determine if the Container Security Initiative is effective, GAO said.

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Air Force bases fight to claim Cyber Command

The center, which will focus on the country's cybersecurity, would bring in jobs and potentially millions of dollars in economic impact.

People

Ridge takes adviser position at public-alert company

The former Homeland Security Department secretary is joining TechRadium.

People

Coast Guard asks Deepwater contractors for refund

The Coast Guard wants $96.1 million refunded, saying the companies made defective boats that do not meet requirements.

People

Registration to ease international travel

Provisions in the fiscal 2008 spending bill call for expanding Registered Traveler.

People

House boosts funding for key homeland security projects

The $34.9 billion DHS would get includes $2.7 billion for emergency spending for border security and $475 million for US-VISIT.

People

Real ID grants to assist states

“These funds will advance the ability of states to verify the legitimacy of documents that applicants present and to confirm that the applicants are who they say they are," Secretary Michael Chertoff said.

People

Defense bill increases contractor oversight

The legislation improves accountability in contracting, prohibits use of lead systems integrators on new programs after Oct. 1, 2010, and strengthens whistleblower protections.

People

DHS' data mining sparks more controversy

Although the department ended one program, it is still conducting visual analytics research through another.

People

Driver's licenses could double as border-crossing cards

British Columbia wants to use the cards in lieu of a passport.