WEEKLY UPDATE August 5 - 9, 2019 BROOKS BAWDEN MOORE Inside This Latest News I s s u e : *** Congress is out for an extended August recess until after Labor Day. During August, our Highlighted 1 I s s u e s updates will be published every other week, unless special events or issues arise. *** This Week’s 2 • The House and Senate will be meeting in pro forma sessions during its August recess, and H e a r i n g s / will return for legislative business on September 9. There has been some discussion that M a r k u p s Congress might return in August to debate gun control legislation, however no official decision has been made. Legislation 2 on the Floor • ODNI Director - On Thursday, President Trump announced that NCTC Director Jo- P r e v i o u s 3 seph Maguire will become the acting Director of National Intelligence once Director H e a r i n g s / Coats steps down next week. Current Deputy Director of National Intelligence Sue Gor- M a r k u p s don announced yesterday that she was stepping down when Coats leaves. P r e v i o u s 3 • CLIENTS IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Advances in new technologies have provided law Floor Actions enforcement with the ability to develop and investigative leads that can help solve crimes Introduced 4 that may never have otherwise been solved in years past. We are proud to work with Legislation LEO Technologies which offers a solution to analyze inmate phone calls and detect poten- tial criminal activity. Highlighted in the following article is a real-world example of how U p c o m i n g 6 E v e n t s LEO Technologies systems was able to help solve a murder. You can read the article here. Previous • ARTICLES OF INTEREST: U p d a t e s : Trump announces new intel chief pick; No. 2 intelligence official is leaving ad- ministration • FY 2019 FEMA CNN | Nicole Gaouette, Kevin Liptak Grants President Donald Trump announced Thursday night that Joseph Maguire, the leader of the National Counterterrorism Center, is his new pick to be the acting director of national • FY 2020 Budget intelligence. "I am pleased to inform you that the Honorable Joseph Maguire, current Di- rector of the National Counterterrorism Center, will be named Acting Director of Na- • FY 2019 Omnibus tional Intelligence, effective August 15th," Trump tweeted. The announcement came not long after Trump tweeted that Sue Gordon, the country's number two intelligence official • Congressional and an intelligence veteran of more than 30 years, would resign. White House officials had Leadership been signaling such a move for days, saying Trump would prefer to have a political loyalist • Weekly 7/29/19 in the role. Trump calls on DOJ to work with social media companies to identify mass • Weekly 7/22/19 shooters • Weekly 7/15/19 The Hill | Emily Birnbaum President Trump on Monday called for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to work closely • Weekly 7/8/19 with social media companies to identify potential mass shooters in remarks that largely • Weekly 6/24/19 www.bbm-dc.com │300 M Street, S.E. Suite 402 Washington D.C. 20003 │ (202) 350-0103 A U G U S T 5 - 9 , 2 0 1 9 WEEKLY UPDATE Page 2 focused on how technology can enable real-world violence. During a speech in which the president condemned white supremacy and hatred following two mass shootings this weekend in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, Trump said the internet plays an important role in radicalizing mass shooters. Continue reading here. FBI agents warn domestic terrorism poses 'threat to the American people' Politico | Quint Forgey The FBI Agents Association on Tuesday demanded that members of Congress codify domestic terrorism as a federal crime, warning it poses “a threat to the American people and our democracy.” “Acts of violence intended to intimidate civilian populations or to influence or affect government policy should be prosecuted as domestic terrorism regardless of the ideology behind them,” FBIAA President Brian O’Hare said in a statement. The association “continues to urge Congress to make domestic terrorism a federal crime,” O’Hare added — a designation that “would ensure that FBI Agents and prosecutors have the best tools to fight domestic terrorism.” Continue reading here. FBI warns of possible copycat attacks by domestic extremists in wake El Paso, Dayton ABC News | Greg Luke Barr The FBI has underscored the ongoing threat of copycat shootings from domestic violent extremists in the wake of the El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH mass shootings that left at least 31 victims dead. "The FBI remains concerned that U.S. -based domestic violent extremists could become inspired by these and previous high-profile attacks to engage in simi- lar acts of violence," the bureau said in a statement late Sunday. "The FBI asks the American public to report to law enforcement any suspicious activity that is observed either in person or online," the statement said. In the wake of the recent attacks, FBI Director Chris Wray has told senior FBI officials to put together a new threat assessment looking at mass shootings. Continue reading here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Hearings & Markups Happening This Week The House and Senate are not in session. Both chambers are in recess through the month of August, and will return on September 9. Upcoming scheduled hearings/markups: There are no upcoming scheduled hearings in the House and Senate. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Legislation on the Floor This Week House: The House met in pro forma sessions this week, and no legislative business occurred. Senate: Note: Due to Senate scheduling and rules, additional items not listed may be added to the calendar for consideration. The Senate met in pro forma sessions this week, and no legislative business occurred. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ www.bbm-dc.com │300 M Street, S.E. Suite 402 Washington D.C. 20003 │ (202) 350-0103 A U G U S T 5 - 9 , 2 0 1 9 WEEKLY UPDATE Page 3 Recap of Last Week’s Hearings & Markups Note: For more details on any of the following hearings, we can provide access to hearing transcripts upon request. Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee - Full Committee Hearing - July 30 Unprecedented Migration at the U.S. Southern Border: What Is Required to Improve Conditions? Summary: This hearing examined what resources are needed to improve conditions for migrants at the border. The Act- ing DHS IG discussed recent announced inspections of detention facilities by the IG, and outlined concerns with over- crowding at some facilities. CBP Acting Commissioner discussed how CBP is reliant upon HHS and ICE to take custody of unaccompanied children and other adult migrants, which has extended the processing of some within CBP custody. Addi- tionally, since emergency funding has been approved, they have sped up the process of detainees in CBP custody. However, more resources for additional beds at ICE facilities are needed, and without those resources, delays to processing of mi- grants within CBP custody will continue. Senate Judiciary Committee - Nominations Hearing - July 31 Nomination of Kenneth Charles Canterbury, Jr., to be Director, Bureau Of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, And Explosives Status: Hearing held on 7/31. Senate Judiciary Committee - Full Committee Markup - August 1 S. 1494 - Secure and Protect Act of 2019 Status: Approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on 8/1. Summary: To amend the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 to pro- tect alien minors and to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to end abuse of the asylum system and estab- lish refugee application and processing centers outside the United States, and for other purposes. ___________________________________________________________________________________________ Legislation Considered Last Week House: The House was not in session. Senate: H.R. 3877 - Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 Status: Approved by the Senate on 8/1; Approved by the House on 7/25. Summary: This budget agreement increases statutory spending limits by $323 billion combined in fiscal year 2020 and 2021, staving off impending steep budget cuts through sequestration. The legislation would also suspend the debt limit through July 31, 2021. www.bbm-dc.com │300 M Street, S.E. Suite 402 Washington D.C. 20003 │ (202) 350-0103 A U G U S T 5 - 9 , 2 0 1 9 WEEKLY UPDATE Page 4 Legislation Introduced Last Week Date Introduced Bill Number Sponsor Description Donald McEachin (D- To provide access to counsel for children and other vulnerable popu- 8/2/2019 HR 4155 VA-4) lations. Strongly condemning the violent actions of Antifa and recognizing 8/2/2019 HRes 536 Mark Green (R-TN-7) that it engages in domestic terrorism. 8/1/2019 S 2434 gary Peters (D-MI) A bill to establish the National Criminal Justice Commission. Marsha Blackburn (R- A bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require a DNA 8/1/2019 S 2420 TN) test to determine the familial relationship between an alien and an 7/31/2019 S 2400 Dick Durbin (D-IL) A bill to promote cannabis research, and for other purposes. A bill to authorize the Attorney General to make grants to State and 7/31/2019 S 2397 Dan Sullivan (R-AK) Tribal courts in order to allow the electronic service of certain court Robert Menendez (D- A bill to protect United States citizens and residents from unlawful 7/31/2019 S 2396 NJ) profiling, arrest, and detention and for other purposes. A bill to prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for any violation 7/31/2019 S 2390 Dick Durbin (D-IL) of Federal law, and for other purposes.