HR 6617 Passed in Senate – FY 2022 CR

Yesterday, the Senate took up HR 6617, the Further Additional Extending Government Funding Act. After rejecting three Republican amendments which would have required that the bill go back to the House for further consideration, the bill was passed by a largely bipartisan vote of 65 to 27. President Biden is expected to sign the bill that will continue the current funding of the Federal government through March 11^th, 2022.

HR 6617 Passed in House – FY 2022 CR

This afternoon, the House passed HR 6617, the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations Act by a moderately bipartisan vote of 272 to 162. The bill will extend the current level of government spending through March 11^th, 2021. The bill will probably be taken up later this week. The current spending authorization expires February 18^th, 2022. The House took up the bill this week because they are scheduled to be working remotely next week.

House to Consider HR 6617 – FY 2022 CR

The House is scheduled to take up HR 6617, the Further Additional Ex5 tending Government Funding Act. The bill would extend the current continuing resolution thru March 11^th. This is a relatively ‘clean’ CR. It does add funds for response and clean up of the military fuel leakage in Hawaii. Division B of the bill provides extensions a number of different authorities, including the scheduling of fentanyl-related substances as schedule I controlled substances, through March 11^th.

The bill will be considered under a closed rule, 1-hour of debate and no amendments. The bill is likely to pass with at least some bipartisan support. It will likely be taken up in the Senate later this week. The current CR expires on February 18^th, 2022.

Bills Introduced – 07-26-18

Yesterday with both the House and Senate in session (and the House preparing to leave on its extended summer break) there were 131 bills introduced (109 in the House). Of these, five may be of specific interest to readers of this blog:

HR 6555 To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a DHS Cybersecurity On-the-Job Training and Employment Apprentice Program, and for other purposes. Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]

HR 6609 To amend title 46, United States Code, to reauthorize the port security grant program, and for other purposes. Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]

HR 6617 To provide for a legal framework for the operation of public unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. Rep. Poe, Ted [R-TX-2]

HR 6620 To require the Department of Homeland Security to prepare a threat assessment relating to unmanned aircraft systems, and for other purposes. Rep. Richmond, Cedric L. [D-LA-2]

S 3288 A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide the Department of Justice needed legal authorities to combat cybercrime, including state sponsored cybercrime, and for other purposes. Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]

I suspect HR 6555 will be a program for federal employees, but it would still be worthwhile to watch how such a program was established. It could actually be an interesting model for similar programs in the private sector.

It will be interesting to see what sorts of restrictions are placed on public unmanned aircraft systems in HR 6617.

S 3288 will bear close scrutiny of definitions as they will likely have unintended bearing on activities of cybersecurity researchers.