http://www.defensedaily.com Defense Daily en-us 2012 Thu, 9 Feb 2012 6:05:50 EST Despite a nearly five-year old congressional mandate that all maritime cargo destined for the United States be scanned for threats beginning this July, a deadline that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said three years ago would likely be unmet... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16686.html Wed, 8 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST A senior lawmaker questioned yesterday if the Obama administration’s proposal to loosen rules for the export of some military equipment could result in U.S. equipment unintentionally ending up in China. At issue is the administration’s... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16691.html Wed, 8 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST It is unclear whether a new law that President Obama is expected to sign that is expected to make it easier for airports in the United States to opt out of using a federal screener workforce will result in a flood of applications to take their screening... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16692.html Wed, 8 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Two powerful lawmakers sent letters to the defense secretary and government auditors yesterday decrying the Pentagon’s decision to lift a probation on the development of a variant of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Senate Armed Services... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16672.html Tue, 7 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Senate Republicans pitched a plan yesterday for staving off the initial defense spending cuts triggered by failed budget talks, garnering praise from House Republicans but rebukes from Senate Democrats. Sens. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), John McCain (R-Ariz.) and four... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16648.html Fri, 3 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Republican senators fighting potential defense-spending reductions triggered by failed budget negotiations are finalizing legislation that may try to offset initial Pentagon cuts with savings from attrition in the federal workforce. The emerging plan... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16614.html Wed, 1 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and several of her Democratic and Republican colleagues on a panel that oversees the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) yesterday introduced a bill requiring the department to launch an independent study of the health effects... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16619.html Wed, 1 Feb 2012 0:00:00 EST Pentagon leaders proposed multiple weapons-program changes yesterday--including cutting F-35 Joint Strike Fighter procurement, cancelling block 30 Global Hawk drones, and delaying the new ballistic-missile submarine--in the opening salvo of a battle with... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16561.html Fri, 27 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST The Air Force C-27J aircraft used to go the last tactical mile bringing vital supplies to the soldiers in Afghanistan is a program in jeopardy as program and budget cuts loom, the Army Chief of Staff said yesterday. “The C-27 program looks like it... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16537.html Thu, 26 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST President Barack Obama named Frank Kendall yesterday to formally take over as the Pentagon’s top official for acquisition, and nominated three others for senior defense positions. Kendall has been acting in the role of undersecretary of defense for... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16529.html Wed, 25 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST As the president and defense secretary prepare to preview the fiscal year 2013 budget this week, the unveiling of the actual budget plan has been delayed until mid-February. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) “will release the FY 2013... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16511.html Tue, 24 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said last Friday industry has to do more to control costs with weapon systems when he formally announced work on an F-35 Joint Strike Fighter variant will no longer be on hold. Panetta visited Naval Air Station Patuxent... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16499.html Mon, 23 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Four senior lawmakers are objecting to the Obama administration’s plans to negotiate a code of conduct with other nations for activity in space. Among their concerns, cited in a letter to President Barack Obama, are that such a space pact would be an... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16487.html Fri, 20 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Small businesses could do more work with the Pentagon if it eases up on the practice of bundling contracts, advocates for smaller contractors told lawmakers. Linda Hillmer, chairwoman of the National Defense Industrial Association’s Small Business... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16471.html Thu, 19 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST The administration would have flexibility in doling out potential Pentagon budget cuts that could kick in next January, a former White House official said. John Cooney, previous general counsel at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), joined other... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16461.html Wed, 18 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST A senior defense-focused senator cautioned the Navy yesterday against growing its fleet to 313 ships by purchasing what she views as too many less-advanced vessels, expressing concern about the service's rate of... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16391.html Thu, 12 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST The defense industry and some lawmakers are sounding alarms about recent changes to the law dictating how depot-level work on military equipment is shared between government and private facilities. An Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) official... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16353.html Wed, 11 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST President Barack Obama and Pentagon leaders pledged to end “Cold War” weapon systems when discussing the Pentagon’s strategic review yesterday, but shared no details about program cancellations that will be unveiled in five weeks. Obama told... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16320.html Fri, 6 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Boeing [BA] said yesterday it was shuttering its facility in Wichita, Kan., and shifting work on the KC-46A to Washington, a move swiftly criticized by Kansas lawmakers who accused the aircraft manufacturer of breaking a promise to keep work on the Air... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16300.html Thu, 5 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST Lawmakers are calling on the Pentagon to report in the near future on a nascent cybersecurity program with the defense industry to assess how to better defend government and critical infrastructure networks. The fiscal year 2012 defense authorization... http://www.defensedaily.com/sectors/congress/16304.html Thu, 5 Jan 2012 0:00:00 EST