Site Map - Legal Report

08/24/2012 - Courts announce decisions on concealed weapons, detention of terrorism suspects, and healthcare privacy, while lawmakers consider bills on border security, counterfeit drugs, and campus security.

07/30/2012 - Two bills, H.R. 4068 and S. 2044, introduced by Rep. Mike D. Rogers (R-AL) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) would require the government to study the health effects posed by the use of backscatter x-ray machines at airline checkpoints.

07/30/2012 - A bill (S. 241) that would expand protections for whistleblowers reporting misuse of federal funds has been approved by the House Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The bill would apply to employees working for companies that receive federal funds, including those that have government contracts or receive grants or payments from the government.

07/30/2012 - A bill (S. 2076) that would upgrade security equipment in state and local courthouses has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The Senate has not announced whether it will take up the bill. S. 2076 would allow state and local governments to use money from various federal grant programs to improve security at courthouses.

07/30/2012 - A bill (H.R. 3173) that would alter the application and distribution process for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) has been approved by the House Homeland Security Committee. The House of Representatives has not announced whether it will consider the bill.

07/30/2012 - A bill (H.R. 2096) that would mandate government cybersecurity efforts has been approved by the House of Representatives. It is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

07/26/2012 - Courts issue decisions clarifying when individuals can be compelled to turn over computer passwords to law enforcement, and lawmakers consider bills on cybersecurity, transportation, and whistleblowers.

06/27/2012 - A new law signed by Mayor Vincent Gray makes it illegal for employers in the District to discriminate against the unemployed when making hiring decisions. Employers would not be able to consider employment status during hiring decisions and would be barred from mentioning employment status in job advertisements. Employers are also prohibited from retaliating against those who report a violation of the law.

06/27/2012 - A bill (H.R. 4257) that would require the federal government to improve its data security procedures has been approved by the House of Representatives. It is now pending in the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

06/27/2012 - A bill (H.R. 4119) that would criminalize the act of conspiring to illegally cross the border into the United States has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The bill has been presented to President Obama for his signature.

06/27/2012 - A bill (H.R. 3523) that would encourage information sharing on cybersecurity between the government and the private sector has been approved by the House of Representatives and is now pending in the Senate Intelligence Committee.

06/27/2012 - A bill (S. 1002) that would enhance penalties for drug counterfeiting has been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. The bill must now be taken up by the full Senate. The bill would make it illegal to knowingly steal or embezzle a medical product or obtain it through fraud or deception. It would also be illegal to transport, handle, traffic, or store a stolen medical product. The bill defines a medical product as a drug, biological product, device, medical food, or infant formula that is being transported or stored prior to being available for purchase.

06/27/2012 - A California appeals court rules that a company can be held liable for harassing comments made by employees on a blog, and lawmakers consider bills on counterfeit drugs, information sharing, and border security.