Secretary Johnson Highlights Super Bowl XLIX Security Operations
Department of Homeland Security / http://www.dhs.gov/news/2015/01/28/secretary-johnson-highlights-super-bowl-xlix-security-operations
Announces re-launch of the “If You See Something, Say Something™” Campaign, First time ever in-app ads
PHOENIX— Today (1/28/15), Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson was in Arizona to meet with local law enforcement officials and oversee the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) security operations surrounding Super Bowl XLIX. Secretary Johnson announced the re-launch of the Department’s “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign and continued partnership with the National Football League (NFL) to help ensure the safety and security of employees, players and fans during Super Bowl XLIX.
“Public awareness, support and participation in our homeland security efforts are essential,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson. “As I’ve said before ‘if you see something, say something’ is more than just a slogan. Whether you are on the plains of Iowa, the streets of Manhattan or a fan at the Super Bowl, we all play a role in keeping our neighborhoods and communities safe. Our partnership with the NFL on the “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign during the Super Bowl is a critical part of our efforts to ensure the safety of every employee, player and fan.”
More than 100,000 fans and visitors in and around the Phoenix area will see the “If You See Something, Say Something™” message at hotels, on buses, billboards, magazines and visitor guides. For the first time ever, individuals in Arizona who are using their smart phones to play games using the Game Day and NFL Experience mobile applications may see campaign messaging throughout Super Bowl Weekend. The newly revamped materials highlight the individual role of everyday citizens to protect their neighbors and the communities they call home, by recognizing and reporting suspicious activity.
The “If You See Something, Say Something™” materials are just one part of the support DHS has provided for the Super Bowl since the inception of the Department. Hundreds of employees from DHS, and assets from across the Department, will support our state and local partners charged with securing this event.
DHS Operations - Super Bowl XLIX
- As the principal Federal official for domestic incident management Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson has appointed Federal Coordinator Matthew Allen (Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/ Homeland Security Investigations, Phoenix) and Deputy Federal Coordinator Cristina Beloud (Special Agent in Charge, U.S. Secret Service, Phoenix) to serve as the Secretary’s representatives locally and federal points of contact for facilitating planning and support.
- DHS is providing security assessments and training to state and local law enforcement, local hotels, and others to help them identify potential risks and take steps needed to address them
- DHS is continuing our partnership with the NFL with a newly revamped “If You See Something, Say Something™” public awareness campaign. Fans and visitors in the area will see the “If You See Something, Say Something™” message at hotels, and on buses, billboards and for the first-time ever mobile applications. The message will also appear in the game day program, the official fan guide, and on the video board during the game.
- The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is sending additional officers and increasing the number of checkpoint lanes at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for the influx of fans traveling for the game. TSA will deploy nearly 90 additional Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) and supervisors as well as four Passenger Screening Canine teams.
- TSA’s Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response (VIPR) teams, comprised of Federal Air Marshals, surface/aviation transportation security inspectors, Behavioral Detection Officers, TSOs, and canine teams are helping secure mass transit locations in and around the Phoenix area.
- The U.S. Secret Service will support open-source social media monitoring for situational awareness and has been assisting with cyber security vulnerability assessments and mitigation. The Secret Service also conducted magnetometer training for University of Phoenix Stadium security personnel.
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will conduct operations specifically targeting counterfeit vendors and local merchants of game-related sportswear. This is part of a crackdown on intellectual property rights (IPR) violations and to ensure fans are getting official Super Bowl related memorabilia.
- CBP officers and non-intrusive inspection equipment will scan the cargo entering the stadium for contraband such as narcotics, weapons, and explosives.
- CBP Office of Air and Marine will provide surveillance and assist the Department of Defense in providing airspace security around the venue.
- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) trained 85 Arizona responders through the Healthcare Leadership for Mass Casualty Incidents and the Hospital Emergency Response Training for Mass Casualty Incidents courses. All of the responders participated in a hands-on mass casualty exercise, where the trainees responded to a simulated mass casualty event in which “injured” role players were triaged, transported and treated in the midst of a chaotic situation that was still unfolding.
- FEMA is also providing Mobile Emergency Response Support units to ensure that, in the event of an emergency, state and local security personnel could quickly link and coordinate with federal partners. MERS provides mobile telecommunications, operational support, life support, and power generation assets for the on-site management of a disaster.
- DHS Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) is deploying Mobile Detection Deployment Units (MDDUs), radiological and nuclear detection “surge” assets designed to supplement first responders’ existing radiological and nuclear detection and reporting capabilities.
- DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA) will deploy a network of BioWatch detectors to provide public health officials with a warning in the event of a biological agent release. OHA’s National Biosurveillance Integration Center is providing state and local officials with information on potential health threats and their indicators, increasing situational awareness and decision support for public health partners prior to the event.
- DHS National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD):
Cybersecurity: NPPD’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center’s Training and Exercise Team led a training exercise to enhance the cyber preparedness and resilience of public and private partners and venues involved in Super Bowl XLIX. Since then, DHS cybersecurity experts have been conducting weekly vulnerability scanning on internet accessible devices associated with facilities being used by NFL teams.
Bombing Prevention Training: Since 2012, the DHS Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) Office for Bombing Prevention has conducted 14 Counter-Improvised Explosive Device and Risk Mitigation Training events for more than 650 public and private sector security partners in Maricopa County.
Active Shooter Preparedness: NPPD IP conducted an active shooter preparedness workshop, training 150 participants, including members of the Super Bowl Planning Committee.
Securing Federal Facilities: The Federal Protective Service will provide protection to Federal facilities in the Phoenix metropolitan area and ensure the continuance of government business and services to the public.
- DHS Blue Campaign— the unified voice for efforts to combat human trafficking— partnered with the City of Phoenix and the Arizona Human Trafficking Council of the Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families to provide training and awareness materials to help individuals and communities identify and recognize indicators of human trafficking. High-profile special events, such as the Super Bowl, draw large crowds and have become lucrative opportunities for criminals engaged in human trafficking.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
Implementation of the International Trade Data System
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service/ http://www.fws.gov/le/public-bulletin.html
Background: The Safe Port Act (P.L. 109-347) amended the Tariff Act of 1930 to require participation in the International Trade Data System (ITDS) by all Federal agencies that require documentation for clearing or licensing the importation and exportation of cargo. Participation is also mandated by Executive Order 13659 of February 2014 on Streamlining the Export/Import Process for America’s Businesses. The purpose of ITDS is to establish a single portal system, operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), for the collection and distribution of standard electronic import and export cargo data required by all participating Federal agencies. The Service is working with CBP to create an interface between CBP’s Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) and the FWS electronic filing system (eDecs) and is in discussion on the FWS message set and design requirements for both imports and exports.
CBP has established three mandatory use dates as part of the ITDS project. The filing of all electronic import and export manifest for all transportation modes will be mandatory in ACE by May 1, 2015. The filing of all data associated with the release of imported cargo, including data related to participating government agencies (PGAs) and the associated entry summaries will be mandatory in ACE by November 1, 2015. All remaining electronic portions of the CBP cargo process will be mandatory in ACE by October 1, 2016.
For trade community members filing their customs information electronically through ACE, you will be required to file your FWS data electronically through ACE using the Automated Broker Interface, rather than using eDecs or paper. The Service is slated to begin piloting the collection of required FWS data and documents for cargo shipments through ACE on July 4, 2015 in anticipation of the November 1, 2015 mandate. We are requesting that importers, exporters and brokers volunteer to participate in the July pilot to test the system for FWS filings prior to the mandatory November 1, 2015 filing date. Based upon the responses to this request, we will work with CBP to determine how the pilot will be conducted, including pilot ports and commodities.
Action: The wildlife trade community should be aware of the fast approaching dates for mandatory use of CBP’s ACE system for cargo shipments. We will continue to provide updated information on the FWS message set for software development as well as design requirements as we engage in additional discussions with CBP. We are working to develop an FWS ITDS webpage to provide additional information. We strongly urge any importer, exporter or broker who wishes to volunteer to participate in the July pilot to send an email request to lawenforcement@fws.gov and title the email “ITDS Pilot Participation.”
Please provide your email and telephone details so we may contact you with further information.
Contact:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Office of Law Enforcement
703-358-1949; 703-358-2271 (fax)
lawenforcement@fws.gov (e-mail)
ITA: Press Releases
International Trade Administration / http://www.trade.gov/press/press-releases/
PHOENIX — Federal officials teamed with the National Football League (NFL) Thursday to announce the results of a nationwide law enforcement effort aimed at combatting counterfeit sports merchandise.
Speaking at a NFL news conference, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director Sarah R. Saldaña, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Director of Field Operations William K. Brooks, and NFL Counsel Dolores F. DiBella discussed the results of the initiative, dubbed “Operation Team Player.”
This year’s operation began immediately following the conclusion of Super Bowl XLVIII and targeted international shipments of counterfeit merchandise as it entered the United States. Authorities identified warehouses, stores, flea markets, online vendors and street vendors selling counterfeit game-related sportswear and tickets throughout the country.
Fake jerseys, ball caps, t-shirts, jackets and other souvenirs are among the counterfeit merchandise and clothing confiscated by teams of special agents and officers from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), CBP, U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), and state and local police departments around the country – all in partnership with the NFL and other major sports leagues.
“Counterfeiting is not a game,” said ICE Director Saldaña. “It is most certainly not a victimless crime either. Whether it’s the child in Southeast Asia working in deplorable conditions, or local stores going out of business, intellectual property theft is a very real crime with very real victims. No good comes from counterfeiting American products regardless of whether they are all-star jerseys, airbags, or aspirin.”
Special agents from HSI and officers with CBP worked with sports leagues and law enforcement agencies throughout the nation to identify illegal shipments imported into the U.S., as well as stores and vendors selling counterfeit trademarked items. With three days left before Super Bowl XLIX, these teams have already seized more than 326,147 items of phony sports memorabilia along with other counterfeit items worth more than $19.5 million. Law enforcement officers have made 52 arrests in relation to Operation Team Player so far, with Super Bowl XLIX efforts continuing through Feb. 6.
“The NFL is proud to once again partner with ICE and the IPR Center in combating the illegal sale of counterfeit merchandise and tickets,” said DiBella. “Together, we are working hard to protect fans and prevent them from being scammed by criminals seeking to profit from the public's passion for the NFL, their home teams and Super Bowl XLIX.”
“The sale of counterfeit products are connected to smuggling and other criminal activities and threatens the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and in some cases the health and safety of the consumer,” said CBP Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske. “CBP works closely with our federal government partners to protect the United States from these damaging and unsafe goods.”
Understanding the economic impact of intellectual property theft, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is also spreading the word about the dangers that counterfeit products pose to the economy.
“Major events like the Super Bowl can highlight an economic problem we face throughout the year - counterfeit products put good, high-paying jobs at risk in places like Seattle, New England and Phoenix,” said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the U.S. Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center. “Innovative IP-intensive industries are responsible for over 1.4 million jobs in Massachusetts, 1.2 million in Washington, and 750,000 in Arizona. Sports fans need to be aware of criminals trying to take advantage of big events and holidays to sell counterfeit goods and compete with legitimate companies, like the ones that make the hats, jerseys, or other Super Bowl souvenirs from many of our most trusted brands.”
The IPR Center is one of the U.S. government's key weapons in the fight against criminal counterfeiting and piracy. Working in close coordination with the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property, the IPR Center uses the expertise of its 23 member agencies to share information, develop initiatives, coordinate enforcement actions and conduct investigations related to intellectual property theft. Through this strategic interagency partnership, the IPR Center protects the public's health and safety and the U.S. economy.
Unmanned Aircraft and NFL Football Don't Mix
Federal Aviation Administration / http://www.faa.gov/news/updates/?newsId=81485
Many familiar sounds are associated with the Super Bowl: Cheering fans. Referee whistles. The spectacular halftime show. Booming fireworks.
But one sound you shouldn’t hear is the whirring of an unmanned aircraft overhead. The Super Bowl is strictly a “No Drone Zone.”
The FAA bars unauthorized aircraft – including drones – from flying over or near NFL regular- and post-season football games. The same restriction applies to NCAA college games in stadiums seating 30,000 or more fans, Major League Baseball games and many NASCAR events.
The FAA Notice to Airmen (PDF) makes it crystal clear that anyone violating the rules may be “intercepted, detained and interviewed” by law enforcement or security personnel. Besides possibly landing a violator in jail, flying an unmanned aircraft over a crowded stadium could result in an FAA civil penalty for “careless and reckless” operation of an aircraft.
Bottom line: If you want to see video of the Big Game, watch it on TV. Leave your drone at home.
FYI: Credit Bureaus and Credit Scoring
USA.gov / http://www.usa.gov/topics/money/credit/credit-reports/bureaus-scoring.shtml
Find out how to get your free annual credit report and score
Credit reporting is a system lenders use to decide whether or not to give you credit or a loan and how much interest they can charge you for it.
Your credit report is based on the bills payments you have missed or been late paying, loans that you have paid off, plus your current amount of debt.
A credit report contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) gather this information and sell it to creditors, employers, insurers, and others. The most common type of CRA is the credit bureau.
The three major national credit bureaus are:
• Equifax, 1-800-685-1111
Fraud Hotline: 1-888-766-0008
• Experian, 1-888-397-3742
Fraud Hotline: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion, 1-800-916-8800
Fraud Hotline: 1-800-680-7289
Request your free credit report online or by calling 1-877-322-8228.
Credit Scores
Based on the information in your credit report, lenders calculate your credit score so they can assess the risk you pose to them before they decide whether they will give you credit. The higher your score, the less risk you pose to creditors.
The information in your credit report is used to calculate your FICO (the acronym stands for Fair, Isaac and Company) score. Your score can range anywhere from 300-850. Aiming for a score in the 700s will put you in good standing. A high score, for example, makes it easier for you to obtain a loan, rent an apartment, or lower your insurance rate.
Your FICO score is available for a fee. Free credit reports do not contain your credit score, although you can purchase it when you request your free annual credit report.