Homeland & Coast Guard

A group of lawmakers introduced a bill Monday to require the Coast Guard (USCG) to follow a series of reforms passed in 2011 tied to military sexual assault.

The Coast Guard has written to the lawmakers saying it will follow the sexual assault measure that applies to the military services, but the lawmakers’ bill would make the commitment solidified into the law.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), Reps. Michael Turner (R-Ohio) and Niki Tsongas (D-Mass.) introduced the bill Monday as Congress is gearing up to tackle the Defense authorization bill, the most likely vehicle for the legislation.

Paul argues Clinton ignored requests for more security at the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi before the attack.

Amid growing criticism over the backlog of disability claims for veterans, the Veterans Affairs Department announced Friday it was prioritizing claims for those who have been waiting more than a year.

The department said Friday that it would assign “provisional” ratings for the oldest claims, which would allow veterans to begin collecting benefits if they are approved.

Allison Hickey, VA undersecretary for benefits, said that those claims that are denied would have an additional year to provide more evidence. Any increases in benefits based on new evidence would be provided retroactively.

Officials are reevaluating furlough notices for 700,000 workers after passage of a government funding bill that gives them more flexibility.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) wants more answers on the targeting of U.S. citizens abroad.

Closing the detention facility is "in the interest of our national security," a senior State Department official said.

The ad accuses Hagel of accepting "gold-plated trips from lobbyists."

Patriot Voices, former Sen. Rick Santorum's (R-Pa.) fundraising organization, is opposing former Sen. Chuck Hagel's (R-Neb.) nomination for secretary of Defense with a series of online and radio ads, according to aides for the former senator.

The Justice Department will not charge Paula Broadwell, the former mistress of former CIA Director David Petraeus, with cyber stalking.

The Senate passed a bill authorizing funds the U.S. Coast Guard for another two years.