In the News

TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — A congressman from the South Bay said the U.S. Postal Service needs a major overhaul to fix its widespread problems, including mail theft.

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Manhattan Beach, met with Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan at a recent hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Torrance Resident Rick Beaver said when he goes to his mailbox, he doesn’t know what to expect. He is now used to getting his neighbors’ mail in his Torrance condo building.

TODAY: STATE OF THE STATES — Two House Homeland Security subcommittees today will join forces for a hearing on how to improve cybersecurity at the state level. For Rep. John Ratcliffe, who chairs the cybersecurity-focused subcommittee, the emphasis should be on enhancing information sharing. “What we are hoping to gain from today’s hearing is what more we can be doing to further these partnerships and programs,” he plans to say, according to prepared remarks.

Two House lawmakers with computer-science expertise are warning their colleagues to improve their cybersecurity hygiene as hackers get smarter and increasingly target government officials.

"The ease with which foreign governments, criminal syndicates, and everyday hackers can access your smartphone, tablet, desktop, or laptop is frightening," Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) wrote Monday in a "Dear Colleague" letter to the entire House of Representatives, the text of which was shared with the Daily Dot.

Human rights groups say Saudi-led coalition warplanes improperly used U.S.-made cluster bombs in Yemen, posing a danger to civilians two months after a cease-fire was struck in the country's civil war.

A report issued Monday by Amnesty International was the latest by non-governmental aid groups to claim misuse of the controversial munitions, which spray hundreds of soda-can-sized bomblets over an area the size of a football field.

Two freshman congressmen with a background in cybersecurity urged their colleagues Monday to take simple steps to better protect their computers and smartphones from hackers.

In a letter sent to members of Congress and their staff, Reps. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Will Hurd, R-Texas, warn that foreign governments and criminals can break into electronic devices with “frightening” ease.

By RAFAEL BERNAL

The Hill

A bill to protect immigrant veterans of the U.S. military from deportation was introduced in the House Wednesday. "If we're [deporting] one veteran, that's one too many," Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), who introduced the legislation, told The Hill. The bill would allow authorities to waive action against veterans who are documented immigrants. To be eligible, veterans must have served at least 180 days in the armed forces and have no convictions for felonies, significant misdemeanors or more than three non-significant misdemeanors.

By CORY BENNETT

The Hill

A tech-focused House member on Wednesday went after the company behind vulnerable software that many believe left government secrets exposed to foreign spies. Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) lashed out during a House hearing exploring whether any government data was stolen as a result of the flaw in a software made by Juniper Networks.

By ALEX BYERS and KATE TUMMARELLO

POLITICO

FCC TELLS SECURITY TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT SS7 FLAW — The FCC wants its Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council to examine the mobile network flaw highlighted in Sunday’s “60 Minutes” report that can be used by hackers to listen in on phone calls. The report studied previously disclosed vulnerabilities in what’s known as SS7 — an older protocol that allows mobile networks connect with one another — that allowed hackers to surveil a cell phone via its phone number.