Countermeasures
In a civil complaint filed last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) opened a nationwide lawsuit against AmerisourceBergen Corp. and two of its subsidiaries, which together form one of the largest pharmaceutical distributors, for violating federal law on the distribution of controlled... Read More »
President Joe Biden signed the Counter Human Trafficking Act of 2022 as one of the final legislative acts of the year, officially codifying and expanding the United States Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT).
With this update came $14 million... Read More »
Even as China reopens itself to travel following years of heavy restriction due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its citizens face a new roadblock from entry to the United States: a demand for negative COVID-19 tests for any flier.
The restriction was announced by the Centers for Disease Control and... Read More »
President Joe Biden signed Thursday a critical omnibus into law, setting up the Congressionally approved Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2617) to fund the government and, importantly, numerous health care and consumer protection efforts.
“As Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee,... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded their Community Disaster Resilience Zones Act, which aids disaster mitigation projects, being signed into law.
Specifically, the legislation makes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI)... Read More »
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act became law this week in the United States, establishing a series of new priorities and requirements for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to guide federal cybersecurity to post-quantum cryptography.
Specifically, the legislation–... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) said his resolution encouraging Congress to combat international criminal organizations, illicit trade, and the use of trade-based money laundering (TBML) has garnered Senate approval.
Cassidy was joined by U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)... Read More »
With flu season in full swing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that additional supplies of Tamiflu would be tapped to meet increased demand.
Jurisdictions will manage any Tamiflu requests through the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) in collaboration... Read More »
Particularly in the last few years, across several high-profile cases, police in the United States have come under heavy scrutiny for their use of force, and recently, a bill known as the PEACE Act was introduced to reform federal standards permitting the use of lethal force.
Released as a... Read More »
With a signature from President Joe Biden, the Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act became law this week, officially directing federal agencies to create new best practices, training, and educational programs to limit and shield firefighters from exposure to hazardous... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed the seizure of more than 50.6 million fentanyl-laced, fake prescription pills and over 10,000 pounds of fentanyl powder this calendar year.
“In the past year, the men and women of the DEA have relentlessly worked to seize over 379... Read More »
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will begin accepting applications for the Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund (RLF) on Feb. 1, 2023.
The RILF seeks to foster greater community resilience while reducing disaster vulnerability and suffering, noting the Bipartisan... Read More »
In a tour of local fire stations, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) used this week as an opportunity to promote new legislation that would renew federal grants programs supporting local fire departments in Michigan and beyond and expand their capabilities.
“Firefighters put their lives on the line... Read More »
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials recently announced the winners of its AI for Critical Mineral Assessment Competition, noting the effort increases and better secures critical mineral supply.
In conjunction with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the competition's goal... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND) has introduced a bill she said seeks to deploy advanced forensic genetic genealogical DNA analysis as a means of aiding law enforcement in solving cases.
The Carla Walker Act of 2022 authorizes the Justice Department to issue grants to state, local, and tribal... Read More »
For its latest Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) solicitation, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is accepting applications for research proposals on any of seven current technology needs, which will be competitively selected.
Small business applicants can submit ideas... Read More »
The number of people who attempted to bring guns onto United States airplanes rose significantly this year, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), despite having never been allowed in carry-on bags regardless of concealed weapons permits.
This protection measure resulted... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is touting the $360 million reauthorization of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), which bolsters religious institution security initiatives.
Peters supported a National Defense Authorization Act provision... Read More »
New York state officials are touting a newly enacted measure that addresses violent crimes against police officers.
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed S.772A/A.6318B to establish a Blue Alert system aiding the identification, location, and apprehension of individuals suspected of killing or... Read More »
After being worked into the FY 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2022, the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act, and several oceans provisions are slated to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
As part of the larger... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Norma Torres (D-CA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) recently introduced legislation to address Latin America and Caribbean gun trafficking.
The Americas Regional Monitoring... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are praising the House of Representatives' passage of their legislation to bolster efforts to combat human trafficking.
The Countering Human Trafficking Act, which passed the Senate in April and now moves to President Joe Biden to be signed... Read More »
In a rare flex against the military for the United States, a bipartisan mix of senators and representatives have introduced the Streamline Pentagon Budgeting Act, which would repeal statutory requirements to provide unfunded priorities lists, increase oversight and reduce wasteful reporting... Read More »
The Lobbying Disclosure Improvement Act (S.B. 4893), introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), passed through the Senate by unanimous vote last week, bolstering efforts to increase oversight of foreign lobbying to the House.
“Foreign influence in our nation’s... Read More »
A new report from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) looked into a 2013 radiological incident in Hueypoxtla, Mexico, in which a radioactive source was stolen, and used the incident as a sign that security and law enforcement needs to be trained en masse in radiological protection and... Read More »
The Charlotte, N.C., Fire Department recently announced that it has ordered an all-electric Vector fire truck, expected to be the first-of-its-kind operating in the state.
The order was placed with fire apparatus manufacturer Spartan Emergency Response, a subsidiary of REV Group, Inc.
“We... Read More »
In two randomized, placebo-controlled trials of three Ebola vaccine administration regimens for adults and children, the Partnership for Research on Ebola Vaccination (PREVAC) recently published results concluding that all regimens were safe and effective.
Vaccine candidates included Ad26.ZEBOV,... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) recently detailed the benefits of a recently signed memorandum of understanding (MOU) that encourages more cooperative activities.
“I am honored to sign this agreement on behalf of the FBI... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are espousing the benefits of a series of initiatives the agency said has resulted in customer experience improvements.
“Through the talent and dedication of the Department’s employees, we have made significant progress modernizing our delivery... Read More »
Global security technology company Northrop Grumman has secured an 8.8 million Air Force contract to enhance the firm's hypersonics manufacturing technology initiatives.
Authorities indicated the funding allotment is via the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Manufacturing and Industrial... Read More »
Following up on a National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Notice of Special Interest from November that sought support for research into a Valley Fever vaccine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently announced that additional funding avenues have been... Read More »
The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act (H.R.7535) crossed its final legislative hurdle this week after a positive vote in the United States House, setting up its provisions for enhancing national cybersecurity to be signed into law by President Joe Biden.
The bill was introduced in... Read More »
Through the introduction of the Agricultural Foreign Investment Transparency Act to the House this week, U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Rick Crawford (R-AR), along with nine other Republicans, seek to increase oversight of foreign purchases of U.S. agricultural land.
To do otherwise, they... Read More »
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, has released 2021 hate crime statistics.
The data was submitted by 11,834 law enforcement agencies providing information about offenses, victims, offenders, and hate crime locations.
According to... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) officials noted the agencies are issuing a temporary final rulemaking 64,716 additional H-2B nonagricultural worker visas available.
The action applies to temporary nonagricultural workers for fiscal year (FY) 2023. The... Read More »
