Countermeasures
Through the introduction last week of the Stop Our Scourge Act of 2022, H.R. 9162, U.S. Reps. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) sought to chart a new course for illicit fentanyl, designating the drug as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) on par with nuclear and chemical... Read More »
Thanks to funds from the State Homeland Security Program, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced this week that $9 million of federal funds would aid 77 communities in the pursuit of equipment, training, critical infrastructure security and more.
"New York's homeland security capabilities will be... Read More »
Working hand-in-hand, the United States Army’s Army Research Laboratory and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) seek to innovate computer architecture designs and advanced data analysis through a new program called AGILE.
AGILE, or the Advanced Graphic Intelligence... Read More »
Radiation is a deadly force for mankind, and quick treatment can make all the difference – something the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has firmly in mind in its latest funding partnership with ASELL.
Together, the pair seek to create three tools for initial... Read More »
Through a new partnership with Diazyme Laboratories, Inc., the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced this week that efforts are underway to develop a fast, high-throughput, fully automated test to detect SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies.
The focus is on... Read More »
As part of a project that could rethink wireless power and energy distribution, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is plotting out the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program – and working toward multipath, wireless energy networks.
If successfully... Read More »
The Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) recently initiated a multi-year research endeavor targeting new low-dose ionizing radiation exposure detection methods.
Through the Targeted Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Exposure (TEI-REX) program, IARPA is pursuing new... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) recently introduced legislation to bolster U.S. military preparedness in response to a global conflict.
Tillis and Shaheen, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, recently detailed the Promoting Readiness for Overseas Contingencies... Read More »
Lockheed Martin recently opened its All-Up Round III (AUR III) facility at Camden Operations in Arkansas, which will increase PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) production capacity.
“Lockheed Martin’s Camden Operations is a world-class facility with an exceptional team dedicated to... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) introduced the Cybersecurity Clinics Grant Program Act, legislation that would fund higher education-based cybersecurity at community colleges and minority-serving institutions.
The bill would create a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant program while also... Read More »
America has faced a surge in hate crimes over recent years, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) have been among the threatened, with at least 57 bomb threats made this year alone – and now, the HBCU Caucus in Congress is urging federal action.
In a letter to Department of... Read More »
A new deal with Amgen USA Inc., under the authority provided by the Project BioShield Act, saw the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) purchase a $290 million supply of the drug Nplate this week, for use during radiological and nuclear emergencies.
Nplate is a... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Mike Carey (R-OH), Al Lawson (D-FL), Bruce Westerman (R-AR), and Marc Veasey (D-TX) recently introduced the Supporting Our First Responders Act, which seeks to enhance emergency medical services (EMS) agency support.
The... Read More »
Responding to an uptick in hate crimes that have plagued the United States for years, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced this week that $5 million would fund security enhancement projects for nonprofits targeted by such crimes in the Commonwealth.
“Hate has no place here in Pennsylvania,”... Read More »
In order to expand the number of providers able to administer vaccines against monkeypox, smallpox, and other orthopoxviruses, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) this week amended its declaration of the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
HHS Secretary... Read More »
Amid October being designated Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said the agency is highlighting actions Americans can take to raise the baseline for cybersecurity nationwide.
President Joe Biden's recent signing of a proclamation... Read More »
Global aerospace company Boeing said the firm has committed $2 million to aid Hurricane Ian ground disaster recovery and relief initiatives.
"The destruction left behind in the wake of Hurricane Ian is devastating and heartbreaking," Boeing president and CEO David Calhoun said. "Our thoughts go... Read More »
Even as disaster relief continued on Puerto Rico, Florida, and others in the wake of Hurricane Ian, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reservists gained new job protections last week with the passage of the Civilian Reservist Emergency Workforce Act.
Authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials are espousing the benefits of the agency's recently signed agreement initiating negotiations to include the Dominican Republic among Global Entry foreign partner countries.
Authorities indicated CBP Deputy Commissioner Troy Miller and Dominican... Read More »
In a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Robert Califf, M.D. last month, 12 members of Congress pressed the regulator to guarantee a variety of therapeutics to ready the nation for further COVID-19 variants.
“We urge the FDA to ensure that the availability of... Read More »
While much of what the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) deals with are natural disasters, a new bill – the Technological Hazards Preparedness and Training Act (S.4166) – advanced through the Senate last week seeks to expand its ability to address technological hazards as... Read More »
A group of Democratic representatives recently introduced the Facial Recognition Act of 2022 to enforce limitations and increase transparency in law enforcement's use of facial recognition technology.
The lawmakers argued that a lack of transparency or reasonable limits can make such... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Steve Daines (R-MT) are commending a recent Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing regarding the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act, which seeks to address more firefighter training.
The bill directs the Secretary of Agriculture and... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for advancing their legislation increasing federal for local fire departments nationwide.
The Fire Grants and Safety Act reauthorizes Federal Emergency Management... Read More »
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is espousing the benefits of a measure he said seeks to strengthen Taiwan’s defense and deter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggression.
The House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican and Chairman of the China Task Force recently introduced the Taiwan Policy... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding southern border protection concerns.
U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) joined nine colleagues in signing off on the letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro... Read More »
The Senate unanimously voted through the National Computer Forensics Institute Reauthorization Act of 2022 this week, setting up an extension of the aforementioned institute’s lifespan to continue training state and local law enforcement agencies.
“NCFI helps train law enforcement across the... Read More »
The Invent Here, Make Here for Homeland Security Act advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this week, putting to the full body consideration of legislation that would add requirements and restrictions on what can be manufactured abroad.
Produced by U.S.... Read More »
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) officials have detailed results of a May to September 2022 enforcement operation the agency said yielded nationwide fentanyl seizures.
In conjunction with the One Pill Can Kill initiative, the DEA and law enforcement partners seized more than 10.2 million... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently expressed concerns regarding a Chinese-based manufacturer with ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) acquiring farmland near a domestic military installation.
U.S. Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (R-FL) recently joined 50 colleagues in sending a letter to Defense... Read More »
To improve local efforts to respond to hazardous materials incidents, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced this week that it will award $32.4 million in grants to states, territories, and Tribes.
A total of 81 grants will be split between six different hazardous... Read More »
While promoting their National Critical Capabilities Defense Act (S. 1854 and H.R. 6323), a bipartisan group of U.S. senators wrote to President Joe Biden this week, urging him to take an immediate, interim executive action on outbound investments to foreign adversaries.
This action, they... Read More »
After being backed by the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) under public-private partnerships, the office recently announced that Simplexa COVID-19 Direct became the second standalone COVID-19 diagnostic cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In so doing,... Read More »
The Army Tank-Automotive and Armament Command (TACOM) has awarded Oshkosh Defense a five-year $263.2 million requirements contract to produce Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter System (EHETS) trailers.
“One of Oshkosh’s core competencies is partnering with our customers to develop and... Read More »
Facing down a Category 3 Hurricane Ian, fresh off its stormy crash through Cuba, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared a Public Health Emergency for Florida this week, following an emergency declaration from President Joe Biden.
As... Read More »
