Countermeasures
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is advocating Congress increase non-profit security funding and confirm Deborah Lipstadt as the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.
The ADL noted the advice stems from a recent hostage situation at a Texas synagogue resulting in... Read More »
In the latest effort to get ahead of future medical equipment shortages, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) announced plans for the Medical and Health Stockpile Accountability Act last week, proposing a new tracking system and data sharing guidelines, and more.
While building greater resilience... Read More »
Expanding options for individuals with COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week recommended two additional drugs for treatment: the oral inhibitor known as baricitinib and the monoclonal antibody drug sotrovimab.
Baricitinib is meant for use by those with severe or critical... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to purchase 380 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits.
Contracts were awarded to Orlando, Florida-based Abbott Rapid Dx North America, LLC; Mountain View, California's iHealth Lab... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a department program that supports adapting to climate change and improving resilience.
The DHS indicated the Climate Change Professionals Program recruits recent graduates and current federal employees while serving as a new... Read More »
A former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of theft of government property in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government.
Charles K. Edwards, 61, of Sandy Spring, Md., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the... Read More »
Following requests from U.S. authorities, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested members of the REvil ransomware gang and shut their operations, which in the last few years have struck American ventures such as the Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and Kaseya.
The Russian-based group... Read More »
With the introduction of the House version of the Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act (H.R. 6374), U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Peter Meier (R-MI) this week sought to bolster cut overreliance on foreign pharmaceuticals and strengthen the domestic supply... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Gary Peters (D-Ml) have introduced a bill they said strengthens Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster response within underserved communities facing federal aid barriers.
The legislators indicated the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response,... Read More »
In a letter dispatched to the Biden administration last week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and nearly 20 colleagues asked that the withdrawing OSHA emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers be made permanent.
OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) has introduced a bill that would aid efforts to continue space program initiatives through authorization and funding of critical government programs.
The U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2021 (H.R. 6391) calls for the National Space Council to report foreign threats... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Congressional leadership, noting the effort seeks prioritization of efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking.
U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) led 36 of their colleagues in advocating action to permanently classify... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) this week introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) collaboration efforts surrounding research and development of countermeasures for pathogens with pandemic potential.
“Two years... Read More »
The Senate advanced Wednesday legislation by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-Oh), promoting stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments.
Peters and Portman, the chair and ranking member of the Homeland... Read More »
As part of efforts to optimize both governmental and industrial approaches to medical countermeasure manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will host a Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure that seeks to increase the hiring and compensation of rural law enforcement officers.
U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently joined 10 colleagues in introducing the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the... Read More »
A bipartisan proposal from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) seeks increased transparency through stronger requirements on foreign manufacturers of medical products utilized in the U.S., increasing those needing to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“Our... Read More »
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said the agency has joined a pair of government entities in releasing a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) providing an overview of Russian cyber operations.
Authorities indicated CISA joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)... Read More »
In response to the Chinese government's refusal to allow a comprehensive investigation into the origins of COVID-19, a collection of Republican senators introduced the Coronavirus Origin Validation, Investigation and Determination (COVID) Act this week.
The bill seeks to authorize sanctions... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday that it has exercised a contract option to continue its contract with Motorola to operate and maintain the U.S. Navy’s land mobile radio (LMR) system.
The $29 million contract supports continued critical radio communications at U.S. Navy... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced Monday that it had awarded contracts to Atlantic Trading, LLC, of Austin, Texas and Medea, Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., that would purchase a combined total of 27 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits.
The contracts will support President Joe... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) recently forwarded correspondence to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to seek greater transparency regarding biometric data collection from U.S. citizens.
Merkley and Blunt are requesting more information as it relates to how CBP... Read More »
In a letter to President Joe Biden this week, a collection of more than 40 sitting members of Congress led by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged administration action to expand access for and increase the supply of COVID-19 rapid tests.
Demanding more... Read More »
According to GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc., the United States government this week agreed to purchase another 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 antibody treatment sotrovimab, which will be distributed in this first quarter of 2022.
The arrangement stems from an amendment to... Read More »
A group of fire fighting and fire safety organizations is imploring Congress to pass legislation improving public housing and older high-rise buildings' fire safety.
Officials representing the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the... Read More »
Amid rising breakthrough cases of COVID-19, largely fueled by the spread of the omicron variant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week shortened the time between primary and booster vaccination with a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to five months.
This revised timeline was reflected in... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined U.S. Reps. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Chris Jacobs (R-NY) in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the U.S.-Canada border open for vaccinated individuals.
Citing the economic livelihoods of New York businesses, as well as supply chain... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently sent correspondence to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advocating Brazil bilateral security cooperation expansion.
Rubio indicated the effort would counter growing Chinese Communist Party influence (CCP) in the Western Hemisphere.
“Brazil... Read More »
As part of President Joe Biden’s pledge to provide 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests throughout the United States, the Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded a $51.6 million contract to Goldbelt Security, LLC for delivery of test kits.
Kits will be provided over the counter at no cost... Read More »
An assessment is ongoing to determine the extent and source of a ransomware attack on the New Mexico cities of Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, and Tijeras, which took affected systems offline and severed network connections, forcing most county buildings to shutter on Jan. 5.
While employees continued... Read More »
Calling attention to human trafficking, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Blue Campaign announced that Jan. 11, 2022, will be Wear Blue Day and encouraged supporters to join in and speak out.
“Human trafficking is one of the most... Read More »
Three Republican representatives recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden seeking an accounting of existing COVID-19 funding in anticipation of the administration requesting additional dollars.
House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith (R-MO), House Energy & Commerce... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported that a Chinese national formerly residing in Chesterfield, Mo., has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit economic espionage.
According to court documents, Xiang Haitao, 44, conspired to steal a trade secret from Monsanto, an... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at eight South Texas ports of entry seized significantly more cocaine and fentanyl in 2021, officials said Wednesday.
According to CBP, officers have seized 1,066 percent more fentanyl and 98 percent more cocaine in fiscal year 2021, than in... Read More »
The Navy has reached a five-year agreement worth up to $154 million with BAE Systems for the firm to continue supporting the Naval Air Warfare Center Webster Outlying Field.
“Those on the front lines need rapid integration of the latest technologies to ensure open, clear, secure, and reliable... Read More »
