Countermeasures
House Committee on Homeland Security Democrats reintroduced last week legislation designed to initiate reform within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, recently joined Committee Democrats in... Read More »
As part of its Safe Return to School Diagnostic Testing Initiative, the National Institutes of Health funded five additional research projects last week to investigate ways of safely returning people to in-person learning in areas with vulnerable and underserved populations.
Up to $15 million... Read More »
In an effort to keep transportation safe without slowing the flow of traffic, the New York City subway system, together with a series of collaborators in the federal, academic, and private sectors, is rolling out a testbed and series of biosensors to scan for chemical and biological threats.... Read More »
DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced last week the agency's largest cybersecurity hiring initiative, noting the onboarding of nearly 300 cybersecurity professionals as well as the extension of an additional 500 tentative job offers.
In May, Mayorkas established a goal to hire 200 new... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) recently introduced legislation designed to enhance supply chain security via vigorous training initiatives.
The Supply Chain Security Training Act creates a standardized training program to help federal employees responsible for purchasing... Read More »
A new legislative effort is pushing for a new program to designate academic medical centers as research and communication hubs in the American preparation for and response to pandemics.
While COVID-19 is firmly in mind with the program, it also seeks to aid developments for fighting future... Read More »
Looking to address a medical need and reduce development and preparedness costs for taxpayers, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has purchased and begun accepting the Paratek Pharmaceuticals antibiotic NUZYRA for use on anthrax infections.
The contract could... Read More »
Air Force officials said Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada would gain a larger fighter presence through efforts to test and train warfighters in fifth-generation aircraft.
“Our nation and joint force commanders depend on us to control and exploit the air,” Gen. Mark D. Kelly, commander, Air... Read More »
A group of Democratic legislators recently reintroduced a bill prohibiting the online distribution of blueprints and instructions enabling the printing of three dimensional (3D) firearms.
The bicameral 3D Printed Gun Safety Act was introduced by U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Robert... Read More »
By the end of 2021, the terms of a new supply agreement will see Dynavax Technologies Corporation deliver its CpG 1018 adjuvant to Clover Biopharmaceuticals for use in its COVID-19 vaccine candidate, SCB-2019.
SCB-2019 is a protein-based vaccine that, pending regulatory approvals, is expected to... Read More »
Denouncing further spending on the nuclear Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD) program as unnecessary, costly, and promoting a nuclear arms race, U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) has introduced legislation to pause development until 2031 and extend the lifespan of existing weapons.
“As a... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Jim Baird (R-IN) recently led colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden, encouraging the administration to hold China and Russia accountable for food industry cyberattacks.
The correspondence addressed recent cyberattacks on infrastructure and the nation's food system and... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), and John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee, recently forwarded correspondence to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding a status update on the backlog of Trusted Traveler... Read More »
The U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported this week that a COVAXIN adjuvant they funded, Alhydroxiquim-II, is actively aiding the COVID-19 response efforts in India, boosting the COVAXIN vaccine’s efficacy among the millions who have taken it.
Alhydroxiquim-II was originally... Read More »
Moderna, Inc. released a clinical update of a small Phase 1 trial this week evaluating the performance of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine against three of the ever-multiplying strains of the disease, including the worrisome Delta variant.
Based on serum samples from eight vaccinated participants,... Read More »
Antibiotics underpin modern medicine— used to treat everything from bacterial infections to cancer.
However, a world without effective antibiotics because of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) could mean the unraveling of health care. It also has implications for national security as antibiotics... Read More »
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded $2.99 million in grant funding for new interoperable public safety communication systems.
Initially funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and Mark Green (R-TN) introduced last week legislation seeking to increase funding to the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).
The measure garnered advancement in the U.S. House of Representatives last year as efforts with the executive branch continue... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regarding travel and mask guidance updates.
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Amy Klobuchar... Read More »
A new policy brief released this week by U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) assessed the role of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) during the COVID-19 pandemic and concluded that reforms are necessary both within the agency and beyond to improve federal pandemic... Read More »
Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), based in Andover, Mass., and Alakai Defense Systems, Inc. (Alakai), based in Largo, Fla., recently announced that they have secured funding from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program.
The businesses, which... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) and Elaine Luria (D-VA) recently joined U.S. Sens. Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Angus King (I-ME) in introducing legislation that focuses on assessing Arctic region security while also establishing Department of Defense (DOD) resources there.
The Arctic Security... Read More »
A small, veteran-owned business in Florida, Bloodstone Division, LLC, earned a $105,877 award from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) to fund the development of an antiviral disinfectant for COVID-19 and beyond.
Traditional disinfecting... Read More »
Committee leadership for the U.S. Senate’s Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced that it would provide oversight and investigation of three new areas to improve the nation’s pandemic preparedness effort.
“More than 600,000 Americans have died as a result of... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation seeking to increase knowledge and awareness of cybersecurity risks via a cybersecurity literacy campaign.
U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) presented the... Read More »
Marine Corps officials are espousing the benefits of its Wargaming and Analysis Center currently under construction.
The 100,000 square-foot venue will house various capabilities to enhance warfighter preparedness.
“This facility is a big deal to us, to the commandant and to those [young... Read More »
With the introduction of new legislation last week, U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) has proposed the creation of the Office of Policy Development and Cybersecurity (OPDC) within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to advance national cybersecurity... Read More »
The FirstNet network expanded the number of unthrottled, deployable network assets for fire, EMS, law enforcement, and other public safety personnel to more than 100 land-based and airborne portable cell sites as of last week.
“When disaster strikes, FirstNet is there to support first... Read More »
University of North Carolina (UNC) Gillings School of Global Public Health researchers are exploring the potential of a universal vaccine protecting mice against other coronaviruses and variants.
Scientists noted coronaviruses continue to be a threat after causing the SARS outbreak 18 years ago,... Read More »
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) personnel are touting the benefits of a Puerto Rico hurricane preparedness exercise.
The ASPR indicated collaboration with the Department of Health of Puerto Rico would involve... Read More »
A new report from the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA) and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a first of its kind known as the AMR Preparedness Index, provides an evaluation and roadmap for the 11 largest global economies and their efforts to tackle rising cases of antimicrobial... Read More »
Under an expanded agreement with Moderna, Inc., the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced this week that it will provide program management support and up to $144 million for the Phase 2/3 clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine on children.
Also known as... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) introduced legislation Tuesday that would uncover the threats posed by white supremacist groups both in America and abroad.
Carson, chair of the House Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence, and counterproliferation, said the groups threaten national... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced Tuesday that the Biden Administration would invest more than $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to discover, develop, and manufacture antiviral COVID-19 medicines.
The investment is part of the administration’s “whole of... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has introduced the COVID Act of 2021, authorizing sanctions against the Chinese Communist Party should it fail to allow a probe into the origins of COVID-19.
The sanctions and restrictions would be applied 90 days after enactment concerning a probe of suspected... Read More »
