Countermeasures
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials are touting the release of the funding notice for eight different types of terrorism prevention and preparedness grants totaling almost $1.87 billion.
“In the almost 20 years since September 11, 2001, the terrorism threat landscape has changed... Read More »
Lawmakers said Orlando, Fla., has received $3.8 million in terror-prevention and preparedness grant funds via the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).
Reps. Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), Val Demings (D-FL), and Darren Soto (D-FL) indicated the city's... Read More »
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech announced the beginning of an evaluation into the safety and immunogenicity of a third dose of their COVID-19 vaccine last week to study the effects of a booster vaccine against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
This will be offered to up to 144 participants from the phase... Read More »
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is holding an advisory committee meeting on Friday during which the committee is expected to recommend a single-dose Johnson & Johnson (J&J)-Janssen Biotech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine to become the third COVID-19 vaccine available for emergency use to... Read More »
A group of Senators introduced legislation supporting President Joe Biden’s efforts to rejoin the Iran Nuclear Deal, also called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
The Iran Diplomacy Act Full says the United States and Iran should promptly return to full compliance with all of... Read More »
Legislation recently introduced in both houses of Congress seeks to improve the resiliency of communications networks during emergencies.
With extreme weather events on the rise, it is critical to engage the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to help local governments prepare for and... Read More »
Sens. John Hoeven (R-ND), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) recently introduced a bill that seeks to offer bolstered support to combat-wounded veterans.
The Major Richard Star Act would allow veterans wounded in combat with less than 20 years of... Read More »
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) has introduced a bill designed to better protect firefighters in New York and nationwide from toxic exposure to PFAS chemicals.
PFAS are used as an ingredient in special foam used to fight fires, called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF). The use of the foam,... Read More »
The first 600,000 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine allocated to the COVAX Facility have been delivered to Ghana, with further deliveries expected to reach Cote d’Ivoire later this week.
It marks the beginning of a global rollout long in the planning and the first COVAX vaccine... Read More »
According to a new study from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), at least a few months of protection may be granted against reinfection to those with SARS-CoV-2.
As part of the National Institutes of Health, NCI worked with healthcare data analytics companies HealthVerity and Aetion, Inc. and... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation was introduced in this House of Representatives this week that would extend concealed carry privileges for qualified retired and active law enforcement officials.
The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act (LEOSA) Reform Act (H.R. 1210) would allow active and retired law... Read More »
A bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to ensure that the U.S. strengthens partnerships with international allies to combat cyberattacks in a unified approach.
The Cyber Diplomacy Act of 2021 (H.R. 1251), sponsored by Michael McCaul (R-TX), would also advocate for the State... Read More »
The Navy and Air Force have awarded Lockheed Martin a $414 million contract for Long Range Anti-Ship Missile (LRASM) production.
The agreement represents the largest LRASM production pact in the program's history. The combined Lot 4/5 contract continues production of the air-launched variant of... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, seeking insight regarding the company’s alleged role in knowingly allowing extremist content and groups growth on its platform.
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Oversight... Read More »
A Phase 1B clinical trial of Lassa fever vaccine INO-4500, developed by INOVIO, began dosing its first patient this week in Ghana.
The vaccine is a first on several fronts: the first candidate for Lassa fever to begin human trials and the first to have trials conducted in West Africa, where the... Read More »
A pair of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) developed by Regeneron have shown promising signs against the coronavirus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in a phase one clinical trial that marked the first such test conducted on people.
In all, the National Institute of Allergy and... Read More »
Specialty vaccine company Valneva has initiated a Phase 3 study for its single-shot chikungunya vaccine candidate, VLA1553.
VLA1553 is the only chikungunya vaccine candidate in Phase 3 clinical trials. Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease caused by the chikungunya virus (CHIKV).... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking steps to elevate cybersecurity and mitigate risks throughout the federal government.
As part of its plan, DHS is strengthening its partnerships with the private sector and expanding its investment in the infrastructure and people required to... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) personnel said the agency is aiding the scientific community and government decision-makers in proactive African Swine Fever approaches.
“Just because a disease isn’t currently present in the United States,... Read More »
Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-WI) recently reintroduced three bills seeking to bolster the nation's borders, combat corruption and instability in Mexico and address the immigration court backlogs.
“President Biden’s immigration proposal grants amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants does not... Read More »
New guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released this week reaches out to medical product developers to address effective means of modifying various medical products to meet the threats posed by new variants of SARS-CoV-2.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has... Read More »
In an effort to meet global supply demands, Sanofi has agreed to support the manufacturing of a COVID-19 vaccine made by Janssen Pharmaceutical NV and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., both of which are part of Johnson & Johnson.
The Janssen candidate has been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug... Read More »
Five COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers assured Congress Tuesday that they are closely watching the emergence of new variants of COVID-19 and are optimistic the two vaccines currently approved in the United States and a third poised for approval will treat those new variants that have emerged in the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) are urging President Joe Biden to add the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to the Defense Production Act Committee (DPAC).
The DPAC advises the President on the most effective use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) are seeking answers from the Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) on intelligence sharing related to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The congressional inquiry comes after the Wall Street Journal... Read More »
Lauretta AI, LLC, a start-up based in Arlington, Mass., has secured a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) phase one funding award of $199,950 to aid the development of self-screening Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints.
The initiative is supported through the DHS's Science... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently introduced a bill designed to codify into law the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety as a means of bolstering school security efforts.
The Luke and Alex School Safety Act of 2021 would help inform parents and... Read More »
Following positive results from preclinical testing at the University of Alabama at Birmingham last year, the Altimmune Inc. COVID-19 vaccine candidate AdCOVID is set to start a phase one clinical trial this week.
Efforts will begin with patient enrollment, now that the U.S. Food and Drug... Read More »
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Luminex Corporation announced a collaboration on advanced development support of a single test to rapidly detect and differentiate between COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Prevalent pathogens all,... Read More »
A bipartisan group of legislators is introducing a bill to investigate the Jan. 6 domestic terrorist attack on the U.S. Capitol and the federal government’s failure to respond to the threat of domestic terrorism over the past two decades.
The Commission on Domestic Terrorism Act of 2021 would... Read More »
Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-CA) introduced legislation that seeks to prevent white supremacists and other domestic extremists from enlisting in the U.S. Military.
His bill – the Shielding Our Military from Extremists Act – comes after a Department of Defense (DoD) report that said white supremacist... Read More »
Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) has introduced five bills to address the Chinese Communist Party's malign influence.
Officials said the legislation, previously introduced by Green in the 116th Congress, includes the Bring American Companies Home Act, the Our Money in China Transparency Act, the Secure... Read More »
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has unveiled CISA Global, the agency's initial international strategy.
Acting CISA Director Brandon Wales shared the initiative during the recent Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) amid a fireside chat with BCIU... Read More »
A public health emergency was declared in Texas this week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Secretary Norris Cochran due to recent winter storms that left millions without power.
President Joe Biden had already declared an emergency in the state last week.... Read More »
With money appropriated by Congress last year, President Joe Biden pledged a total of $4 billion to the global COVAX initiative to get poorer nations access to COVID-19 vaccines.
The announcement, made during a virtual G7 Summit, also encouraged partners within that group of wealthy nations to... Read More »
