Justice Department announces more than $125M in STOP School Violence Act Grants
The U.S. Department of Justice announced it would be providing nearly $126 million in funding to advance school safety under the STOP School Violence Act. The grants fund safety measures in and around primary and secondary schools, as well as school violence prevention efforts, training for... Read More »
Reps. Jacobs, Ryan commend measure aiding reservists
U.S. Reps. Chris Jacobs (R-NY) and Tim Ryan (D-OH) are espousing the benefits of a recently signed measure they said is designed to aid Army Reserves and National Guard members. The Reservists Opportunity Act (H.R. 5063) was signed into law by President Joe Biden in accordance with part of the... Read More »
Funding guaranteed for Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles and M-SHORAD through NDAA
As a result of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act’s (NDAA) passage into law, among the beneficiaries of its funding will be the U.S. military’s Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles, and Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) program, all slated for billions of dollars in... Read More »
Proposed National Critical Capabilities Defense Act seeks review, screening of U.S. supply chain
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Victoria Spartz (R-IN), and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) introduced new legislation that seeks a new review process for the nation’s supply chain to screen out vulnerabilities and exploits for national adversaries. “The unfolding global... Read More »
Rep. Smith applauds passage of forced labor prevention legislation
U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) recently applauded the enactment of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (H.R. 6256), which stops U.S. imports produced by slave labor. Smith served as the bill's co-sponsor. "Enactment into law of the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act I co-sponsored... Read More »
IAVG stresses need to prioritize vaccine equity in 70 percent immunization push
The Independent Allocation of Vaccines Group (IAVG), a manager of needs-based allocations for the global COVAX initiative, criticized rich nations last week for hoarding COVID-19 vaccines and issued steps to achieve a new goal of 70 percent immunization coverage by mid-2022. “As the overall... Read More »
DARPA to aid addressing microelectronics advancement challenges
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced that it is participating in an initiative to address microelectronics advancement challenges. DARPA personnel have detailed the Joint University Microelectronics Program 2.0 (JUMP 2.0), described as a long-term university... Read More »
Last group of resettling Afghan nationals leave temporary housing at Marine Corps Base Quantico
As part of a Department of State-led resettlement effort known as Operation Allies Welcome (OAW), the final group of Afghan nationals departed a temporary safe haven at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., to find their way into the United States. The Department of Defense still houses approximately... Read More »
Human trafficking provision signed into law as part of National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) announced Monday that at provision they authored to combat human trafficking had been signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. Based on Peters and Portman’s DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act, the provision would... Read More »
CBP outlines expansion of Washington Simplified Arrival
Simplified Arrival, an enhanced international arrival process utilizing facial biometrics to automate manual document checks at border crossings, has been expanded in Washington state, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The expansion applies to border crossings at the... Read More »
Justice Department seeks to improve services for crime victims with more than $40M in grants
A total of 14 programs focused on victims of crime earned more than $40 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) last week as a means of culturally specific enhancement to help them better reflect and support their communities. Of these, an award of nearly $2.9 million went to... Read More »
CDC releases emergency guidance for healthcare facilities in response to potential Omicron surge
As the number of Omicron variant cases of COVID-19 grows, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued updated guidance for healthcare workers regarding their isolation and quarantine times after being infected. Additionally, the CDC updated its guidance for contingency and... Read More »
FDA authorizes rapid Roche COVID-19 test for emergency over-the-counter use
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bestowed emergency use authorization (EUA) to Roche’s COVID-19 at-home test last week, expanding over-the-counter options for those concerned about SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. As a result, the test will now be available for self-use by... Read More »
DARPA initiative addresses machine learning attacks
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has launched an initiative to address potential machine learning (ML) model attacks. The Guaranteeing AI Robustness against Deception (GARD) program seeks to work ahead of safety challenges by developing a new generation of defenses against... Read More »