Policy
Senators press HHS to detail plans for developing new COVID-19 vaccines
Seven senators last week urged the Biden administration to outline plans to develop more durable COVID-19 vaccines following a year of emerging variants that have tested the efficacy of current treatments. Led by U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and... Read More »
More than 160 House Republicans demand Biden administration include Congress in any future Iran nuclear agreement
More than 160 House Republicans sent a letter to the Biden administration last week, denouncing the Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran and demanding that any future agreement make a greater role for Congressional insight and approval. "The Iranian regime brutally represses, persecutes,... Read More »
House SUPPORT Act pledges support for Ukrainian insurgency against any Russian occupation
With worries of a Russian incursion into Ukraine ongoing, U.S. Reps. Marc Veasey (D-TX), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Mike Turner (R-OH) today introduce the Supplying Ukraine with Provisions to Protect against Ongoing Russian Threats (SUPPORT) Act to guarantee support to the latter. For the... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster school resource officer funding
U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) has introduced legislation that seeks to bolster funding resulting in law enforcement agencies hiring more school resource officers. The School Resource Officer Act, which Newhouse co-authored with U.S. Reps. Chris Jacobs (R-NY), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Don Bacon... Read More »
Reps. Katko, Thompson lead legislation seeking to combat human trafficking
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) have joined 14 colleagues to introduce legislation that bolsters the nation’s ability to combat human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act would provide the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human... Read More »
Collection of 10 senators call on Biden to demilitarize police through executive action
A group of 10 senators – nine Democrats and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) – wrote a letter to President Joe Biden this week, urging him to use executive action to demilitarize the nation’s police forces and reform Department of Defense programs that transfer or sell military equipment to... Read More »
More than 30 Republican senators introduced legislation seeking to impose Russian sanctions
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation that sanctions Russia for present and potential future aggression against Ukraine. U.S. Sens. John Kennedy (R-LA) and Jim Risch (R-ID) recently joined over 30 other Republican colleagues in presenting the Never Yielding Europe’s Territory... Read More »
NTI paper on COVID-19 lessons notes improvements needed to properly prepare for nuclear emergencies
Lessons from one disaster can provide insights into the next and maybe even help prevent them – an idea carried forward in a new paper on COVID-19 commissioned by the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and written by retired Major Gen. Julie Bentz. In the paper, Bentz – a former major general... Read More »
KBR secures Defense Department contract for missile defense system
Engineering firm KBR has secured a Department of Defense (DoD) Information Analysis Center contract to support the Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target (PATRIOT) missile defense system. The scope of the $207 million contract involves analyzing PATRIOT's overall performance while... Read More »
Republican legislators requesting southern border hearing
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, requesting a hearing regarding the nation's southern border. U.S. Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL), Mitt Romney (R-UT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford... Read More »
FDA grants breakthrough therapy designation to Bavarian Nordic RSV vaccine for elderly
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted breakthrough therapy designation to a Bavarian Nordic A/S vaccine candidate known as MVA-BN RSV this week, setting the preventative for RSV up for a hastened review and development cycle. The vaccine’s focus, known as respiratory... Read More »
FDA authorizes bebtelovimab monoclonal antibody treatment to counter Omicron
The COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment known as bebtelovimab was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) last week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), thanks to its displayed capabilities against the dominant Omicron variant. Omicron has changed the field of the ongoing... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster gun background checks
U.S. Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) has introduced a measure designed to bolster the gun background check system. Officials said the Preventing Pretrial Gun Purchases Act amends federal gun laws as a means of ensuring the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) denies gun sales... Read More »
Reps. Kelly, Demings advocate enhanced public safety
Lawmakers and law enforcement personnel recently gathered in Washington, DC, to address the national rise in violent crime and the need to keep communities safe. U.S. Reps. Robin L. Kelly (D-IL) and Val Demings (D-FL) previously introduced the Violent Incident Clearance and Technological... Read More »
Republicans demand Biden administration action on fentanyl flooding United States
In a letter to President Joe Biden, 116 Republican members of Congress, led by U.S. Rep. Bran Steil (WI), pressed the administration to immediately crack down on fentanyl distribution and list the drug as a permanent Schedule 1 substance. Drug overdoses have been on the rise for years, though... Read More »
NIH uses $4.5M in grant funds to create collaborative research centers focused on Valley Fever
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) last week announced the allocation of $4.5 million across three grant awards to create collaborative research centers in the United States, focusing specifically on investigating treatments and vaccines specifically related to Valley Fever. These centers... Read More »
DHS affirms collaborative Super Bowl security initiative
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it has worked with state and local law enforcement personnel to ensure employee, player, and fan safety during Super Bowl LVI. “The Department of Homeland Security is fundamentally a department of partnerships, and those... Read More »
Sen. Rubio seeks to end U.S.-China university partnerships that bolster development of Chinese military technologies
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) has forwarded correspondence to 22 domestic universities, noting he is encouraging termination of partnerships in support of Beijing’s military-civil fusion (MCF) strategy. The issue stands with universities located in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) backing the... Read More »
Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act seeks added protections against cybersecurity threats
This week, U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced a legislative package known as the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act that proposes new requirements for private owners and federal agencies alike to address cybersecurity. “It is clear that, as our nation... Read More »
U.S. Air Force awards $17M warfighter health protection contract to Battelle
The U.S. Air Force has awarded a five-year, $17 million contract to Battelle to conduct research that advances health protection for the warfighter in present and near-future operational environments, the company announced Wednesday. Awarded under the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Airman... Read More »
Rep. Kim establishes human trafficking task force
Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) said she has established a Human Trafficking Congressional Task Force to combat human trafficking while aiding Orange, Los Angeles, and San Bernardino county victims. “Human trafficking is modern-day slavery that exploits some of the most vulnerable members of our... Read More »
Bill addresses China-affiliated drone purchases
U.S. Reps. Garret Graves (R-LA) and Seth Moulton (D-MA) have introduced a bill seeking to prohibit the use of federal grants to purchase drones produced by companies associated with the Chinese government. The Infrastructure Grant Security Act ensures the increased integration of drones does not... Read More »
Operation Overdrive: New DEA operation targets drug violence, overdoses in U.S. cities
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) launched a new initiative this week to combat drug-related violent crime and overdose deaths in 34 major cities across 23 states. Known as Operation Overdrive, this initiative intends to attack the criminal drug supply chain and associated violence as a... Read More »
National terrorist threats remain high due to proliferation of conspiracy theories, misinformation
According to the latest National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), threat levels throughout the country remain heightened due to mis-, dis-, and mal-information, stoked by foreign and domestic sources. While much focus has been paid to... Read More »
House advances America COMPETES Act to add regular federal inspection of Strategic National Stockpile
The America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) from U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), advanced last week by the House, proposes increased domestic competitiveness and oversight through greater maintenance and inspection of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). “If there’s... Read More »
Bill addresses Congressional authority over international arms sales
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) has re-introduced the Values in Arms Export Act of 2022, which seeks to restore Congressional authority over international arms sales. Additionally, the legislation would prevent domestic arms from being used to violate the laws of war and human rights.... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Coons introduce Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act to bolster domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing
A combined legislative effort from U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) brought the Agility in Manufacturing Preparedness Act (S.3553) to the Senate this week, offering a proposal of how to improve domestic biopharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities for public health... Read More »
DHS launches Cyber Safety Review Board
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently launched Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB), maintaining it would unite government and industry leaders to bolster cybersecurity. Authorities indicated the CSRB was formed in accordance with President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14028 on... Read More »
Senate advances legislation bolstering FEMA disaster response efforts
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) have offered responses regarding the Senate advancing legislation they sponsored targeting bolstered Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) disaster response efforts. The Achieving Equity in Disaster Response, Recovery and Resilience... Read More »
House Active Shooter Alert Act proposes AMBER Alert-like system for notifying public of gun danger
In introducing the Active Shooter Alert Act (H.R.6538) to the House this week, U.S. Reps. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Fred Upton (R-MI) proposed creating a system similar to the AMBER Alert system for law enforcement to use in notifying the public of active, local gun violence. AMBER Alerts are... Read More »
FDA Advisory Committee to hold virtual discussion on possible Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for young children
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will hold a virtual meeting on Feb. 15 to discuss the possibility of allowing Pfizer-BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine to be used on children as young as 6 months old. The companies... Read More »
Bill seeks to criminalize dangerous drone activity
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) introduced this week the Drone Act of 2022, which seeks to criminalize dangerous drone activity, including actions of drug and human traffickers embracing drone technology to facilitate operations. The legislators noted... Read More »
DHS highlights increase in human trafficking arrests, seizures
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released its annual Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT) report, reflecting an increase in arrests and seizures. “The courageous public servants of the Department of Homeland Security dedicate every day to supporting the... Read More »
Sens. Baldwin, Cassidy push genetic surveillance and genomic sequencing bill as path to viral threat tracking
With the introduction of the Tracking Pathogens Act (S. 3534) this week, U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) proposed the institution of national genomic sequence-based surveillance as a means of charting circulating pathogens, transmission patterns, and... Read More »