Policy
Sen. Ernst, colleagues urge Biden administration to enforce Iranian oil tanker sanctions
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) recently joined nine colleagues seeking enforcement action regarding a growing fleet of Iranian oil tankers evading domestic sanctions. Ernst and her colleagues forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden to also address the issue of entities purchasing Iranian... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional lawmakers announce support for National AI Research Resource
In a letter written to the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the National Science Foundation (NSF), a bipartisan collection of senators and representatives last week urged continued pursuit of artificial intelligence development, albeit with special care to ethics and... Read More »
Federal lawmakers press U.S. Army for development of new situational awareness technology for close-quarters
In a letter dispatched to Army Secretary Christine Wormuth last week, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, along with U.S. Reps Brian Higgins and Joseph Morelle, urged the development of new cameras to boost military situational awareness. Specifically, they... Read More »
Sen. Tester tours Hawaii military facilities, receives readiness briefs
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, recently joined U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) in touring the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Honolulu. The effort also included operational briefings regarding the force posture of the U.S.... Read More »
Reps. Thompson, Costa, Neguse advocate for increase in wildfire mitigation efforts
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden advocating increased wildfire mitigation efforts. U.S. Reps. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), and Joe Neguse (D-CO) spearheaded the correspondence that included signatures from 11 House of Representatives... Read More »
FTC sues to block Lockheed Martin from $4.4B acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a lawsuit to block Lockheed Martin Corporation from the vertical acquisition of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc to prevent critical market consolidation. Regulators argued the $4.4 billion acquisition effort would remove the last independent U.S.... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster federal disaster response
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is espousing the benefits of a bill that would bolster federal disaster response efforts. Peters, chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, recently detailed how the Repeal of Obsolete DHS Contracting Requirements Act would address a... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster federal cybersecurity
U.S. Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) and James Comer (R-KY) introduced Tuesday legislation to bolster the federal government’s cyber defenses in the wake of a series of high-profile cyberattacks. Maloney, chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, and Comer, ranking member of the... Read More »
Rep. Griffith introduces legislation ensuring domestically-produced PPE
U.S. Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA) has introduced legislation requiring the federal government to partner with domestic personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturers to ensure a supply during national emergencies. The Domestic Security Using Production Partnerships and Lessons from Yesterday... Read More »
Sens. Murray, Burr release discussion draft of PREVENT Pandemics Act in effort to improve public health systems
Trying to bolster U.S. public health and medical preparedness and response systems after COVID-19 exposed their flaws, U.S. Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard Burr (R-NC) have released a discussion draft of a new bill calling for overhaul across the board. Known as the Prepare for and Respond... Read More »
HHS to distribute more than $2B additional funds for healthcare providers hurt by COVID-19 pandemic
Building on the nearly $9 billion in funding already granted to the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) and healthcare providers since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced plans to make more than $2 billion of additional relief... Read More »
CBP provides monthly operational update
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued Monday its December 2021 operational statistics update, which offers a comprehensive view of agency initiatives. “The dedicated men and women at CBP are committed to ensuring dangerous drugs and counterfeit products are off the streets, our... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security hosts Human Trafficking Awareness Training in Florida
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) recently hosted a Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT) in Gainesville, Fla. “FLETC’s work with local law enforcement across the country is essential to ensuring that law enforcement can... Read More »
Bill provides Ukraine aid to avert Russian invasion
A group of lawmakers recently introduced legislation that seeks to protect vulnerable civilian populations from a Russian military invasion. U.S. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) said the... Read More »
Legislation targets fentanyl smugglers
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Tim Burchett (R-TN), Tom Tiffany (R-WI), and Michael Guest (R-MS) recently introduced a measure they said would ensure fentanyl smuggler accountability for their role in the nation's opioid epidemic. The Fentanyl Trafficker Elimination Act seeks to increase... Read More »
Sen. Peters calls for increased funding to help protect houses of worship from threats
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, led a group of lawmakers in calling for funding to meet the needs of houses of worship to secure their facilities against potential terrorist attacks. In a letter to the leaders of the Senate... Read More »
Federal lawmakers seek ghost gun ban from Conference of Mayors
A collection of more than 40 senators and representatives published a letter last week calling for members of the United States Conference of Mayors to crack down on and ban untraceable firearms, better known as “ghost guns.” “We write today to request your consideration in addressing the... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster wildfire communications, information sharing
U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) recently introduced legislation to bolster wildfire communications and information sharing among first responders. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Wildland Fire Communications and Information Dissemination Act... Read More »
House Invest to Protect Act urges $50M investment into smaller police departments
Backed by various law enforcement organizations and bipartisan appeal, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and John Rutherford (R-FL) – together with 36 cosponsors – introduced the Invest to Protect Act of 2022 last week to support local police. The House bill seeks critical investments into... Read More »
Congressmembers call on Biden to overhaul U.S. counterterrorism policy
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-ME), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, joined U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and other members of Congress, in calling on President Joe Biden to overhaul the U.S.... Read More »
TSA report examines increase in firearm discoveries at Georgia airports
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) report determined firearm discoveries at Georgia airports increased in 2021. Per the analysis, officers at Georgia airports discovered 542 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage last year, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Cornyn push cybersecurity bill to protect commercial satellites, industrial control systems
Introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) this week, the Satellite Cybersecurity Act proposes new requirements for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) to help commercial satellite owners and operators protect their networks. “Hackers have already... Read More »
Rep. Katko asks Biden to utilize NY medical expertise in public health response to Omicron surge
Citing the surge in Omicron cases nationwide, U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) urged President Joe Biden to use research and technology from academic medical centers in Central New York, like SUNY Upstate Medical University, to guide the nation’s public health response and to improve testing. In a... Read More »
Bill seeks to reduce global sex trafficking demand
U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced this week legislation that seeks to reduce demand for sex trafficking worldwide. The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act would amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to reflect the need to... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional Delegation meets with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday as part of their bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Ukraine. The... Read More »
Merck, Ridgeback to supply 3 million courses of molnupiravir this year to UNICEF for COVID-19 efforts
Under a long-term agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced this week, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics have agreed to provide 3 million courses of COVID-19 oral antiviral molnupiravir for use in low and middle-income countries. Distribution will occur throughout... Read More »
CEPI, IPD partner to advance COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) recently collaborated to advance COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa. CEPI seeks to develop vaccines against future epidemics, while IPD is a non-profit public interest foundation located in... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Scott introduce legislation seeking to address federal property, assets disaster resilience
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced Tuesday a bill that requires federal agencies to consider disaster resilience when investing in and managing federal property and assets. The legislators noted the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act stems from a 2021 Government... Read More »
Bipartisan senators introduce legislation to rebuild public health workforce
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation Friday that would reinforce and expand the U.S. public health workforce in light of current shortages. The legislation, Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act, would... Read More »
Invest in Law Enforcement Act seeks funds for smaller police departments
A new bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and John Rutherford (R-FL) would provide $50 million in grants for small police departments to invest in training, equipment, personnel support, and mental health resources. “Now more than ever, we need to make... Read More »
ADL advocates increased non-profit security funding
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 »
Rep. Gottheimer introduces Medical and Health Accountability Act to improve medical supply transparency, counter equipment shortages
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 »
Defense Department awards contracts to purchase COVID-19 test kits
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 »
DHS unveils climate change professionals initiative
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 »