Policy
Russian FSB arrests members of REvil ransomware gang following attacks on U.S. infrastructure
Following requests from U.S. authorities, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested members of the REvil ransomware gang and shut their operations, which in the last few years have struck American ventures such as the Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and Kaseya. The Russian-based group... Read More »
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks strengthened domestic pharmaceutical supply chains
With the introduction of the House version of the Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act (H.R. 6374), U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Peter Meier (R-MI) this week sought to bolster cut overreliance on foreign pharmaceuticals and strengthen the domestic supply... Read More »
Bill seeks bolstered federal disaster response for underserved communities
U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Gary Peters (D-Ml) have introduced a bill they said strengthens Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster response within underserved communities facing federal aid barriers. The legislators indicated the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response,... Read More »
Sen. Gillibrand leads letter demanding emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers become permanent
In a letter dispatched to the Biden administration last week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and nearly 20 colleagues asked that the withdrawing OSHA emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers be made permanent. OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,... Read More »
Legislation seeks to support efforts to continue space program initiatives
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) has introduced a bill that would aid efforts to continue space program initiatives through authorization and funding of critical government programs. The U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2021 (H.R. 6391) calls for the National Space Council to report foreign threats... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators seek to prioritize halting fentanyl trafficking
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Congressional leadership, noting the effort seeks prioritization of efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking. U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) led 36 of their colleagues in advocating action to permanently classify... Read More »
Sens. Burr, Hickenlooper push Early Countermeasure Discovery Act to improve research detection of pathogens
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) this week introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) collaboration efforts surrounding research and development of countermeasures for pathogens with pandemic potential. “Two years... Read More »
Senate advances Peters, Portman cybersecurity legislation
The Senate advanced Wednesday legislation by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-Oh), promoting stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments. Peters and Portman, the chair and ranking member of the Homeland... Read More »
BARDA, HHS to lead Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium Industry Day
As part of efforts to optimize both governmental and industrial approaches to medical countermeasure manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will host a Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium... Read More »
Bill seeks to address boosts in rural law enforcement hiring, compensation
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure that seeks to increase the hiring and compensation of rural law enforcement officers. U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently joined 10 colleagues in introducing the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Collins seek greater registration demands for foreign manufacturers of medical products
A bipartisan proposal from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) seeks increased transparency through stronger requirements on foreign manufacturers of medical products utilized in the U.S., increasing those needing to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Our... Read More »
Agencies release CSA regarding infrastructure cyber threats
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said the agency has joined a pair of government entities in releasing a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) providing an overview of Russian cyber operations. Authorities indicated CISA joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)... Read More »
Republican COVID Act would sanction China for obstructing COVID-19 investigations
In response to the Chinese government's refusal to allow a comprehensive investigation into the origins of COVID-19, a collection of Republican senators introduced the Coronavirus Origin Validation, Investigation and Determination (COVID) Act this week. The bill seeks to authorize sanctions... Read More »
Sens. Merkley, Blunt seek greater biometric data collection transparency
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) recently forwarded correspondence to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to seek greater transparency regarding biometric data collection from U.S. citizens. Merkley and Blunt are requesting more information as it relates to how CBP... Read More »
More than 40 Congressional lawmakers urge presidential action to expand equitable access to COVID-19 rapid testing
In a letter to President Joe Biden this week, a collection of more than 40 sitting members of Congress led by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged administration action to expand access for and increase the supply of COVID-19 rapid tests. Demanding more... Read More »
United States to purchase 600,000 additional doses of sotrovimab COVID-19 treatments
According to GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc., the United States government this week agreed to purchase another 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 antibody treatment sotrovimab, which will be distributed in this first quarter of 2022. The arrangement stems from an amendment to... Read More »
Organizations advocate bolstered fire safety legislation
A group of fire fighting and fire safety organizations is imploring Congress to pass legislation improving public housing and older high-rise buildings' fire safety. Officials representing the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the... Read More »
FDA shortens wait time for Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine to five months
Amid rising breakthrough cases of COVID-19, largely fueled by the spread of the omicron variant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week shortened the time between primary and booster vaccination with a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to five months. This revised timeline was reflected in... Read More »
Sen. Gillibrand and Reps. Higgins, Jacobs urge DHS to keep U.S.-Canada border open to vaccinated travelers
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined U.S. Reps. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Chris Jacobs (R-NY) in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the U.S.-Canada border open for vaccinated individuals. Citing the economic livelihoods of New York businesses, as well as supply chain... Read More »
Sen. Rubio advocates Brazil bilateral security cooperation
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently sent correspondence to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advocating Brazil bilateral security cooperation expansion. Rubio indicated the effort would counter growing Chinese Communist Party influence (CCP) in the Western Hemisphere. “Brazil... Read More »
ICE HSI, Blue Campaign highlight victims of human trafficking with national Wear Blue Day
Calling attention to human trafficking, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Blue Campaign announced that Jan. 11, 2022, will be Wear Blue Day and encouraged supporters to join in and speak out. “Human trafficking is one of the most... Read More »
Reps. Smith, McMorris Rodgers, Brady seek accounting of existing COVID-19 funds
Three Republican representatives recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden seeking an accounting of existing COVID-19 funding in anticipation of the administration requesting additional dollars. House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith (R-MO), House Energy & Commerce... Read More »
Justice Department details Chinese national espionage plea
The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported that a Chinese national formerly residing in Chesterfield, Mo., has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit economic espionage. According to court documents, Xiang Haitao, 44, conspired to steal a trade secret from Monsanto, an... Read More »
Log4j vulnerability prompts Senate Homeland Security Committee briefing, warnings for critical infrastructure
In response to hacker-discovered vulnerabilities in the widely used Java-based logging package Log4j, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) convened a committee briefing with top federal cybersecurity officials this week to address the issue’s mitigation. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs... Read More »
Rep. Higgins announces SAFER grants to improve local fire department staffing
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) recently detailed the application process for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, noting the effort seeks to bolster local fire department staffing. Higgins said the application period is now open, and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2022, before 5... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Rosen, Wicker request cybersecurity information from DHS, DOT
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation Tuesday asking for information on the departments’ ability to thwart cyberattacks. Portman, the ranking member of the Senate... Read More »
Northrop Grumman awarded contract for production of Army’s Integrated Battle Command System
The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a five-year contract valued at over $1 billion to produce the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The agreement would address low-rate initial production and full-rate production, touting IBCS’s open, modular, and scalable... Read More »
Rep. Meijer human trafficking legislation signed into law
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) applauded this week the passage of his legislation, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act (H.R. 2795), which increases human trafficking indicators awareness. Additionally, the legislation, included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year... Read More »
Moniz, Nunn release statement on preventing nuclear war, arms race
Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Former Secretary of Energy under the Obama administration Ernest J. Moniz, co-founders of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said they applaud the position of world leaders that a nuclear war “cannot be won,” in a statement Monday. The statement comes in... Read More »
Sens. Burr, Blunt request information from HHS concerning COVID-19 testing shortage
In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) requested explanations for the nation’s COVID-19 testing shortages amid rising omicron variant infection cases. Specifically, they blasted the Biden... Read More »
Bipartisan amendment pushes analysis of federal government’s vaccine logistics, increased global supply
Through an amendment (H.R. 4350) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed last week, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) guaranteed a new federal study for the logistics of distributing COVID-19 doses abroad and ensuring vaccine... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Shaheen announce increased funding for Ukraine Security Initiative signed into law
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) announced the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative has been extended through 2022 as part of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The funding was increased from $250 million to $300 million per year, with at least $75... Read More »
Newly enacted measure seeks to bolster AI capabilities
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) are touting the recently signed Advancing American AI Innovation Act, which they said would bolster the nation's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities. The legislation signed into law in accordance with the FY 2022 National Defense... Read More »
New York National Guard, NYS Department of Health partner to bolster EMT numbers
In an effort to boost the number of EMTs available to New York during any winter surges of COVID-19, a new training partnership began last week between the New York State Department of Health and the New York National Guard. While Gov. Kathy Hochul had already deployed 60 National Guard medical... Read More »