Policy
Sen. Graham pushes for Senate hearing on rising crime rates
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is calling on the Senate Judiciary Committee to hold a hearing on the rise in violent crime across the country. In a letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-IL), Graham and all of the Republican members of the Judiciary Committee linked the rise in... Read More »
FDA authorizes new Roche, Siemens at-home COVID-19 tests following accelerated review
Following an accelerated review process, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week approved two new over-the-counter COVID-19 tests in a two-month turnaround time, opening the market to millions of new Roche and Siemens tests. "Increasing Americans' access to easy-to-use, reliable... Read More »
National Defense Authorization Act of 2022 passes with provisions for addressing PFAS spills
The $770 billion Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA; S. 1605) was signed into law last week, and among its many provisions were funding for addressing both Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) contamination throughout the United States. This will take the form of new... Read More »
Bipartisan senators commend the signing of legislation authorizing National Cyber Director detailees
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently applauded the passage of legislation authorizing non-reimbursable Office of the National Cyber Director (NCD) detailees. U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Gary Peters (D-MI), Angus King (I-ME), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) said the measure... Read More »
Legislators praise National Mall veterans memorial bill passage
U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) recently commended the passage of their legislation, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Location Act, which enables the placement of a National Mall memorial honoring Global War on Terrorism veterans. “In the wake of 9/11, millions of... 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
CBP in final stages of upgrading marine vessel fleet
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Air and Marine Operations (AMO) is in the final stages of upgrading and modernizing its marine vessel fleet. The AMO contractually accepted its final 41-Foot SAFE Boat Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) on Dec. 15. The vessel slated to arrive... Read More »
Sen. Warren, Rep. Escobar call on DoD to increase resilience against climate change
U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), called on the U.S. Department of Defense to take proactive steps that would ensure defense assets and installations are ready in the face of climate change. In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III,... Read More »
DHS seeking homeland security technology proposals
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) is soliciting research proposals from entities for a broad range of 11 homeland security technology needs. “A strength of the DHS SBIR program is that each year we can partner with innovative small businesses... Read More »
Secret Service appoints coordinator to address fraudulent COVID-19 relief
With stolen benefits from COVID-19 relief applications nearing $100 billion, Secret Service investigations of fraud at this scale are ramping up, and as part of those efforts, the agency this week appointed Assistant Special Agent in Charge Roy Dotson as National Pandemic Fraud Recovery... Read More »
ICE announces body camera pilot program
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Tuesday it would be launching a body camera pilot program for ICE law enforcement officers in pre-planned operations. The use of body worn cameras, the agency said, will enhance ICE operations, including at-large arrests and searches, as... Read More »U.S. Senate passes bill to improve federal workforce’s understanding of AI
Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) aimed at improving the federal workforce’s understanding of artificial intelligence (AI) passed the U.S. Senate on Monday. The bill, Artificial Intelligence Training for the Acquisition Workforce Act, would... Read More »
HHS launches PandemicX Accelerator to narrow health inequities
In an effort to close health disparities brought to light and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that it has banded together with 15 digital health startups in the 2022 PandemicX Accelerator. “PandemicX will... Read More »House bill seeks to protect supply chain from adversaries
A group of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said seeks to protect the domestic supply chain from foreign adversaries that include China and Russia. Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Victoria Spartz (R-IN) introduced the National Critical... Read More »
Top NIH scientists call for global collaboration in pursuit of universal coronavirus vaccine
With a growing body of evidence that novel coronaviruses will continue to infect animals to afflict humans anew, top scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have called for collaboration in pursuit of a universal coronavirus vaccine. Drs. Anthony Fauci, Jeffery Taubenberger, and... Read More »
Rep. Thompson, Sen. Warren release report on disaster recovery barriers, equitable outcomes
U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) released a report Thursday from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Federal Government disaster recovery programming and equitable outcomes. The... Read More »
DEA warns criminal drug networks mass-producing fentanyl to flood U.S.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has revealed that criminal drug networks based in Mexico are mass-producing fentanyl and fentanyl-laced products for sale in the United States. Fentanyl has been one of the major drivers of overdose deaths in recent years. Today, the DEA claims that... Read More »
Boost global vaccine rates for faster U.S. pandemic recovery, experts testify
A growing, immediate need exists to accelerate global coronavirus vaccination efforts to help ensure America’s continued economic recovery, experts testified during a Dec. 14 hearing held by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. To date, nearly eight billion coronavirus... Read More »
Senate advances bipartisan legislation to recruit, retain federal cybersecurity workforce
Legislation from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), John Hoeven (R-ND), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) that aims to revamp and reenergize the federal cybersecurity workforce passed a major hurdle this week after it won advancement through the Senate. Reckoning with a world at times inseparable from its... Read More »
Artificial intelligence bills included in FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), co-founders of the Senate Artificial Intelligence Caucus, said two of their bipartisan bills addressing Artificial Intelligence and the U.S. government have passed as part of the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. The bills, the... Read More »
National Guard’s FireGuard wildfire detection program slated for extension through 2026
Among the many items nearing approval through the federal defense authorization bill this month is the National Guard’s FireGuard wildfire detection and tracking program in California. The defense bill has been advanced by both the Senate and House and merely awaits the signature of President... Read More »
Senate’s Medical Device Integrity Act would require medical device manufacturers comply with FDA record requests
With as many as 40 percent of medical device manufacturing facilities refusing to submit records when asked by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) have proposed a bill that would encourage compliance. The requests were made between... Read More »
Johns Hopkins report cites failure to integrate primary care providers into COVID-19 response as missed opportunity
A new report released by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security this week determined that the failure to incorporate primary care providers into the frontline response to COVID-19 and the larger public health system could have improved care, testing, and vaccination acceptance. In... Read More »
Lawmakers initiate Hypersonics Caucus
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives have launched the Hypersonics Caucus to promote hypersonic weapons utilization in accordance with national security strategy initiatives. Reps. Mo Brooks (R-AL) and Jim Banks (R-IN) spearheaded the effort. “Russia and China have spent the past two... Read More »