Policy
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 »
Bill advocates supply chain vulnerability research
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) recently praised the benefits of their advanced Domains Critical to Homeland Security Act, which advocates Department of Homeland Security (DHS) supply chain vulnerability research. The legislation was signed into law with the FY 2022 National... Read More »
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 »