Policy
USAID announces Global Vaccine Access initiative
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced Monday it was creating a new whole-of-government effort, the Initiative for Global Vaccine Access (Global VAX), to accelerate efforts worldwide to provide COVID-19 shots and overcome access barriers to vaccines, with a priority on... Read More »
ICE details U.S-Brazil human smuggling ring disruption
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) recently detailed a United States-Brazil collaboration that disrupted a major human trafficking operation. ICE officials indicated a probe spearheaded by the agency's Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in conjunction with the Department of... Read More »
Armed forces join Japan in bilateral training exercise
The U.S. Marines, Navy, and Army will join Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) members for a bilateral training exercise in multiple training locations across Japan. Resolute Dragon 2021 involves almost 2,650 Marines from across III MEF, representing all functions of the Fleet Marine Force.... Read More »
Gavi to invest $155.7M into malaria vaccine rollout for sub-Saharan Africa through 2025
Last week, the board of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, approved an initial investment of $155.7 million to support the introduction, acquisition, and delivery of malaria vaccines throughout eligible nations in sub-Saharan Africa between 2022 and 2025. The public-private health organization hopes... Read More »
Bipartisan Policy Center issues report on modernizing U.S. public healthcare systems
A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center makes recommendations on modernizing the U.S. public healthcare systems in light of the challenges the country has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report, Public health Forward: Modernizing the U.S. Public Health System, outlines critical... Read More »
DHS details new surface transportation cybersecurity requirements
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has unveiled Security Directives to address surface transportation systems and associated infrastructure cybersecurity threats. “These new cybersecurity requirements and recommendations will... Read More »
Reps. Kinzinger, Eshoo tout House passage of cybersecurity measures
U.S. Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) commended House of Representatives colleagues for passing a pair of bills Kinzinger introduced that he said are designed to bolster cybersecurity. The American Cybersecurity Literacy Act (H.R. 4055) requires the National Telecommunications... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman, Padilla introduce legislation to improve transparency of federal disaster relief spending
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Rob Portman (R-OH), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) introduced legislation Wednesday that would increase the transparency in what the federal government spends money on when it comes to disasters and emergencies – including pandemics, wildfires, and flooding. The... Read More »
Reps. Pallone, Doyle praise House cybersecurity legislation passage
Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) applauded the House of Representatives' passage of three cybersecurity bills. “The House came together to pass three critical bipartisan bills that aim to... Read More »
World Health Assembly to draft global agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness and response
This week, the World Health Assembly announced that it intends to jumpstart a process to draft and negotiate a global agreement to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The decision came with the ongoing -- and evolving -- COVID-19 pandemic firmly in mind and will utilize... Read More »
Former congresswoman, former FDA commissioner join Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense
Former U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, a Republican who represented the 5th District of Indiana from 2013-2021, and former Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Peggy Hamburg, who served as the agency’s 21st commissioner between 2009-2015, have joined the Bipartisan Commission on... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Hagerty, King introduce NDAA amendment
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), and Angus King (I-ME) recently filed an FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) amendment that seeks to enhance the key technologies permitting process concerning national security. The amendment focuses on the FAST-41 improved... Read More »
Rep. Krishnamoorthi urges immediate expansion of U.S. vaccine aid in wake of Omicron emergence
As the world continues to realign its approach and expectations in the wake of the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in South Africa last week, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) took the opportunity to renew calls for expanding U.S. vaccine aid to other nations. “The emergence of... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster HBCU student national security opportunities
U.S. Sens. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA) recently detailed the HBCU National Security Innovation Act, which seeks to connect Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) students to the defense industry and private sector national security and innovation programs. “As... Read More »
Bolster R&D for improved pandemic preparedness and response, say experts
Federal agencies, Congress and the White House must jointly foster improved research and development for pandemic preparedness and response, experts said during a recent webinar hosted by the Capitol Hill Steering Committee on Pandemic Preparedness & Health Security. “Over the last two... Read More »
WHO, MPP finalize agreement with Spanish National Research Council for first non-exclusive COVID-19 antibody test
The World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) recently reached a joint licensing agreement with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) for a non-exclusive COVID-19 serological antibody test. The CSIC-developed test, to be... Read More »
Maryland Gov. Hogan details Baltimore violent crime response
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan announced a series of initiatives he said seek to address violent crime in Baltimore City amid the city exceeding 300 homicides for the seventh consecutive year. "People are being shot nearly every single day in Baltimore City, and we all have an obligation to do... Read More »
NTI | bio report recommends strengthened international systems for pandemic assessment, response and risk reduction
In facing down a future of potential biological dangers, a new report from authors at NTI | bio recommended concrete action at the national and international level, from new oversight agencies to process overhauls and funding, to improve prevention and response. In “Strengthening Global... Read More »
Officials applaud $4.2M in law enforcement grants
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) recently joined first responders in recognizing a pair of achievements they said would aid police and fire personnel. The group celebrated the signing into law of Pascrell’s Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 (PAFRA), a measure that improves... Read More »
Report: Progress still needed on health equity in Month 11 of COVID-19 vaccination
A new report from the CommuniVax Coalition has found that while progress has been made regarding equity in the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, more work is needed. Led by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security at the Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Department of Anthropology at... Read More »
CISA, FBI encourage critical infrastructure protection vigilance CISA, FBI encourage critical infrastructure protection vigilance
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and FBI officials said the agencies are encouraging Americans to be aware of critical infrastructure security during the holiday season. Efforts are being intensified to disrupt the critical networks and systems belonging to organizations,... Read More »
Rep. Carter introduces bill to protect U.S. southern border
On Monday, U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) introduced a bill to secure the U.S. southern border. The Build Better Borders Act of 2021 would increase civil monetary penalties for illegally crossing the border to $450,000. It stipulates that funds collected from those fines be... Read More »
Lawmakers express National Security Council nuclear policy concerns
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the National Security Council to express concerns regarding nuclear policy. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) joined U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Michael McCaul (R-TX), and Devin Nunes (R-CA) in sending the letter to... Read More »
Public health worker recruitment major focus of Senate’s new BIO Preparedness Workforce Act
With COVID-19 daily emphasizing how critical health care workers are to modern society, a collection of U.S. senators this week proposed a student loan repayment program to drive recruitment and retention in the field of public health. The BIO Preparedness Workforce Act was introduced by U.S.... Read More »
Rep. Thompson praises Homeland Security provisions in Build Back Better Act
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, praised the Build Back Better Act on Friday, especially for its inclusion of $1.5 billion for investments at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The funding would improve the country’s cybersecurity... Read More »
Huntington Ingalls Industries details Navy pact
Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has received a $113.6 million Navy contract modification for the Amphibious Assault Ship LHA 9. The contract would enable long-lead-time material and advance procurement activities, bringing the total... Read More »
Reintroduced Flu Vaccine Act would invest $1B into research for universal influenza vaccine
A bicameral effort from United States Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA) rebirthed the Flu Vaccine Act last week, which proposes a $1 billion investment into the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for research of a universal flu vaccine. Such a vaccine would theoretically... Read More »
FEMA collaborates with KIRO-AM to create more resilient emergency broadcast studio in Seattle
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and KIRO-AM 710 announced a joint upgrade effort last week to produce a modern emergency broadcast studio in Seattle focused on improved emergency alert systems. Deemed critical to the nation’s emergency alert and warning system, the KIRO-AM... Read More »
Bipartisan group introduces legislation to support pandemic preparedness workforce
A bipartisan group including U.S. Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AR) introduced legislation on Thursday that would bolster the country’s ability to respond to future public health emergencies. The Bolstering Infectious Outbreak... Read More »
American Security Task Force conducts discussion with law enforcement leaders
In the wake of the group's creation earlier this year, members of the American Security Task Force recently conducted a roundtable discussion with law enforcement leaders regarding domestic policing. Task force member participants included U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL), Michael Guest (R-MS),... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators pushes amendment to formally authorize National Guard Fireguard program
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Mike Crapo (R-ID) introduced this week an amendment that would formally authorize the National Guard’s Fireguard program and alter its year-by-year approval structure to a more certain, five-year authorization. The senators argued... Read More »
DoD selects Anchorage to host Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has identified Anchorage, Alaska, as the sole candidate city to host the Ted Stevens Center for Arctic Security Studies. The DoD would continue to navigate the Department of the Air Force Strategic Basing process to evaluate facilities within Anchorage to... Read More »
Sens. Whitehouse, Hassan introduce amendment to fight drug financing schemes
U.S. Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) announced Tuesday that they had introduced an amendment to the national defense bill that will strengthen and coordinate the federal government’s response to drug... Read More »
Rep. Kim introduces National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act amendments
U.S. Rep. Young Kim (R-CA) recently introduced National Wildland Fire Risk Reduction Program Act amendments to improve wildfire communications and address meteorologist shortages. The amendments occurred during a House Science, Space and Technology Committee markup on the measure, noting the... Read More »