Policy
20 years after anthrax attacks, report finds U.S. government still behind on biodetection
Shortly after the terrorist events of Sept. 11, 2001, letters containing deadly anthrax spores arrived at locations across the country, killing five Americans and sickening 17 others. Twenty years after these incidents, considered the worst biological attacks in U.S. history, the federal government... Read More »
DHS targets enhanced employment, labor standards enforcement
Department of Homeland Security officials said the agency is initiating efforts to bolster enforcement of wage protections, workplace safety, labor rights and other employment laws and standards. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has issued directives to Immigration and... Read More »POWER Act would provide law enforcement grants to purchase drug detection devices
Reckoning with rising cases of overdose throughout the United States, a bicameral reintroduction of the POWER Act was announced last week, which proposes new U.S. Department of Justice-provided grants to help law enforcement procure better drug detection devices. POWER, or Providing Officers... Read More »
Senate bill introduced to legally shield disaster relief medical volunteers
A group of United States senators last week reintroduced an effort to update the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 and extend legal protections for medical volunteers working in federally-recognized disaster relief efforts. Authored by U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and... Read More »
HAVANA Act signed into law
The Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks (HAVANA) Act was recently signed into law. The measure supports American public servants having sustained brain injuries likely stemming from directed energy attacks, also known as Havana Syndrome. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark... Read More »
Senators introduce resolution making October National Cybersecurity Awareness Month
U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Jackie Rosen (D-NV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Angus King (I-ME), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced a resolution Thursday that would designate October 2021 as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. As part of the... Read More »
DHS awards $1 million to firm for soft target, crowded places software security
The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $999,644 to a California-based small business, Karagozian & Case, Inc., for development of an advanced software option that would allow security professionals to view their environments through a mobile device. “As crowded places... Read More »
Cybersecurity bills advance in U.S. Senate
Two bipartisan bills from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) on cybersecurity and infrastructure were approved by the U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee and now head to the full Senate for a vote. The bills, which require critical infrastructure owners... Read More »
U.S.-Israel partnership targets homeland security technology development
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) officials are touting a partnership to aid homeland security technology development. The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development Homeland Security (BIRD... Read More »
Bill seeks to address critical infrastructure cyber attacks
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said is designed to protect systemically important critical infrastructure (SICI) from cyber attacks. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently detailed the the Securing Systemically Important Critical Infrastructure Act,... Read More »
WHO approves world’s first malaria vaccine for children
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended the first vaccine to treat malaria in children, a mosquito-borne disease that kills more than 260,000 children under the age of five annually in sub-Saharan Africa, in what public health officials have called a historic development. “The... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman release legislation bolstering federal cybersecurity
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) released the text of their legislation that would strengthen cybersecurity across the federal government. The legislation, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act of 2021, would update existing legislation which has not been updated... Read More »
DHS initiates air domain awareness demonstrations at northern border
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is evaluating air domain awareness technologies as a means of protecting northern border airspace. S&T’s National Urban Security Technology Laboratory recently spearheaded a test team that... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to reduce violence from stolen firearms
U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) and U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced legislation on Friday aimed at preventing theft from federally-licensed gun dealers, as a way to reduce gun violence. The Safety Enhancements for Communities Using Reasonable and Effective (SECURE) Firearm... Read More »
House passes bills sponsored by Homeland Security Committee Republicans
The House of Representatives advanced a trio of bills sponsored by Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee Republicans focused on air travel security, foreign manufactured drones and contract award transparency. Committee Ranking Member Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced the One-Stop Pilot... Read More »
Senators urge Biden to reduce trade barriers amidst COVID-19 pandemic
Leaders of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness wrote to President Joe Biden this week requesting more work to remove medical trade barriers and bolster distribution to better combat the global spread of COVID-19. U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE)... Read More »
Bill addresses national security powers
A group of lawmakers have introduced a measure they said seeks to reassert congressional power regarding national security matters. House Rules Committee Chairman Rep. James P. McGovern (D-MA) and Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI), ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight,... Read More »
Bill addresses critical infrastructure cyber attack reporting
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said requires critical infrastructure owners and operators to report cyber attacks to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Officials said the Cyber Incident Reporting Act, presented by Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob... Read More »
Rep. Swallwell introduces bills to improve intelligence gathering and response for biological threats
With a pair of new bills this week, United States Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) sought to improve the federal government’s capabilities to investigate the origins of diseases and respond accordingly, as well as to guarantee analysis and action from its intelligence community. “Knowledge is power... Read More »Nuclear Threat Initiative gathered 100 experts to address global biosecurity
Earlier this month, the Nuclear Threat Initiative gathered 100 international experts on biosafety for the 2021 Virtual Global Biosecurity Dialogue (GBD), the latest in an annual series of discussions on how best to maintain attention on and advance biosecurity across the world. COVID-19 loomed... Read More »
FDA continues operating without a Senate-confirmed, permanent leader
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remains without permanent leadership during the nation’s ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic. “It's of top concern that President Biden still has not nominated someone to serve as permanent FDA commissioner,” a House Energy and Commerce... Read More »
NDAA to include 9-1-1 dispatcher reclassification
Legislation reclassifying 9-1-1 dispatchers from Office and Administrative Support to Protective Service Occupations was approved last week by the U.S. House of Representatives as an amendment in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), according to lawmakers. U.S. Reps.... Read More »
Munitions export oversight amendment passes U.S. House as part of NDAA
Lawmakers are touting the benefits of the U.S. House of Representatives recently advancing the Oversight of Munitions Exports amendment in conjunction with the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). U.S. Reps. Norma J. Torres (D-CA) and Katie Porter (D-CA) said the measure... Read More »
U.S. House passes new CISA reporting requirements, public-private security partnerships and DHS improvements
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 last week with a number of homeland security-related amendments, including measures that would strengthen the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and Department of Homeland... Read More »
DOJ awards nearly $187M for community safety
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday that its Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), part of the department’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), had awarded nearly $187 million to support public safety and community justice activities. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance... Read More »
WHO endorses Regeneron drug as COVID-19 countermeasure, but calls for lower prices
The World Health Organization (WHO) approved Regeneron Pharmaceuticals’ drug cocktail of casirivimab and imdevimab for use on COVID-19 patients last week, but that endorsement came with a caveat: it urged lower prices, patent releases and equitable distribution. The Regeneron antibody... Read More »
Senate Republicans want details on Biden administration’s COVID-19 plan
Several Senate Republican leaders recently expressed “growing concern” over the nation’s stalled progress in fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and requested details on how the Biden administration plans to move forward during the coming months. U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch... Read More »
House passes FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA addresses the nation's defense budget, Afghanistan accountability, additional defense priorities, as well as countering China and Russia. “For 61 consecutive years, the House... Read More »
DHS, EPA address illegal hydrofluorocarbons importation
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials said the agencies are collaborating to address illegal hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) importation. “Using an all-hands-on-deck approach, we must urgently address the climate crisis that is threatening both our... Read More »
Global leaders reiterate efforts to ensure equitable COVID-19 vaccines access worldwide
At the United States-hosted Global COVID-19 Summit last week, world leaders recommitted to guaranteeing equitable vaccine access for all countries through COVAX, and pledged a mix of funds, doses and supply chain aid to ensure it. “Science has made huge progress in the fight to save lives,... Read More »
IAEA and PREZODE to collaborate in fight against zoonotic diseases
A cooperative effort was enacted against zoonotic diseases this week, with an agreement reached between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and France’s Preventing Zoonotic Disease Emergence (PREZODE) initiative. Members of the IAEA’s Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC)... Read More »
IDSA, HIVSA call for U.S. leadership in global vaccine equity
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and its HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) announced that it supports the Biden Administration’s movements in making the COVID-19 vaccines accessible around the world, but said more could be done to achieve vaccine equity. In a letter to the... Read More »Democratic lawmakers urge White House to expand U.S. vaccine production, distribution globally
In a letter drafted in advance of the COVID-19 international summit being hosted by President Joe Biden, a group of United States senators and representatives pressed the president this week to commit resources to advancing vaccination efforts worldwide. The urging from members of Biden’s own... Read More »
Bill advocates rejecting Taliban government recognition
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill preventing the Biden Administration from recognizing Afghanistan's Taliban-controlled government in international organizations. Rep. John Curtis (R-UT) joined Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) in detailing the... Read More »