Policy
Lawmakers seeking hate crimes reduction progress report
A pair of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Attorney General Merrick Garland, seeking a progress report regarding hate crime reduction efforts and COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act implementation. The letter from Sen. Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) was sent four months after... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate for U.S.-Canada border reopening
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden, encouraging efforts allowing vaccinated Canadians to travel to the U.S. through land ports of entry. "As Senators who represent states along the northern border, our communities have been deeply affected by the... Read More »
CDC to provide $2.1 billion from American Rescue Plan to strengthen infection preparation
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to invest $2.1 billion to improve infection prevention and control activities at the state, local and territorial levels, and better improve national capabilities to prepare for emerging infectious diseases. These funds... Read More »
Florida lawmakers urge HHS to reverse decision on monoclonal antibody drug rationing
A group of lawmakers from Florida are encouraging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reverse its decision to ration monoclonal antibody (mAb) drugs for COVID-19 outpatient treatment. The lawmakers said the HHS decision would result in Florida facing a deficit of doses. Sen.... Read More »
Bill seeks to initiate war funding controls
A pair of lawmakers introduced a bill that seeks to place Congressional controls on the use of emergency funding for enduring wars. Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Mike Braun (R-IN) maintain the Restraining Emergency War Spending Act prescribes a statutory definition to classify emergency war... Read More »Bill targets essential medicines ingredients stockpile
A pair of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said seeks to create an emergency supply of key ingredients used in essential generic medicines. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) maintain the bipartisan Promoting Readiness and Ensuring Proper Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient... Read More »
COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus sees $2 billion for vaccine manufacturing as mere starting point
While buoyed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s advancement of the Build Back Better Act, and the offerings therein, the United States COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus chimed in last week to note that its offers for vaccine manufacturing are just a beginning. The caucus consists of... Read More »
DOD funds earmarked for additional monoclonal antibodies doses
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company have secured Department of Defense (DOD) contracts to produce additional doses of monoclonal antibodies to block the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. Authorities indicated the $3.2 billion total allotment is in coordination with the Department... Read More »
NTI research identifies lack of political will, attention to nuclear security
In a new paper, researchers from the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) found that nuclear security now exists in something of a patchwork: from individual states’ domestic regulations and policies, to informal groups of countries working on aspects of security and more formal binding... Read More »
Graham, Waltz urge State Department to designate Taliban as terrorist organization
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL) introduced resolutions Tuesday urging Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to designate the Afghan Taliban as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The resolution introduced into both chambers of Congress calls for freezing the Government of... Read More »
WHO, global health leaders in plea for accelerated vaccination efforts in Africa and abroad
Vaccine equity is in need of a boost globally, and in Africa in particular, and unless that changes, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other health leaders said this week the COVID-19 pandemic may never end. Cooperation is the key to ending the... Read More »
Maryland lawmakers applaud FEMA grant for public health emergency preparedness
A group of Maryland lawmakers applauded President Joe Biden for granting their request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). U.S. Reps. John Sarbanes (D-MD), Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Dutch Ruppersberger... Read More »Boeing tests advanced missile defense system
Boeing officials joined Missile Defense Agency (MDA) personnel in touting the recent successful demonstration of an advanced interceptor capability for the Ground-based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system. The exercise would assist in achieving the overarching goal of defending the nation from... Read More »
Biden plans global COVID response summit as lawmakers call for increased vaccine aid
The Biden administration seeks an international summit on COVID-19 pandemic responses and to form a united global front for vaccination efforts, a proposal that could impact vaccine manufacturing, supply chains and even the upcoming United Nations General Assembly. Closer to home, though, U.S.... Read More »
Funds target World Trade Center health program for first responders
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) is touting the inclusion of $2.86 billion for the 9/11 World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program in the Build Back Better Act. Officials said the funds would be included in the Energy and Commerce Committee’s portion of the measure, which is slated to be... Read More »
Sandia National Labs designs modular radiation monitors for U.S. ports
Sandia National Laboratories' modular radiation detection monitors will decrease costs and enhance threat detection, officials say. As part of an effort to replace and upgrade the aging radiation detection systems at ports across the country, the Department of Homeland Security tasked Sandia... Read More »
Lawmakers lament Taliban cabinet appointments
A pair of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, expressing disapproval of the Taliban’s recently announced cabinet appointees. Reps. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and August Pfluger (R-TX),... Read More »
DHS Secretary says Afghan refugee surge won’t detract from international terrorism fight
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured Thursday the growing effort to combat domestic terrorism and the mass influx of Afghan refugees will not distract the agency from its ongoing efforts to guard against attacks from international terrorism. Speaking at the National Press Club... Read More »
Homeland Security chemists invent test for detecting cyanide exposure during fires
In the hunt for a solution to one of burning buildings’ most dangerous effects, chemists from the United States Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Security Analysis Center (CSAC) have created a test that could help firefighters identify whether civilians have been exposed to toxic... Read More »
Lawmakers seek Afghanistan evacuation guidance
A group of lawmakers have forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking guidance regarding the evacuation of Americans and others from Afghanistan. Representatives Ami Bera (D-CA), Zoe Lofgen (D-CA), and Jerry Nadler... Read More »
Measure targets U.S-Israel AI development
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill that seeks to establish a U.S.-Israel Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research and Development Center. Reps. Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Grace Meng (D-NY), Dean Phillips (D-MN), and Mike Waltz (R-FL) presented the legislation as a... Read More »
Caucus targets U.S.-spearheaded global vaccination effort
A group of lawmakers launched the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus, which they said would advocate for vaccines as a means of ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Mark Pocan (D-WI) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) along with... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense lauds Biden’s Pandemic Preparedness Plan, but urges more funding
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense last week applauded the Biden Administration’s work on a new $65.3 billion American Pandemic Preparedness Plan for investments to combat the next biological threat, though it argues that greater funding is necessary to make sufficient plans. The White... Read More »
Package of 11 AI amendments added to 2022 National Defense Authorization Act
Science fiction is becoming fact, according to United States Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) -- and as a result, he and fellow U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) have successfully added 11 artificial intelligence (AI)-focused amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022. While... Read More »
TSA to acquire additional CT x-ray scanners
Analogic Corporation has secured a $198 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agreement to secure mid-sized Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for TSA checkpoints. “This award is another important step in enhancing aviation security,” TSA Administrator David Pekoske... Read More »
House bill proposes support for Americans affected by mysterious Havana Syndrome
A new House bill introduced by United States Reps. Mike Turner (R-OH), Jason Crow (D-CO), and Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) -- the Havana Syndrome Service Member Support Act -- seeks to provide aid for those with Havana Syndrome-induced brain injuries and initiate federal efforts to address related... Read More »CISA, FBI urge organizations to remain vigilant to ransomware threats over holidays
On Tuesday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) issued a cybersecurity advisory that highlighted precautions and mitigation steps public and private sector organizations could take to reduce their risk of ransomware and other... Read More »
Lawmakers urge hate group network probe
A group of lawmakers are encouraging the Department of Justice to prioritize investigating hate group networks supporting extremist ideology. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) recently joined Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) in forwarding correspondence to... Read More »
New WHO compendium charts 24 technologies to help low-resource nations with priority diseases
The World Health Organization (WHO) released a compendium this week consisting of 24 innovative health technologies that could be used by low and middle-income countries to advance disease preparedness and response. “Innovative technologies are accelerating access to healthcare everywhere, but... Read More »
Becerra declares public health emergencies in the wake of Hurricane Ida
Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra declared public health emergencies on Monday for Louisiana and Mississippi due to the effects for Hurricane Ida. The declaration comes after President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency for the two states. Together, the declarations give... Read More »
DHS to Launch New Approach to Hiring Cyber Talent
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity Service has launched a new approach to hiring and retaining top cyber talent, the department said Friday. In order to recruit the best cybersecurity employees to work across cybersecurity specializations and DHS Component Agencies,... Read More »NTI analysis recommends immediate action to manage use of AI in nuclear weapons systems
According to a new paper from the nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), artificial intelligence in nuclear weapons systems is a neutral wash of possibilities -- but it also appears inevitable, and as a result, immediate action is needed to balance benefits and risks while the technology is... Read More »
House Republicans press NIH and NIAID for further details on Wuhan Lab biosafety concerns
Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce Committee this week queried the director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Dr. Francis Collins, with more questions in the saga of the Chinese Wuhan Institute of Virology, its research and the origins of COVID-19. Writers included... Read More »
Phase 2/3 trial launched for Chikungunya vaccine in Costa Rica
Vaccination has begun for a Phase 2/3 trial of Bharat Biotech International Ltd’s (BBIL) Chikungunya vaccine candidate, through a partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Costa Rica. The Costa Rican trial of BBV87, the official name for the candidate, marks the... Read More »