Policy
DHS offers funding for research, development of first responder technology
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced this week that funding opportunities are available for research and development into 10 new first responder technology areas. To that end, the agency is seeking documents from industry, academia,... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for Department of Veterans Affairs supply chain modernization
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has issued the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) a series of recommendations regarding modernizing its supply chain and preparing for future public health emergencies. The GAO indicated its study stemmed from the VA encountering issues acquiring... Read More »
Biden administration announces first-ever National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism
With acts of domestic terrorism occurring with increasing regularity in the United States, the Biden administration signaled an effort to counter such attacks with the release of the country’s first National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. The federal government has provided the... Read More »
GAO: TSA changes could reduce spread of infectious disease
Better monitoring of safety measures taken to prevent the spread of infectious diseases by the Transportation Security Administration could prevent the spread of infectious diseases, a new report by the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) said. According to the GAO, while the TSA... Read More »
Officials address future NATO agenda
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) leaders said the body chartered the Alliance’s course over the next decade in the wake of concluding the recent NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium. “To do more, Allies agreed that we need to invest more together in NATO,” Secretary General Jens... Read More »
Pending legislation would revamp Strategic National Stockpile
Proposed congressional legislation would overhaul the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), expand domestic manufacturing of medical supplies and improve America’s preparedness for public health emergencies. U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) on June 8 unveiled the... Read More »
DHS outlines allocation plan for border barrier funds
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently outlined the plan for allocating border barrier funds ending wall expansion to the extent permitted by law. The prior administration sought to spend over $15 billion on wall construction, diverting more than $10 billion of those funds from... Read More »
Reps. Stefanik, Brooks seek full funding missile defense program
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Mo Brooks (R-AL) recently forwarded correspondence to the House Appropriations Committee requesting full funding for missile defense programs in the Fiscal Year 2022 budget. The representatives sent a letter to House Appropriations Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN)... Read More »
Senate Homeland Security Committee leaders press for federal action on infrastructure-targeting ransomware
The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee -- U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) -- wrote to the Biden administration this week to urge efforts to counter mounting ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure. In the... Read More »
FDA: Two batches of COVID-19 vaccine manufactured at Emergent BioSolutions facility good to go
Two batches of COVID-19 vaccine solution that Emergent BioSolutions Inc. manufactures for Johnson & Johnson at its Baltimore Bayview facility are suitable for use, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced on Friday. “These actions followed an extensive review of records,... Read More »
CBP, NICB partnership targets criminal smuggling operations
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) personnel said a recently formed partnership would target criminal smuggling enterprises. The partnership is tied to Operation Sentinel, a new counter-network targeting operation launched in April 2021. Operation... Read More »
Bicameral legislators introduce measure to protect U.S. from COVID variants
On Wednesday, U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) joined U.S. Reps. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) to introduce legislation that would expand the U.S. response to the coronavirus on an international level. The Nullifying Opportunities for Variants... Read More »
Senate advances cyberattack response legislation
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently applauded Senate action advancing legislation designed to expedite the government’s ability to respond to cyberattacks. The measure was advanced with a larger legislative package enhancing domestic competitiveness on the global... Read More »
TSA reopens Innovation Checkpoint initiative
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced a partnership with Las Vegas McCarran International Airport to reopen the Innovation Checkpoint initiative, using security technologies to bolster passenger screening. The effort follows the return of the convention... Read More »
U.S. federal government to acquire 1.7 million doses of Merck’s molnupiravir COVID-19 antiviral following FDA authorization
A new agreement struck between the Biden administration and Merck & Co. will provide the U.S. government with 1.7 million courses of the company’s investigational COVID-19 antiviral treatment, molnupiravir. This agreement is contingent upon either emergency use authorization (EUA) or approval... Read More »
Biden administration recommends changes to ensure security of pharmaceutical supply chain
The White House, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released policy recommendations Tuesday to ensure the security of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chains.... Read More »
Senate unanimously advances legislation to support “Havana Syndrome” victims
The Senate unanimously advanced Monday legislation designed to support American public servants who have incurred brain injuries from likely directed energy attacks. Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) joined Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Intelligence Committee Vice... Read More »
Senate advances innovation investment protection bill
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Tom Carper (D-DE), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded recent Senate action advancing a measure designed to protect the more than $100 billion investment in research from global competitors. The Safeguarding American Innovation Act was advanced as a part of the U.S.... Read More »
Reps. Pascrell, Fitzpatrick, Bost introduce fire station construction legislation
On Monday, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Michael Bost (R-IL), co-chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, introduced legislation that would help fire departments build and upgrade their facilities. The Fire Station Construction Grants Act would... Read More »
Sen. Tester urges investigation attack on meat processing industry, increased security
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) has forwarded correspondence to Biden administration leaders requesting an investigation into a beef processing industry ransomware attack and means of bolstering cybersecurity. Tester's recent letter to Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of... Read More »
Hagerty introduces IRON DOME legislation
U.S. Rep. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced legislation on Friday to redirect funds appropriated for Gaza and other Hamas-dominated areas to replenish Israel’s defense missile systems. The legislation, the Emergency Resupply for IRON DOME Act of 2021, was co-sponsored by 21 other Congressmen and... Read More »
More than 40 U.S. representatives call for federal action to guarantee equitable vaccine distribution worldwide
In a letter to President Joe Biden last week, more than 40 U.S. representatives sought to use the impending G7 Summit as an opportunity to call for five quick, immediate actions to guarantee COVID-19 vaccines were administered worldwide. The group, led by U.S. Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Tom... Read More »
Congress members release GAO report on DHS Inspector General
U.S. Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Homeland Security Committee Chairman; Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman; John Katko (R-NY), Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member, and James Comer (R-KY), Oversight and Reform Committee Ranking Member, announced the... Read More »
Center for American Progress applauds Biden administration focus on global anti-corruption
Center for American Progress (CAP) officials are espousing the benefits of the Biden administration's decision to make global anti-corruption a prime focus of national security initiatives. The Biden administration recently released its initial National Security Study Memorandum targeting a... Read More »
Rep. Stefanik urges reopening of northern border
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) has forwarded correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to encourage efforts to reopen the U.S. northern border. Stefanik seeks the unilateral easing of non-essential travel restrictions across the northern border if a... Read More »
IDSA calls out gaps in latest White House budget, praises commitment to halting HIV, emerging public health threats
The newest White House budget proposal would put billions of dollars in funding toward public health, drug, and research initiatives, offering what the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) called the potential to return the United States to leadership in infectious disease responses. At... Read More »
Maine delegation oppose naval destroyer budget elimination
U.S. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined U.S. Reps. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Jared Golden (D-ME) in forwarding correspondence to President Joe Biden detailing opposition to the elimination of a DDG-51 Flight III destroyer from the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget. The... Read More »
Organizations call for $50B roadmap to end, recover from pandemic
The leaders of the international organizations for financing, health, and trade are urging government leaders to finance a new $50 billion roadmap to help end the pandemic and spur global economic recovery. Leaders of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, World Health Organization,... Read More »
Rep. Lieu introduces legislation seeking to bolster government vendor cybersecurity
Rep. Ted W. Lieu (D-CA) has introduced a measure designed to bolster government vendor cybersecurity. The Improving Contractor Cybersecurity Act would amend the federal contracts title to require vendors seeking to conduct business with the government to maintain vulnerability disclosure... Read More »
Reps. Khanna, Mace introduce legislation to strengthen government cybersecurity workforce
U.S Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) introduced legislation to boost America’s cybersecurity capabilities Friday. The Federal Rotational Cyber Workforce Program Act would invest in the cyber workforce and allow cyber professionals to broaden their experience and knowledge base... Read More »
Bill addresses improved police training
A group of lawmakers recently reintroduced the Law Enforcement Training For Mental Health Crisis Response Act, which was designed to improve police training best practices. The legislation was presented by U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan (D-OH), Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Stephanie Bice... Read More »
Legislation introduced to develop southern border plan, contingency fund
U.S. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced last week a bill designed to devise a southern border strategic plan and establish a contingency fund to address plan activation. The Border Response Resilience Act would require the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal... Read More »
House legislation seeks to mandate accountability for foreign nations and review WHO’s pandemic actions
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Conor Lamb (D-PA) sought legislative action on foreign nations’ health efforts last week, introducing the Never Again International Outbreak Prevention Act to establish new monitoring and reporting mandates, sanctions, and an investigation of the World... Read More »
Moderna launches rolling FDA submission process to fully license COVID-19 vaccine for adults
After months of operating under the ongoing pandemic, Moderna, Inc. announced this week that it has initiated the Biologics License Application (BLA) process with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to gain full approval of its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. This approval would make... Read More »