Policy
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 »
Biden’s budget blueprint ramps up HHS, CDC preparedness and response funding
President Joe Biden’s first budget proposal would authorize the largest funding increase in nearly two decades for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), going above and beyond funding the agency’s disease-focused work at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services... Read More »
DHS announces cybersecurity requirements for critical pipeline owners, operators
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced a new security directive Thursday that will allow it to better identify, protect against and respond to threats to critical companies in the pipeline sector. The new directive requires critical... Read More »
CBP, Chamber of Commerce partnership targets counterfeit goods
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced last week that it has partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to foster enhanced information sharing and public outreach regarding counterfeit goods importation. A memorandum of understanding on information sharing has been established and... Read More »
DOD, HHS establish acquisition support partnership
The Department of Defense (DoD) and Health and Human Services (HHS) have established a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to partner in defeating COVID-19 while preparing for future public health emergencies. The agreement establishes the framework of DoD continuing to support HHS with... Read More »
DOJ announces initiative to reduce violent crime
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is initiating an endeavor designed to address the rise of major violent crimes nationwide. “We renew our commitment to reducing violent crime and building strong communities where all Americans are safe,” Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said. “The... Read More »
TSA preparing for increased passenger volume during summer travel season
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said the agency is continuing to prepare for increased travel volumes in advance of the Memorial Day holiday weekend and summer months. “As we head into a summer where we hope to see a tremendous reemergence of domestic travel and the... Read More »
A pandemic-free future requires public-private partnerships, government leadership
Academia and the private sector must be in a collaborative relationship with the United States government to invest in the research and development of technologies that will prevent a future pandemic, experts said on Wednesday during a webinar hosted by the Capitol Hill Steering Committee on... Read More »
Biden administration increases FEMA funding in advance of hurricane season
In advance of what is predicted to be another busy hurricane season, the Biden administration has allocated $1 billion to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for pre-disaster mitigation resources to prepare for extreme weather events and other disasters. Meeting with homeland... Read More »
Twenty union, stakeholder organizations offer PPE bill support
The AFL-CIO, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the United States Footwear Manufacturers Association are among 20 union and stakeholder organizations supporting the Make PPE in America Act. The unions and stakeholder organizations recently forwarded correspondence to Majority... Read More »
U.S. Chamber call on government to act on cyberthreats
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is calling on the federal government to step up and take decisive action against the threat of cyberattacks. Calling cyberthreats an assault on the government and the economy, the Chamber urged Congress and the rest of the federal government to use all means... Read More »
DHS, South Korea collaboration targets aviation security
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency has partnered with South Korea to conduct a civil aviation security technology field demonstration. DHS personnel said the agreement with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of... Read More »
CBP, partners initiate Free and Secure Trade for Commercial Vehicles project
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel said the agency has partnered with a pair of entities to facilitate commercial truck processing at the World Trade Bridge in Laredo, Texas. The CBP said the General Services Administration (GSA) and the City of Laredo have agreed to the collaboration... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee Republicans seek classified DHS briefings on COVID-19 origins
In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas written last week, Republican House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders requested two classified briefings on the origins of COVID-19 and any work conducted therein. “[W]e strongly support a comprehensive investigation into the... Read More »
GAO: How Congress should ensure BioWatch replacement
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) on Friday issued risk mitigation steps that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) should consider during its acquisition of a new system to replace BioWatch, the federal government’s current biodetection system for detecting aerosolized... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Tester, Hoeven introduce anti-drug bill
U.S Sens. Jon Tester (D-MT) and John Hoeven (R-ND) introduced Thursday a bill to boost critical resources to help law enforcement officials in the war on drugs. The Assisting Narcotics and Trafficking Officers in Interdicting (ANTI) Drugs Act would increase resources for the High Intensity Drug... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster wildfire protection
U.S. Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), Kim Schrier (D-WA), and Mike Simpson (R-ID) recently introduced a measure they said is designed to protect communities from the catastrophic impact of wildfires. The National Prescribed Fire Act of 2021 would invest in hazardous fuels management by increasing the... Read More »
CEPI appoints former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response as newest U.S. director
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) made a major change at the top last week, with the appointment of former Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) Dr. Nicole Lurie as its United States director. Lurie has already been guiding CEPI’s emergency response... Read More »
Senators reintroduce Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act to improve supply manufacturing, rebuild Strategic National Stockpile
With the reintroduction of the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act in the Senate last week, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) sought to more tightly link the federal government and medical product distributors to strengthen domestic manufacturing and refill the Strategic... Read More »
Maine Congressional delegation urges Biden administration not to cut construction of Navy destroyers
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 urging President Joe Biden not to reduce the number of Navy Destroyers the Department of Defense will request. Typically, the DOD requests two DDG-51 Flight III destroyers.... Read More »
Sens. Moran, Kaine advocate sharing excess COVID-19 vaccines
U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) recently introduced a legislative amendment in support of sharing excess COVID-19 vaccines with countries in need. The Endless Frontier Act amendment seeks to spur U.S. Department of State action in conjunction with the coordination Department... Read More »
CEPI launches survey to track vaccine manufacturing capacity, ability through multiple regions
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) launched a new survey this week to assess the vaccine manufacturing capacity and capabilities of Africa, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America, to better inform ahead of future epidemics. “While incredible efforts were... Read More »
Senate hearing examines damage caused by lack of, overreliance on foreign supply chains throughout COVID-19 pandemic
In the wake of a pandemic response that had been hobbled initially by a lack of domestic medical supplies and an overreliance on foreign supply chains, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) held an oversight hearing with supply chain,... Read More »
Sen. Sasse calls on Senate to increase DARPA funding
U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE) called on the Senate to double the funding for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) through his amendment to the Endless Frontiers Act. Sasse said increasing DARPA’s funding to $7 billion a year for the next five years would allow America to compete... Read More »
Reps. Katko, Thompson advocate NDAA use restorations in planning
Reps. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, are encouraging the Biden administration to develop and maintain an economic restoration plan under the National Defense... Read More »
House committee advances cybersecurity measures
House Committee on Homeland Security members said the body has advanced seven bills designed to bolster cybersecurity. “As many Americans witnessed just last week, cyber-attacks have the potential to disrupt our daily lives and impact our economic and national security,” Rep. John Katko... Read More »
Bavarian Nordic, Johnson & Johnson to support WHO Ebola containment efforts with 200,000 vaccine doses
Bavarian Nordic A/S and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) announced this week that they will support World Health Organization (WHO) led efforts to contain the spread of Ebola in West Africa through the donation of up to 200,000 doses of J&J’s vaccine regimen. The partnership owes to the fact that... Read More »
Emergent execs commit to continue cooperation in ongoing vaccine investigation
The top two executives of Emergent BioSolutions Inc. on Wednesday promised to provide additional documentation requested by congressional lawmakers who are investigating the Maryland-based biopharmaceutical company’s failure to manufacture usable coronavirus vaccines under a contract with the... Read More »
Homeland Security Committee members introduce pipeline security legislation
U.S. Reps. Emanual Cleaver, II (D-MO), Bennie Thompson (D-MS), John Katko (R-NY), and 12 other members of the Committee on Homeland Security re-introduced legislation to secure pipelines and pipeline facilities. The legislation would address cyberattacks, terrorist attacks, and other efforts to... Read More »