Policy
Chicago EB-5 fraud cases put pressure on Senate Judiciary Chairman Durbin
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, potentially has an EB-5 program fraud problem in his Chicago backyard. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, named for the employment-based fifth preference visa that participants receive, is an... Read More »
GAO: CISA needs organizational changes for more effective cybersecurity
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that until the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) fully implements its organization plan, it may put the country at risk for identifying and responding to cyberattacks. The GAO said legislation in 2018 elevated... Read More »
Tompkins appointed new DARPA director
Stefanie Tompkins is the new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) director. Tompkins, who possesses nearly eleven years of DARPA service, is the 23rd person to hold the post, noting the former Army military intelligence officer has an exceptional understanding of the agency’s... Read More »
Sens. Collins, Menendez introduce legislation to establish COVID-19 Commission
Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) are advocating legislation that would create a COVID-19 Commission modeled after a similar panel that examined the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. The National Coronavirus Commission Act of 2021 would establish an independent, non-partisan... Read More »
AstraZeneca defends safety of COVID-19 vaccine after countries suspend use
Drugmaker AstraZeneca defended the safety of its COVID-19 vaccine after three more European countries said they would suspend the use of the vaccine. Over the weekend, Germany, Ireland, and The Netherlands announced they would stop using the vaccine temporarily over concerns about the vaccine's... Read More »
Sen. Feinstein, Rep. Cicilline introduce assault weapons ban
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) introduced last week the Assault Weapons Ban, which would ban the sale, transfer, manufacture, and importation of military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines. “It’s been 17 years since the original... Read More »
First Air Force to serve as future air component to U.S. Space Command
Air Force officials have named First Air Force to serve as the future air component to U.S. Space Command. “The U.S. Air Force is a critical contributor to the U.S. Space Command mission as evidenced by their support to Human Space Flight,” U.S. Army Gen. James Dickinson, USSPACECOM... Read More »
Lawmakers initiate southern border inquiry
A group of lawmakers forwarded correspondence last week to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel regarding southern border circumstances. Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC) spearheaded the effort to address the agency's, citing reports of illegal... Read More »
American 9-1-1 centers signal unease over “wasteful” provisions of LIFT America funding bill
While thankful for the support for system upgrades the newly introduced House LIFT America Act demonstrates, American 9-1-1 groups are concerned that elements of it could prove wasteful and delay and complicate deployment of a Next Generation 9-1-1 nationwide. “The infrastructure bill is a... Read More »House Energy and Commerce Committee’s LIFT America Act includes $37B to build up healthcare infrastructure
Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee unveiled a sweeping, $312 billion bill known as the LIFT America Act last week that, among other things, would invest in America’s health infrastructure. “As our nation combats COVID-19 and a severe economic downturn, the LIFT... Read More »
Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine gains crucial EU, WHO approvals
The single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine will be available in more places worldwide now, thanks to a conditional marketing authorization granted by the European Commission and emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decisions followed similar approval... Read More »
Rep. Raskin asks FBI to brief Congress on White Supremacists in law enforcement
U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), Chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, wants the FBI to brief Congress on the infiltration of white supremacists in law enforcement. In a letter to the FBI sent Wednesday, Raskin questioned why the FBI repeatedly told his subcommittee last... Read More »
Sens. Van Hollen, Murray introduce bill to improve public health infrastructure
Legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate this week by Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Patty Murray (D-WA) seeks to strengthen the public health infrastructure and enhance the nation’s ability to respond to COVID-19 and other public health challenges. The Public Health Infrastructure Saves... Read More »
Resolution condemns Iranian nuclear weapon pursuits
A bipartisan group of lawmakers recently introduced a resolution condemning Iran's nuclear weapon pursuits. Reps. Elaine Luria (D-VA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Peter Meijer (R-MI), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and Brad Schneider (D-IL) joined the resolution in the wake of Iran’s... Read More »
Measure seeks to bolster firearms purchasing laws
Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Chris Coons (D-DE), and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced a bill designed to aid states in enforcing existing laws against individuals attempting to purchase firearms by lying on background checks. The NICS Denial Notification Act would require federal authorities to... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate preventing Iran’s nuclear capabilities
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) is among lawmakers encouraging the Biden administration to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapon capabilities. Joyce joined other legislators in forwarding correspondence to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, focusing on three areas of concern: Iran’s nuclear... Read More »
Lawmakers seek USDA Intelligence Office
A group of lawmakers introduced legislation designed to establish an Office of Intelligence within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Agricultural Intelligence Measures (AIM) Act was introduced by Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR), Rick Allen (R-GA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Jim Baird (R-IN), Troy... Read More »
Bill targets foreign criminal organization sanctions
A group of lawmakers recently introduced the Significant Transnational Criminal Organization Designation Act, noting the legislation would subject foreign criminal organizations such as drug cartels to sanctions. Sens. Ben Sasse (R-NE), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Josh Hawley... Read More »
Plans unveiled to improve BioWatch Program’s bioterrorism efforts
The BioWatch Program, established by Congress in 2003, transferred to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office in 2018 with a whopping budget averaging $76 million per fiscal year from 2018 to 2020. According to BioWatch officials, the... Read More »
Sen. Rosen co-sponsors legislation to fund pandemic response, prevention program
U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) recently co-sponsored legislation to fund the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF), which includes programs aimed and preventing and responding to pandemics. The Public Health Funding Prevents Pandemics Act would ensure the PPHF, part of the Affordable Care Act,... Read More »
Measure addresses foreign government cyberattacks
A group of lawmakers recently introduced the Homeland and Cyber Threat (HACT) Act, which would hold foreign governments accountable for cyberattack damages. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), along with Colin Allred (D-TX), Jack Bergman (R-MI), Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA), Joe Neguse (D-CO), and... Read More »
Rockefeller Foundation appoints Rick Bright as senior vice president of Pandemic Prevention and Response
Dr. Rick Bright has been appointed the Rockefeller Foundation as senior vice president of Pandemic Prevention and Response, with responsibilities including leading pandemic prevention institute development. “We are thrilled to have someone of Rick’s caliber join The Rockefeller... Read More »
Stimulus bill includes funding for Fire/EMS, group says
According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the American Recovery and Rescue Act being voted on in Congress this week contains significant funding for fire and emergency medical personnel. The act passed the U.S. House of Representatives in late February and passed the... Read More »
NTI endeavor spurs pledges to advance global biosecurity strength
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) officials indicated its recent Global Biosecurity Dialogue resulted in participants pledging to take 12 specific actions to advance global biosecurity along with eight jointly developed priority areas. More than 170 government officials, health and biosecurity... Read More »
Lawmakers establish Space & Aeronautics Caucus
U.S. Reps. Randy Weber (R-TX) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) are espousing the benefits of establishing the Space & Aeronautics Caucus for the 117th Congress, noting the effort seeks to explore several important matters of policy. Caucus endeavors would include domestic activities in low-Earth orbit... Read More »
CBP details Chicago airport counterfeit mask seizure
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the International Mail Facility (IMF) at Chicago's O’Hare International Airport recently seized suspicious 3M N95 type masks with a 3M trademark. Officers assigned to the Port of Chicago seized parcels arriving from Colombia. Personnel... Read More »
FDA authorizes Cue COVID-19 test as first molecular non-prescription, at-home diagnostic
A molecular test for COVID-19 can now be used at home without a prescription, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Cue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over the Counter (OTC) Use. A molecular nucleic acid amplification test... Read More »
STOP Act regulations fighting opioid smuggling to be published
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas signed an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to publicize regulations regarding the Synthetics Trafficking and Overdose Prevention (STOP) Act. The regulations will allow U.S. Customs and Border Protect (CPB) and the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to strengthen... Read More »
Bill seeks to address foreign influence
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN) recently reintroduced a measure they said is designed to address foreign influence. The Foreign Influence Transparency Act would require organizations such as the Chinese government-run Confucius Institutes... Read More »
Sens. Young and Kaine introduce bill to formerly end authorizations for Gulf, Iraq wars
Legislation that would formally end the authorizations for the Gulf and Iraq wars was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to repeal the 1991 and 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against... Read More »
Homeland Security Republicans highlight border humanitarian, public health concerns
Homeland Security Republicans have released a fact sheet highlighting how the border humanitarian and public health circumstance has intensified under the Biden administration. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and colleagues indicated Homeland... Read More »
DHS funds to aid maritime object tracking initiatives
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has awarded $153,000 to Morcom International, Inc. to develop maritime object tracking technology. The funding allotment earmarked for the Chantilly, Virginia-based firm was made via S&T’s Silicon Valley... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security awards funds for new video tools at TSA Checkpoints
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) announced Tuesday that it would be awarding $196,880 to fund a video analytics program for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The funding was... Read More »
Rep. Dean reintroduces legislation targeting potentially undetectable firearms
Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) recently reintroduced the Undetectable Firearms Modernization Act as a means of addressing recent technological developments given rise to undetectable plastic guns. The original law was enacted in 1988, with the public concerned about guns with frames and grips made... Read More »