Policy
Reps. Upton, Gottheimer introduce bill to install silent alarms in schools
U.S. Reps. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced a bill to require silent panic alarms in all schools to immediately alert law enforcement of an active shooter. The bill is called the Alyssa’s Legacy Youth in School Safety Alert Act (the ALYSSA Act) -- named after Alyssa... Read More »
DHS highlights transit system safeguard measures
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials are touting initiatives designed to ensure continued nationwide safety and security of mass transit. DHS S&T has collaborated with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) in New York City to examine... Read More »
Johns Hopkins report identifies four policy recommendations to contain spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants
A new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security addresses the status of SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, sequencing, and the three emerging variant strains, establishing four policy recommendations to identify and manage them. “Staying Ahead of the Variants: Policy Recommendations to... Read More »
Over 300 health organizations urge Congress to provide additional funding to fight COVID-19
Leading health and public health organizations in the United States are seeking $4.5 billion in additional annual funding for states, localities, tribes, and territories to support public health infrastructure and workforce. Representatives from 316 organizations sent a letter to Congressional... Read More »
Sen. Collins urges Defense Secretary to review the modular pressure mobile containment systems
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) is urging the Secretary of Defense to review the modular pressure mobile containment systems that can offer a Military Treatment Facility (MTF) or hospital the capability to treat patients with COVID-19 symptoms. In a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin,... Read More »
DHS initiative addresses southwest border processing
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel said on Feb. 19 that the agency would begin the initial phase of a program designed to restore safe and orderly southwest border processing. Authorities indicated DHS would begin processing those who had been forced to remain in Mexico under... Read More »
WHO authorizes AstraZeneca vaccine for emergency use, COVAX roll-out
The World Health Organization (WHO) formally approved emergency authorization for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine, allowing two versions of it to be distributed through the global COVAX program. AstraZeneca-SKBio is producing the two vaccines in the Republic of Korea and the Serum Institute of... Read More »
Reps. Schneider, McKinley sponsor bill to boost PPE, testing supplies production
U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) and David McKinley (R-WV) introduced a bill to address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies. The Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Act would boost domestic PPE and testing supply production. It would also promote a... Read More »
Rep. Katko, committee leaders, urge Biden not to rollback border security policies
Republican members of the House Committee on Homeland Security are urging Biden administration officials not to roll back border security or immigration enforcement policies. In a letter to President Biden, the committee members warn of a surge in encounters at the border at a time when U.S.... Read More »
US Chamber launches COVID-19 vaccination resource initiative
U.S. Chamber of Commerce officials said a recently launched digital resource center seeks to aid business leaders and associations in wholly navigating varied COVID-19 vaccine questions. Authorities noted the COVID-19 Vaccines Digital Resource Center contains state-specific information, guidance... Read More »
HHS, DoD purchase 200 million additional doses of Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 vaccines
The United States Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Defense (DoD) will purchase another 100 million doses each of the COVID-19 vaccines offered by Pfizer Inc. and Moderna Inc. by the end of July. President Joe Biden announced the deals last week, in a speech delivered at the... Read More »
Rep. Pence hoping to bring Cybersecurity Training Center to Indiana
U.S. Rep. Greg Pence (R-IN) is working to establish a Cybersecurity Training Center in Indiana. Pence met with Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Dale Lyles to discuss the idea of establishing a training center at Camp Atterbury and the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex (MUTC) operated by the... Read More »
Sens. Durbin, Cassidy introduce bill to address shortages in PPE, testing supplies
U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced legislation to address shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies. The Protecting Providers Everywhere (PPE) in America Act would boost domestic PPE and testing supply production. It would also... Read More »
Measure targets COVID-19 vaccine distribution, transparency standards
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) reintroduced Wednesday the Set Testing and Objectives Plan (STOP) COVID-19 Act, which he said would address state COVID-19 vaccine distribution, reporting, and transparency standards. The bill would also create a program for cities and counties to increase testing, contact... Read More »
Sens. Rounds, Duckworth introduce PHE Production Act to boost domestic production of critical medical supplies
New legislation from U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) attempts to guarantee maximized use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) during emergency response and to increase domestic production of critical medical supplies. The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act,... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Wexton, Speier urge DNI to update security clearance guidelines
U.S. Reps. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) and Jackie Speier (D-CA) are urging the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Avril Haines to adopt new security clearance guidelines to prevent individuals involved in extremist groups from accessing classified information. Specifically, Wexton and Speier are... Read More »
CBP reopens biometric entry, exit system comment period
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has reopened the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) for the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) biometrics comment period. “As a testament to CBP’s steadfast commitment to privacy principles and transparency, CBP reopened the comment... Read More »Sens. Rubio, Warner seek leader for SolarWinds cyber breach response
U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Mark R. Warner (D-VA) are requesting a leader be named in the U.S response to the SolarWinds cyber breach that impacted numerous federal agencies and thousands of private sector entities. The senators forwarded correspondence to the Director of National... Read More »
House members reintroduce aviation safety bill mandating additional cockpit protections
A collection of four United States representatives reintroduced the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Safety Act this week in a bipartisan effort to require the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on passenger aircraft to prevent future events like those witnessed on Sept. 11, 2001. The bill is... Read More »
U.S. House members eye expanding powers of CISA
Frustrated by ongoing cyber threats from the United States and abroad, members of the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee said Wednesday they are developing new legislation that would expand the powers of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, currently an operational component... Read More »
Indiana to expand access to Naloxone
Indiana Gov. Eric J. Holcomb joined the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) Division of Mental Health and Addiction Monday to announce the state’s new plan to expand access to the opioid reversal agent naloxone. Working with Overdose Lifeline, Inc., the state will... Read More »
Reps. Bacon, Wilson introduce bill to limit Iran’s influence
U.S. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Joe Wilson (R-SC) introduced a bill that seeks to limit Iran’s influence in the Middle East. The Iranian Arms Transfer Prevention Act of 2021 (H.R. 857) requires the United States to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in the transfer of conventional... Read More »
Rep. Johnson introduces measure to bolster border safety
Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has introduced a pair of bills designed to strengthen border security and protection. “America is the most compassionate nation in the world, but our immigration system is broken," Johnson, who serves on the House Judiciary Committee, said. "Reforming that system is a... Read More »
COVAX urges continued assessment of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine after poor showing against South African variant
Following preliminary data that showed the AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine to have minimal effect in preventing mild to moderate cases of a South African variant, the global COVAX initiative has nevertheless stressed the need to assess its efficacy against more severe illness. Preliminary... Read More »
FEMA allocates nearly $2B for federal vaccine centers
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has set aside approximately $1.98 billion to states, tribes, territories as well as Washington D.C., for community vaccination centers. Currently, there are 175 federally supported vaccine centers operational across the country. The federal... Read More »
Donna Shalala appointed to Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense
The former Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Clinton administration, Donna Shalala, has been appointed to the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense. Shalala had been a founding member of the commission, established in 2014. She left two years ago to serve in the Congress from Florida... Read More »
ADL unveils counter domestic terrorism plan
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has initiated the PROTECT Plan to mitigate domestic terrorism efforts while protecting civil liberties. According to ADL data, right-wing extremists were linked to at least 16 extremist-related murders in America last year and have been responsible for 75 percent... Read More »
Bill to create a federal contact tracing workforce for Coronavirus introduced in Congress
A bill was introduced in Congress last week that would establish a federal contact tracing workforce. The Coronavirus Containment Corps Act would fill a need for more contact tracing to combat the COVID-19 virus and its variants. It would help by providing federal funding for this workforce... Read More »
Bill introduced in Senate to protect firefighters from harmful substances
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators introduced legislation to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders from adverse substances. The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances (PFAS) Act directs federal agencies to develop best practices, training, and... Read More »
Lawmakers seek domestic terrorism growth review
A group of lawmakers recently called on the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the intelligence community to review threats posed by domestic terrorist groups and their domestic growth. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM), a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, along with Senate... Read More »
Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act would offer $560M to boost local COVID-19 vaccination efforts
New legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress last week -- the Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act -- proposes support for vaccination efforts and to reverse drops in vaccination rates through a mix of funding for local initiatives and access to primary care services. The effort is... Read More »
Sen. Peters outlines priorities as chair of Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) outlined his key priorities as the new chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Peter said he would continue to focus on bolstering the federal government’s Coronavirus pandemic response, strengthening national security, including... Read More »
Rep. Katko seeking answers from DHS on when border officials will receive COVID vaccines
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) is seeking answers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on its plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines among its frontline law enforcement workers. Katko, ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, expressed concerns about the handling of... Read More »
House resolution seeks to create viral diseases institute
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) introduced Wednesday a House Resolution seeking to establish a new National Institutes of Health unit known as The National Institute of Viral Diseases. "I am introducing this resolution to build upon our federal government’s investment in scientific research and to... Read More »