Policy
Senators write leadership urging $15.5B for NIH research amid COVID-19 relief package
As Congress continues to grapple over the next COVID-19 relief package, more than two dozen senators wrote a letter to Senate leadership this week to request inclusion of $15.5 billion for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Whatever form the final legislation takes, they reasoned, funds... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to improve documentation of COVID-19 cases in prisons
Legislation that would require the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Marshals Service (USMS), and state governments to collect and report data about COVID-19 in correctional facilities was introduced in Congress. Prisons and jails have become hotspots for the spread of COVID-19,... Read More »
GAO examines temporary, term hires by the Department of Defense
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report regarding the appointment of temporary and term personnel by the Department of Defense (DoD). The (DoD) uses term and temporary appointments to hire personnel to non-permanent positions that have uncertain funding or workload. Term... Read More »
Lawmakers launch Pandemic Preparedness Caucus
Three lawmakers have launched the Pandemic Preparedness Caucus, a coalition of lawmakers they said would work to advance policy solutions to challenges presented by COVID-19 and future public health emergencies. Reps. Troy Balderson (R-OH) and Cindy Axne (D-IA) said the caucus would focus on... Read More »
Bill expands CFIUS jurisdiction
Three lawmakers have introduced a measure designed to expand the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS’s) jurisdiction to review foreign investments in emerging and foundational technology. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), and Marco Rubio (R-FL) maintain the... Read More »
US Rep. Barr introduces bill demanding corporate transparency of links to Chinese Communist Party
Doubling down on the increasingly rocky relationship between the United States and China, U.S. Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced the Transparency in Chinese Government Investment Act last week, which would require any publicly traded companies to reveal connections with China’s governing... Read More »
Senators introduced bill to help veterans deployed at K2 in Uzbekistan
Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a bill designed to help veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (K2) Airbase in Uzbekistan to obtain the health screenings and services they need. According to a U.S. Army study conducted in 2015, service... Read More »
Organizations seek nationwide mask requirements
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and HIV Medicine Association (HIVMA) personnel have forwarded correspondence to the White House advocating nationwide mask requirements. The organizations are urging issuance of a federal mask directive to curtail the spread of COVID-19, protect the... Read More »
Justice Department funds to combat Alaska human trafficking
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has earmarked $1 million to combat human trafficking in Alaska via the agency’s Housing Assistance Grants for Victims of Human Trafficking program. Officials said Covenant House Alaska and the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) would receive $500,000 each... Read More »
Reps. Pallone, Degette seek COVID-19 vaccine plan update
Reps. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) forwarded correspondence Wednesday to Trump administration officials regarding an updated national COVID-19 vaccine plan. Pallone and DeGette recently sent a second oversight letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr.... Read More »
McCaul bills target potential China influence
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) introduced this week a pair of bills he said are designed to further empower the nation’s strategic competition against the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). McCaul serves as Republican leader on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of the China Task... Read More »
Researchers raise election safety concerns over lax flexibility in voting, registration policies
There are ways to conduct safe elections even during a pandemic like COVID-19, but despite lessons provided by recent primary elections, researchers from RAND warn that nine states have adopted no policies key to safe voter participation in the 2020 presidential election. This lack of... Read More »
Problem Solvers Caucus backs COVID-19 PREPARE Act
The House Problem Solvers Caucus has endorsed the COVID Preparedness, Response, and Effective Planning for Advanced Requirements by the Executive Branch (PREPARE) Act, a bill introduced by Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). The Problem Solvers Caucus is a bipartisan group in... Read More »
Rep. Graves sponsored several cybersecurity bills that were approved by House
U.S. Rep. Tom Graves (R-GA) sponsored or cosponsored several cybersecurity bills that were passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives in various funding bills. Graves worked to include a dozen cybersecurity related priorities in more than half of the 12 funding bills, which now move... Read More »
Measure targets PFAS firefighting foam alternative
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a bill they said is designed to find an alternative to PFAS contaminated firefighting foam. Reps. Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Dan Kildee (D-MI) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) said the PFAS Free Foam Research and... Read More »
House EASE Act pushes protections for both in-person, mail-in voters
As the White House and states tussle over mail-in voting, U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) introduced a bill this week known as the Emergency Assistance for Safe Elections (EASE) Act, which proposes to ensure safety at the polls and accuracy in mail-in counts. “The November election is fast... Read More »
Bill seeks to proactively address threats of imminent violence
Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Jim Langevin (D-RI) introduced this week a measure designed to streamline the information transfer on imminent violence threats, whether the intent is to harm oneself or others. The Protecting America through Information Sharing Act empowers the Department of... Read More »
Collaboration to yield Iron Dome Weapon System production facility
Raytheon Missiles & Defense officials said the firm has partnered with the Israeli-based defense technology company RAFAEL Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. to establish a domestic Iron Dome Weapon System production facility. "This will be the first Iron Dome all-up-round facility outside of Israel,... Read More »
Center for American Progress outlines COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing, distribution plan
Rapid manufacturing and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine will rank as one of the most challenging U.S. government initiatives ever undertaken, though it can successfully happen with aggressive planning, management, and funding, concludes a newly released report that includes a powerful indictment... Read More »
Study looks at effectiveness of travel bans on slowing COVID-19 spread in Europe
A study by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) examined the effectiveness of government travel bans in Europe on slowing the spread of COVID-19. The study found that international flight connections played a particularly important role in the early stages of the... Read More »
House FY 2021 budget incorporates Strategic National Stockpile stocking provisions
In a $1.3 trillion government funding bill advanced by the House last week, pandemic preparedness remained front and center, with several provisions incorporated to demand adequate stocking of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and regular reports on that stockpile. The provisions were... Read More »
DHS S&T, EPA and Coast Guard team up to combat potential anthrax attack
Recognizing the threat of both natural and terrorist-directed anthrax, the U.S. Coast Guard recently undertook its first decontamination field test to determine the best method of decontaminating facilities and vessels exposed to the deadly disease. This was facilitated by the Analysis for... Read More »
BARDA reaches deal with Regeneron for Ebola treatment
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has reached an agreement with Regeneron Pharmaceuticals to procure Ebola virus treatment as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) effort to prepare for public health emergencies. The treatment, known as... Read More »
Election Day response plans tested
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently hosted the third Tabletop the Vote initiative, which officials said serves as a test of Election Day response plans. The exercise executed July 28 to 30 included 37 states and approximately 2,100 total participants, officials... Read More »
U.S. to pay $2.1 billion for 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine from Sanofi and GSK
Under an agreement reached with global biopharmaceutical companies Sanofi and GSK, the U.S. government will pay as much as $2.1 billion for development and delivery of 100 million doses of a vaccine to combat COVID-19. It’s the largest agreement yet negotiated by Operation Warp Speed and it... Read More »
House committee approves bill to authorize U.S. participation in CEPI
The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill this week that would authorize U.S. participation in the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), a public-private partnership developing vaccines for coronavirus and other infectious pathogens. The legislation, the Securing... Read More »
Bill addresses hospital, CDC data collection
A trio of lawmakers have introduced a measure reversing the Trump administration’s directive regarding hospitals withholding coronavirus pandemic data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Jack Reed (D-RI) said... Read More »
Center for Health Security calls for changes in U.S. COVID-19 response in new report
As COVID-19 caused deaths in the United States have crossed 150,000, the Center for Health Security has released a report noting policy actions and data reporting needed at all levels of government to effectively turn the tide against the pandemic. “Unlike many countries in the world, the... Read More »
ATAC secures Air Force training pact
The Air Force has awarded a contract worth up to a combined $240 million to Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC) for adversary air live training. Air Force officials said the award to ATAC, part of the Textron Systems segment of Textron Inc., is via the Combat Air Forces (CAF) Contracted... Read More »
Lawmakers examine climate change security threats analysis
A pair of lawmakers recently released a requested Government Accountability Office (GAO) analysis regarding potential national security threats resulting from climate change impacts. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Jack Reed (D-RI) sought to examine climate change impact on defense contractors... Read More »
DOE, HHS, and VA join forces to create COVID-19 Insights Partnership
The Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are working together to share health data as well as research and expertise to aid in the fight against COVID-19. The initiative between these three government agencies is... Read More »
Curtiss-Wright secures Navy pact
The Curtiss-Wright Corp. has secured a U.S. Navy contract in excess of $220 million to support a series of naval defense platforms. The initiative includes providing propulsion valves, pumps and advanced instrumentation and control systems for the Navy’s Virginia-class nuclear powered attack... Read More »Infectious disease experts cite pros, cons of Senate GOP pandemic relief bill
A proposed COVID-19 appropriations bill released on Monday by U.S. Senate Republicans takes solid steps toward providing urgently needed relief and resources, but it also falls short of necessary responses, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and the HIV Medicine... Read More »
DHS conducts initial China Working Group session
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials recently conducted its initial China Working Group session as a means of addressing response to evolving threats posed by China. “The Chinese threat is intensifying at an alarming rate through CCP’s malign activity in the trade, cybersecurity,... Read More »