Policy
Bill would establish coronavirus commission
A group of lawmakers have introduced a bill that would establish a coronavirus commission to examine the nation’s response to the pandemic. Sens. Bob Casey (D-PA), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) recently joined 13 colleagues in presenting the National Commission on the... Read More »
NIH presses for 6 million daily COVID-19 testing capacity by year’s end
Scientists from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a framework in the New England Journal of Medicine this week for efforts to increase the number, quality and type of daily tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, to 6 million by the end of 2020. This has taken the... Read More »
Senate NDAA helps CISA warn critical infrastructure computer systems of cyberattacks
The U.S. Senate’s 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes legislation that would help the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warn the owners and operators of critical infrastructure computer systems that it is vulnerable to cyberattacks. The bill gives... Read More »
Officials laud Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards extension
The House of Representatives’ recent unanimous vote to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program (CFATS) has garnered plaudits from lawmakers and chemical industry organizations. CFATS is the nation’s first regulatory program focusing specifically on security at high-risk... Read More »
Justice Department charges two Chinese hackers with stealing US research
A federal grand jury in Spokane, Wash., indicted two hackers from the People’s Republic of China for alleged cyberattacks on hundreds of computer systems of companies, governments, non-governmental organizations, and individuals in the United States and abroad. Officials alleged the global... Read More »
Reps. Langevin, Gallagher applaud inclusion of cyberspace recommendations in NDAA
U.S. Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI), commissioners of the Cyberspace Solarium, applauded the inclusion of budget amendments to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that implement recommendations from the Solarium Commission’s report. The Cyberspace Solarium... Read More »
GOP lawmakers urge action by Trump administration against hackers
Republican committee leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are urging the Trump administration to impose consequences on China-linked hackers who have targeted U.S. institutions, including sanctions. “We applaud your administration’s work to ramp up the investigation and prosecution... Read More »
Bill addresses counterfeit medical products
Sens. Mike Enzi (R-WY) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) introduced Monday legislation targeting potentially harmful counterfeit medical products while also protecting patients from such dangers. The Safeguarding Therapeutics Act would empower the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to seize and destroy... Read More »
COVID-19 vaccine race is on: Biopharma companies on fast-track to deliver product by 2021
Several biopharmaceutical companies are working in unprecedented fashion to develop, manufacture and deliver a safe and effective vaccine to combat COVID-19 as soon as is humanly possible. Executives from five companies developing COVID-19 vaccine candidates — AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Johnson &... Read More »
U.S. needs to unite and restructure to meet disaster demands, emergency management panelists warn
The United States was just as dangerously unprepared to combat a coronavirus pandemic in 2020 as it was back in 2015, former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman noted in the opening remarks of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense’s virtual meeting on Tuesday, setting the tone for a critical examination of... Read More »
FDA reissues EUA for Quest Diagnostic’s COVID-19 test
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reissued an emergency use authorization (EUA) to Quest Diagnostics for its COVID-19 test. The Quest test is the first COVID-19 diagnostic test to be authorized for use with pooled samples containing up to four individual swab specimens collected under... Read More »
Senators urge Congressional leaders to include funding for COVID-19 vaccine infrastructure
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on Congress to provide at least $5.6 billion in federal funding to support the COVID-19 vaccine infrastructure. The funding -- needed to boost the country’s vaccine supply and distribution system -- should be included in the next coronavirus relief... Read More »
Sen. Gardner advocates cybersecurity enhancement efforts
Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) forwarded correspondence last week to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) personnel, urging efforts to bolster cybersecurity infrastructure against Russia and China threats. Gardner maintains the advocacy... Read More »
Florida lawmakers seek increased allotment of COVID-19 drug
A group of Florida lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Health and Human Services as a means of increasing the state’s COVID-19 drug allotment. Reps. Donna Shalala (D-FL) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) joined Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) in leading the... Read More »
IDSA sees House Appropriations bills as promising start, still come up short amid pandemic
With news that appropriations bills aimed at addressing the COVID-19 pandemic had passed out of House committees this week, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) examined and declared the bills to provide critical resources, albeit with significant gaps and inadequate funding. This... Read More »
Bill enables TSA passenger temperature screenings
A trio of lawmakers have introduced a bill they said requires the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct a trial program to check passenger temperatures before advancing through airport security. Reps. Ralph Norman (R-SC), Ted Budd (R-NC) and John Larson (D-CT) said the TSA... Read More »
Novartis builds 15 medicine, not-for-profit portfolio to treat COVID-19 symptoms
While treatments for COVID-19 remain under research, Novartis announced a new initiative for low- and middle-income countries this week that will supply 15 generic and over-the-counter medicines at zero-profit as a way of treating symptoms. The policy is only meant as a hold-over until a vaccine... Read More »
COVID-Local launches new policy mapping tool and database for information on specific policies’ impacts
Looking to inform decision making during a pandemic, COVID-Local has created a policy mapping tool and database for communities, giving them a way to measure the effects of their COVID-19-related actions against specific policies. COVID Analysis and Mapping of Policies is meant to identify... Read More »
IDSA, infectious disease groups, oppose Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from WHO
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), along with other infectious disease associations, are opposed to the Trump Administration’s decision to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO). The decision will weaken the nation’s ability to control the... Read More »
Bill targets military firefighter PFAS care
Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI) has introduced a measure that ensures military firefighters exposed to toxic per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals receive Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) healthcare. Currently, military firefighters exposed to firefighting foam containing PFAS are not... Read More »
House Energy & Commerce Committee approves bill to strengthen Strategic National Stockpile
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee approved legislation on Wednesday to strengthen public health security by bolstering the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and boosting the domestic manufacturing of medical supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The bipartisan Strengthening... Read More »
Sen. Daines calls for more funding to speed the development of COVID-19 vaccines
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) is requesting more funding for potential COVID-19 vaccines in any new coronavirus relief package. “As you continue your work on critical legislation to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, I write to you today to urge your support for robust funding that will help... Read More »
Rep. Casten introduces bill to reduced emissions within DoD
U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) introduced legislation designed to reduce emissions and increase use of clean energy sources for the Department of Defense (DoD). The National Security Resiliency and Sustainability Act (H.R. 7417) would enact Obama-era standards, which were revoked in 2018. The DoD... Read More »
Legislation targets national cybersecurity enhancement
A New York lawmaker has introduced a trio of measures he said are designed to enhance national cybersecurity while bolstering stability in leadership positions, funding, and resources. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Director and Assistant... Read More »
Senate Democrat proposals push for efficiency, low costs and wide distribution of COVID-19 vaccine
While an effective COVID-19 vaccine is still being pursued, Senate Democrats released a white paper this week full of proposals to guarantee such vaccines would be provided safely, efficiently and free, while ensuring a distribution wide enough to counter the pandemic. In all, the paper --... Read More »
Rep. Spanberger introduces bill to put limits on Authorization for Use of Military Force
U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) is sponsoring a bill that would establish limits on the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF). The 2001 AUMF — which passed in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks — has been used by presidential administrations to deploy American... Read More »
Texas lawmakers seek more COVID-19 resources
A group of Texas legislators recently forwarded correspondence to Health and Human Services (HHS) officials requesting increased resources in response to the Rio Grande Valley COVID-19 surge. Reps. Filemon Vela (D-TX), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Henry Cuellar (D-TX) were joined by Sens. John... Read More »
California CBP personnel offer narcotics seizure report
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel along the California border with Mexico recently reported that, in June, the agency seized 43,000 pounds of narcotics valued at nearly $92 million. Officers at the six land ports of entry were able to foil numerous attempts to smuggle 34,685 pounds... Read More »
House bill builds on State Department reward incentives to identify foreign election interference
New legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX) last week -- the Rewards for Providing Information on Foreign Election Interference Act -- would expand an existing State Department program that rewards people for information on foreign election... Read More »
WHO launches independent panel to evaluate world’s COVID-19 response
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has derailed economics, killed more than 569,000 people, and left entire nations on lockdown, and last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the formation of an independent panel to investigate the world’s handling of the disease. The Independent... Read More »
OPCW condemns Syria for 2017 chemical weapons use
The executive council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons’ (OPCW) voted to condemn the use of chemical weapons by the Syrian Arab Republic in 2017. The vote followed an investigation by the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT), which concluded that there are... Read More »
Reps. Katko, Schneider introduce bill to ensure government ready for COVID second wave
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Brad Schneider (D-IL) introduced legislation to ensure the administration and federal government are fully prepared to respond to the COVID-19 crisis and any future resurgences. “With reports of COVID-19 spiking in most states, Central New York working... Read More »
Bill targets PFAS examination, firefighter exposure
Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Bill Posey (R-FL) have introduced a measure they said is designed to examine per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and firefighter exposure to the chemicals. The Guaranteeing Equipment Safety for Firefighters Act of 2020 requires the National Institute of... Read More »
House Bill seeks to identify efforts by China to exploit COVID-19
A bill designed to identify and combat efforts by the Chinese government to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Preventing China from Exploiting COVID-19 Act calls upon the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to investigate how the Chinese... Read More »