Policy
Senators introduce bill that would require plan for pandemic testing
A bill that would require a plan for diagnostic testing and public health system integration for COVID-19 and future pandemics was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The bill, the Timely and Effective Systematic Testing (TEST) Act, was introduced by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Michael... Read More »
Reps. LaHood, Bustos request Air Force long-term fleet plan
Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL) and Cheri Bustos (D-IL) are calling upon Air Force personnel to provide a long-term C-130 aircraft fleet management plan. The representatives recently forwarded correspondence to the House Committee on Armed Services regarding the request amid the committee’s work on... Read More »
Trump decision to withdraw from WHO draws negative reactions from health officials, lawmakers
The Trump administration filed a notice to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization, senior officials with the administration confirmed to various news outlets. The move has been received negatively by key Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as leading health... Read More »
Bill would require transnational response to global white supremacy terrorist threat
A bill designed to strengthen the U.S. government’s counter-terrorism efforts against transnational white supremacy and identity groups was introduced in Congress. The Countering Global White Supremacist Terrorism Act directs the U.S. Department of State to assess the global threat of the... Read More »
Senate delegation seeks delayed removal of Turkey from fighter jet supply chain
Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) has forwarded correspondence to the Department of Defense regarding the timeline for removing Turkey from the F-35 Lighting II Joint Strike Fighter supply chain. In the letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Lankford joined Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Thom Tillis... Read More »
House bill would require DNI to investigate Chinese government on COVID-19 pandemic
U.S. Reps. Max Rose (D-NY) Kendra Horn (D-OK), and Stephanie Murphy (D-FL) introduced legislation requiring the U.S. government to combat efforts by the Chinese government to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic. The Preventing China from Exploiting COVID-19 Act requires the Director of National... Read More »
NENA supports 9-1-1 enhancement initiative
National Emergency Number Association (NENA) personnel said the organization supports the House of Representatives’ recent action creating a new $12 billion federal grant program upgrading the nation’s 9-1-1 centers. Next Generation 9-1-1 was incorporated into the Moving Forward Act, a... Read More »
Northern Border Caucus presses US, Canadian governments for phased reopening of border
House members of the Northern Border Caucus are pushing for a phased reopening of that United States-Canadian border, which has been shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, 29 Congress members, led by caucus co-chairs Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), called for... Read More »
Federal agencies issue joint safety guidance for air travel in the era of COVID-19
Last week, the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation (DOT) and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued joint guidance for the air travel industry, meant to provide a framework for airlines and airports operating amidst a global pandemic. COVID-19 has spawned more than 11.4... Read More »
Senators call on leaders of Asian nations to release detainees
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators called on the leaders of Central Asian nations to release detainees imprisoned for peaceful activism who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. The Senators sent letters to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali... Read More »
US–Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program funding included in Senate Defense Bill
As the U.S. Senate considers the latest National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced last week that $500 million had been added to benefit the U.S.–Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program. This inclusion will benefit the development of certain missile... Read More »
Report assesses coronavirus federal oversight response
The Homeland Security Committee has released a report assessing the government’s coronavirus oversight response, detailing the Committee’s actions amid the pandemic. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, recently released a majority staff report... Read More »
Rep. Chabot introduces police reform bill
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) said he has introduced H.R. 7384, the Safer Communities Act, that would make communities safer by highlighting functional reforms, rewarding officers making a positive impact, and addressing power abuses. “Instead of getting bogged down in partisan arguments on issues... Read More »
US Space Force finalizes command structure focused on flexibility
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) finalized its organizational structure with the Air Force this week, focusing itself more on mission than on a layered command system. In all, President Donald Trump’s addition to the military system will operate under three echelons of command: Space Operations... Read More »
Sens. Warren, Rubio push legislation for federal study on pharmaceutical supply chain’s overreliance on foreign interests
Alarmed by heavy U.S. reliance on foreign nations for both its supply of drugs and pharmaceutical products, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a bill this week to require a study of that overreliance. Specifically, the bill would require the Federal Trade... Read More »
FDA issues guidance for COVID-19 vaccine developers on licensure
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing licensure guidance for those companies and organizations developing COVID-19 vaccines. The guidance, called the “Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19,” provides an overview of key considerations to satisfy requirements... Read More »
BAE Systems, Acuminor working on technology to help banks identify financial crimes
BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Acuminor are developing new technology to help banks identify transactional behavior linked to human trafficking. They are working on a trial with a major Nordic bank for their new solution to test the effectiveness of its financial crime detection systems.... Read More »
Members of Congress ask EU to designate Hezbollah as terrorist organization
A bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers is urging European Union (EU) member states to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The lawmakers state that Hezbollah is using Europe as a launching pad for its criminal and terrorist activities, including money laundering, drug... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Van Hollen call for passage of DETER Act
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are urging the colleagues to pass the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, which they said addresses foreign interference with domestic elections. While Rubio and Van Hollen filed the measure as an amendment... Read More »
Senate National Defense Authorization Act amendment would require state, federal cybersecurity coordinators
Hoping to improve cybersecurity, four senators introduced an amendment to the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week that would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to appoint cybersecurity coordinators in every state. U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan... Read More »
Uncertainty on Strategic National Stockpile prompts Congressional questions
Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wrote United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar this week with concerns about efforts to replenish the much-depleted Strategic National Stockpile. That stockpile has been deeply impacted during the... Read More »
U.S. senator identifies ways to prepare for the next pandemic
Legislators are not waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to subside to suggest ways to combat future health emergencies. In his recently released white paper “Preparing for the Next Pandemic,” U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) outlines five recommendations Congress can act on in the next six... Read More »
Senators call for AIDS/HIV funding in next COVID-19 relief bill
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next coronavirus pandemic response package. Specifically, the Senators, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), are... Read More »
Sen. Blumenthal, colleagues call for end to gun background check loophole
With the introduction of the Background Check Completion Act last week, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and more than 20 of his colleagues took a stand against a legal loophole that has allowed gun sales to move forward if a background check is not finished in 72 hours. “No check, no sale... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Bennet introduce legislation to bolster DoD’s AI strategy and capabilities
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation last week designed to strengthen and improve artificial intelligence (AI) within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). The Artificial Intelligence and National Security Act proposes to strengthen the department’s AI... Read More »
GAO highlights opportunities to improve federal COVID-19 response, recovery efforts
In accordance with the CARES Act containing a provision for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on ongoing COVID-19 monitoring and oversight efforts, six recommendations have been issued. The GAO indicated its recent analysis examined key actions the federal government has... Read More »
Bill introduced to establish National Cyber Director
Lawmakers have introduced a measure creating a National Cyber Director position within the White House, who would serve as the president’s principal advisor on cybersecurity issues. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), Cyberspace Solarium commissioner, joined five colleagues in presenting the National... Read More »
DRC announces official end to second-largest Ebola outbreak
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health declared this week that an Ebola outbreak which has ravaged the eastern portion of the country since 2018 has finally reached its end. The news was hailed by global and U.S. health officials, still themselves battling the worldwide... Read More »
Rep. McAdams backs bill to prohibit explosive nuclear testing
U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) announced his support for a bill that would prevent the Trump Administration from restarting explosive nuclear weapons testing. The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives Testing (PLANET) Act (H.R. 7140) was introduced earlier this month by Reps. Dina... Read More »
National Defense Authorization Act includes funding for Abrams tanks, Stryker vehicles
The U.S. Senate’s 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $1.033 billion in funding to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks, announced U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH). The tank upgrades will be done at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio. The bill also includes $847... Read More »
TSA updates security, safeguard initiatives
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published new guidance designed to aid in managing new global security risks while safeguarding all modes of transportation. Administrator’s Intent 2.0 targets tangible security threats across seven broad categories: insider risk, surface... Read More »
Trump administration cuts funding to 13 community-based COVID-19 test sites
The Trump administration will end federal support for 13 community-based COVID-19 testing sites by the end of the month, as the White House looks to other means of financial support for ongoing efforts. This will particularly impact Texas, which has seen an explosion of cases in recent days,... Read More »
Senators introduce bill to modernize production of medical supplies
A group of U.S. senators recently introduced legislation designed to modernize the production of medical supplies for frontline healthcare providers and ensure the utilization of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to respond to emergencies. The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act –... Read More »
DHS S&T, Israel Ministry of Public Security seek proposals for BIRD Homeland Security initiative
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) officials are touting the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation collaboration. The BIRD Foundation is soliciting collaborative project proposals... Read More »