Policy
Senate bill would create new positions for AmeriCorps and national service posts
A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate that would expand national service programs like AmeriCorps to help the United States recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act would provide funding for 750,000 national service positions over... Read More »
TSA implements additional COVID-19 safety measure at US airports
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officials said employees must wear facial protection while at screening checkpoints to minimize COVID-19 spread and raise the airport environment's overall health and safety level. “TSA is making this change to protect our employees and travelers as... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Collins pushes health officials toward increased COVID-19 testing capacity during Health Committee hearing
As more of the country reopened for business, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) used a recent Senate Health Committee hearing to press top health officials on the need for rapidly developing and scaling up production of COVID-19 tests and supplies. The hearing, titled Shark Tank: New Tests for... Read More »
HHS awards nearly $583M to US health centers to expand COVID-19 testing
Nearly $583 million has been dispatched to 1,385 Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded health centers throughout the United States and its territories to bolster COVID-19 testing, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week. “Widespread... Read More »
Federal government works with private industry to combat COVID-19 fraud
Representatives from private industry and the federal government have joined forces to combat fraud and other illegal activity surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Homeland Security Investigations National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) is working with... Read More »
VA updates COVID-19 PPE guidance
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials said the agency has updated guidance regarding distributing personal protective equipment (PPE) to VA health care workers assisting veterans amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Ensuring our VA health care workers’ safety during this global pandemic must... Read More »
Report examines nation’s defense budget
A report from the independent, nonpartisan policy institute Center for American Progress (CAP) maintains the proposed fiscal year 2021 defense budget should more than adequately offer national security protections. CAP officials said the analysis offers eight reasons why the $740 billion defense... Read More »
Rep. Higgins to introduce bill establishing new pandemic agency within HHS
U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) will introduce a bill that would create a new agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Medical Command (NMC). This new independent agency would be charged with preparing for, monitoring, and responding to pandemics. Further, it would... Read More »
FEMA pushes increased COVID-19 testing, community testing sites and reimbursement
One of the areas the United States has struggled with during the COVID-19 pandemic is testing capacity, but now, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is moving to expand testing, testing sites and supplies, and federal reimbursement efforts. All of this is meant to be in line with the... Read More »
Healthcare industry receives cybersecurity alerts
Security agencies from the United States and the United Kingdom are warning healthcare policymakers and researchers to be on the lookout for cybersecurity threat campaigns amid the COVID-19 response. Officials representing the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the... Read More »
CBP Rochester seizes counterfeit COVID-19 test kits
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the recent inspection of express-consignment shipments at the Rochester New York Airport yielded seizure of counterfeit COVID-19 test kits. “I’m proud of the continued efforts of our CBP officers here in Rochester,” Rochester Port Director... Read More »
Sen. Sanders, Rep. Khanna introduce bill to fund increased production of healthcare supplies in COVID-19 fight
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) introduced legislation to fund the increased production of health care equipment in the fight against COVID-19. The Emergency Medical Supplies Procurement Act would provide $75 billion for the Trump administration to purchase or manufacture... Read More »
Congress members call on Trump administration to extend Iran arms embargo
An overwhelming bipartisan majority in the U.S. House of Representatives is calling on the Trump Administration to extend the United Nations arms embargo on Iran. The embargo is set to expire in October of this year. A group of 387 members of Congress -- including Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick... Read More »
GAO issues recommendations for FEMA preparedness
The Government Accountability Office has issued a series of recommendations to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regarding efforts to strengthen national preparedness. The GAO indicated while FEMA uses several scenarios, including pandemic influenza similar to COVID-19, to allow... Read More »
Reps. Brooks, Eshoo introduce Prescription for American Drug Independence Act
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks (R-IN) and Anna Eshoo (D-CA) introduced legislation that would establish a committee of experts to analyze the impact of U.S. dependence on the foreign manufacturing of lifesaving drugs. The Prescription for American Drug Independence Act would require the National... Read More »
Bipartisan lawmakers advocate United States leads global vaccine effort
Reps. Ami Bera (D-CA) and Ted S. Yoho (R-FL) recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, stating that America should participate in and lead global initiatives to coordinate COVID-19 vaccine production and distribution. “The U.S. should consider participating in the... Read More »
Bill to fund COVID-19 testing, tracing
Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) introduced Friday legislation initiating a $100 million grant program administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to mobilize coronavirus testing and contact tracing. COVID-19 Testing, Reaching and Contacting Everyone (TRACE) Act grantees would... Read More »
FDA approves remdesivir for potential, emergency treatment of COVID-19
Following the results of two clinical trials for the experimental antiviral drug remdesivir, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) last week, opening it to use as a treatment for those with severe cases of COVID-19. “Based on evaluation of the... Read More »
Senators call on leadership to approve $8B for contact tracing of COVID-19
A group of 14 Democratic U.S. senators is calling on Congress to include $8 billion in new funding for contact tracing to fight the COVID-19 virus. Contact tracing is the process of tracking infected people to find out who they have been in contact with to stop the spread of the virus.... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster supply of personal protective equipment
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) recently introduced a measure designed to increase the nation’s supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies. The COVID-19 Emergency Manufacturing Act authorizes the federal government to manufacture... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures more than $6B Army missile contract
Global security and aerospace company Lockheed Martin has secured a $6.07 billion Army contract to produce Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) interceptors and associated equipment. "This contract demonstrates our customer's continued confidence in our ability... Read More »
Senate Democrats increase investigative pressure over removal of BARDA’s director
Among Senate Democrats, concerns are growing that political influence and interference at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) played a role in the removal of Dr. Rick Bright from the helm of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) earlier this month. In a... Read More »
Senate Democrats introduce bill to set framework for federal COVID-19 response
Senate Democrats introduced legislation that lays out a framework for a coordinated federal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Medical Supply Transparency and Delivery Act requires the president to utilize all available authorities under the Defense Production Act to mobilize a federal... Read More »
Bipartisan group in Congress urge action on antibiotic resistance
Several Congressional leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives are urging federal government officials to take action on the recommendations made by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the problem of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance occurs when germs develop the ability... Read More »
ICE launches web page to help combat COVID-19 fraud
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) launched a new web page with information on COVID-19 related fraud schemes. The web site -- called Operation Stolen Promise -- will also highlight the investigative efforts the agency is taking to counter... Read More »
Congressional Democrats seek answers from ATF on efforts to track “ghost guns”
A group of Democrats in Congress are asking the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) about measures the agency has taken to keep homemade firearms – or ghost guns -- from falling into the wrong hands during the COVID-19 pandemic. “While the surge in firearm sales from... Read More »
HHS funds target rural COVID-19 resources
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) said nearly $165 million has been earmarked to help rural communities combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The funding allotment via the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) seeks to assist 1,779 rural hospitals while providing additional... Read More »
IAFC calling on Congress to clear logjams to get relief funding to firefighters
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) is calling on Congress to clear regulatory logjams to get relief money from the CARES Act to firefighters and first responders. IAFC leaders say legal and regulatory minutiae is preventing funding from the Assistance for Firefighter Grant... Read More »
CBP intercepts $25M narcotic shipment
Laredo Port of Entry Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently executed a narcotics interception effort yielding hard narcotics with an estimated street value of more than $25 million. Authorities indicated the seizure occurred at the World Trade Bridge when an officer referred a... Read More »
House Foreign Affairs Committee Democrats pressure Trump to resume WHO funding
Criticizing President Donald Trump’s unilateral decision to end funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) as reckless, Democratic members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs called on the president to restore funding and to stop putting COVID-19 blame on the organization. Chairman... Read More »
Rep. Lucas introduces legislation to authorize more research for COVID-19 fight
U.S. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced a bill in the House that authorizes additional scientific research to fight the novel coronavirus and other infectious diseases. The legislation -- the Computing Opportunities to Vanquish Infectious Diseases Research Act of 2020 (the COVID Research Act)... Read More »
Sen. Grassley urges Trump officials to protect hospitals from PPE scammers
U.S. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is urging the Trump Administration to shore up the safety of the personal protective equipment (PPE) supply chain and protect hospitals from scammers. “Hospitals and health care workers are busy saving lives and protecting the... Read More »
Industry, health and government leaders unite for virtual event dedicated to eliminating COVID-19
Global health, industry, and nonprofit leaders joined this week in pledging support to defeat COVID-19, uniting them in a virtual event that recommitted to the accelerated development and delivery of vaccines, tests, and treatments. “We will only halt COVID-19 through solidarity,” Dr. Tedros... Read More »
Sen. Markey presses for investigation into removal of BARDA Director Bright
Fallout from Dr. Rick Bright’s sudden removal from his post as director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) is growing, as U.S. Sen. Edward Markey calls for an official investigation into the motivations behind the move. Bright has served as BARDA director... Read More »