Policy
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 »
CDC to award COVID-19 assistance funds
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced last week that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is awarding $631 million to 64 jurisdictions in support of the COVID-19 response. “This new funding secured from Congress by President Trump will help public health... Read More »
US Senators call on Trump to answer questions on “mismanagement” of Strategic National Stockpile
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on President Donald Trump to address what they see as his administration’s mismanagement of the Strategic National Stockpile. The senators want to know why states were left without the federal assistance and supplies to combat the coronavirus pandemic.... Read More »
House Energy and Commerce Committee, FDA chief discuss COVID-19 response
House Energy and Commerce Committee members recently met with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn to discuss the ongoing COVID-19 response. “Energy and Commerce Committee members held a productive discussion with Commissioner Hahn,” Committee Chairman Frank Pallone,... Read More »
Sens. Cassidy, Carper lead colleagues in seeking expansion of COVID-19 tracking framework
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tom Carper (D-DE) led 14 bipartisan colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging the agency to expand its existing COVID-19 tracking framework. The legislators are encouraging the CDC to determine and log... Read More »
Johns Hopkins report calls for national antibody testing strategy in United States
In a new report titled Developing a National Strategy for Serology in the United States, the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security argued for the creation of a national antibody testing strategy in the United States to counteract the spread of COVID-19. One of the major problems for the U.S.... Read More »
Democratic senators introduce legislation to expand national service programs, compensation
Under legislation introduced by a collection of nine Democratic senators this week, AmeriCorps would take on more Americans and offer greater compensation, as part of a three-year response and recovery period linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National... Read More »
NYC announces effort to produce 3,000 bridge ventilators
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan that will produce bridge ventilators to support local hospitals and health care workers. Through this effort, local manufacturers will produce at least 3,000 bridge ventilators, which will be deployed to hospitals in the fight against... Read More »
DHS to award $10M to local communities to fight terrorism
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is awarding $10 million to help communities combat terrorism and targeted violence across the country. The funding comes from money appropriated by Congress for the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP) Grant Program. “Attacks by... Read More »
FDA stresses urgent need for COVID-19 treatments with launch of Coronavirus Treatment Acceleration Program
Though 72 potential vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 are currently under development, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its federal health partners note that urgency for additional products remains, and to jumpstart possibilities, they have launched a new Coronavirus Treatment... Read More »
FDA authorizes first at-home testing kit for COVID-19
Newly developed COVID-19 testing options were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, with the granting of emergency use authorization (EUA) for an at-home test. It marks the first at-home iteration of tests for the disease, which has infected more than 788,000 in the... Read More »
Rep. Pallone seeks answers from Trump administration on COVID-19 testing plan
U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ) is calling on the Trump Administration to develop a comprehensive COVID-19 testing strategy as part of its efforts to reopen the economy. Pallone, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is concerned that the Trump Administration appears to be abandoning... Read More »
House bill would bring more accountability to PPE distribution
Legislation introduced in the U.S. House seeks to ensure greater accountability in the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other emergency resources under the Defense Protection Act and Stafford Act. Specifically, the bill -- the Emergency Supply Chain Transparency Act --... Read More »
Reps. Dingell, Walorski introduce bill to shore up medical supplies in SNS
U.S. Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced a bill to shore up the medical supplies in the Strategic National Stockpile. Their bill, the Medical Supplies for Pandemics Act of 2020, would strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile by enhancing medical supply chain... Read More »
Sen. Tester, colleagues seek protective gear for firefighters, EMS
Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) recently led a bipartisan group of colleagues in urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to address fire department and emergency medical service (EMS) equipment shortages under the Coronavirus Relief, Aid and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Sen. Jon Tester... Read More »
Gov. Baker takes steps to combat mosquito-borne diseases in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker filed a bill to help the state combat mosquito-borne diseases like Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and the West Nile Virus (WNV). The legislation -- An Act to Mitigate Arbovirus in the Commonwealth – would empower the State Reclamation and Mosquito Control... Read More »
Sen. Johnson seeks action on hydroxychloroquine use
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) has forwarded correspondence to President Donald Trump, encouraging efforts to provide COVID-19 patients the right to try hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the course of their diagnosis. Johnson is seeking to have the president issue a directive to remove the Food and Drug... Read More »
HHS enters $336N contract with GE for 50,000 ventilators
Invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has entered a new, $336 million contract with General Electric (GE) that will see 50,000 ventilators supplied to the government by July 13. "The President promised on March 27 that we would have 100,000... Read More »
Bipartisan legislation unveiled in U.S. House to ramp up nation’s emergency medical stockpile
Congressional legislators on Friday introduced two bipartisan bills in the U.S. House of Representatives to bolster the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), the nation’s repository of antibiotics, vaccines and other critical medical supplies that has been strained by the current coronavirus... Read More »
DHS to temporarily amend H-2A requirements for foreign agricultural workers
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is seeking to temporarily amend H-2A requirements to help U.S. agricultural employers during the coronavirus emergency. The H-2A program allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the country to fill temporary agricultural jobs. The rule... Read More »
Sen. Menendez, Rep. Sires seek flexibility for physician employment visas
Citing an increased need for medical staff to handle the surge in confirmed COVID-19 cases, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Albio Sires (D-N.J.) are encouraging the waiving of restrictions on doctors with employment-based visas. The legislators said the restrictions prevent the doctors from... Read More »
Effort expands, expedites Ohio COVID-19 testing
Ohio State University researchers have received Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for a process designed to expand and accelerate COVID-19 testing statewide. In response to shortages of test kit components, including swabs and vials filled with a liquid called viral transport media... Read More »
Bill broadens public safety officer protections amid COVID-19 pandemic
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to expand assurances for public safety officers contracting COVID-19 in the line of duty. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and Fire Services Caucus, House Judiciary Committee Chairman... Read More »Criticism mounts over Trump decision to halt WHO funding amid pandemic
President Donald Trump’s pledge to halt funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) while the White House reviews its handling of the COVID-19 outbreak has drawn immediate criticism from the health community. “We must all be allies against this threat; this is not the time to stand... Read More »
Lawmakers request clarity on nationwide COVID-19 testing efforts
A group of senators recently forwarded correspondence to Vice President Mike Pence, the Coronavirus Task Force, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeking COVID-19 testing clarity. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined colleagues in calling for the initiation... Read More »