Policy
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 »
Bill establishing coronavirus commission to be introduced in the US Senate
A group of Democratic U.S. Senators will introduce a bill to establish a commission to examine the country’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The commission would be charged with reviewing the government’s coronavirus response and make recommendations on how it can be improved. The bill... Read More »
FDA authorizes decontamination, reuse N95 and equivalent respirators to combat COVID-19
In a second emergency use authorization (EUA), the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the decontamination of N95 and equivalent respirators for reuse by health care workers in hospitals working to contain COVID-19. Such masks have been in short supply as hospitals... Read More »
Lawmakers urge international authorities to ban wildlife markets and wildlife trade
A group of Congressional lawmakers are calling on leaders of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Organization for Animal Health to ban live wildlife markets and international trade of live wildlife. Live wildlife markets, also known as “wet” markets, create a... Read More »
Cruise ship No Sail Order extended
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has extended the No Sail Order for all cruise ships to combat domestic spread of COVID-19. “We are working with the cruise line industry to address the health and safety of crew at sea as well as communities surrounding U.S. cruise ship... Read More »
Sen. Baldwin sponsors bill to protect frontline workers from pandemics
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation designed to protect first responders and frontline workers in the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The COVID–19 Workers First Protection Act (S. 3584) directs the Department of Labor (DOL) to issue an emergency temporary... Read More »
HHS awards $1.3 billion in relief funding to health centers
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) awarded roughly $1.3 billion to health centers to help them respond to the coronavirus pandemic. The funding – through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) – went to 1,387 different health centers. The awards may be... Read More »
Royal Philips agrees to double production of U.S. hospital ventilators by May
Teaming up with the United States government, health technology provider Royal Philips has agreed to double the production of hospital ventilators at its U.S. manufacturing sites by May and push for a four-fold increase by the third quarter. These supplies would then be usable in both the U.S.... Read More »
Report concludes that Assad regime used chemical weapons in 2017
A new report from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) attributes three instances of chemical weapons use in 2017 to the Assad regime in Syria. The report from the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team (IIT) concluded that there are grounds to believe that the... Read More »
Lawmakers urge potential drug shortage preparedness
A pair of lawmakers are calling for immediate action to prepare for and prevent anticipated critical drug shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) have forwarded correspondence to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Office of the... Read More »
Senators urge Trump officials to distribute funding immediately to hospitals
A group of Democratic U.S. Senators recently urged Trump administration officials to immediately distribute an initial round of emergency funding to hospitals and other health care providers. This funding would come from the $100 billion that was authorized to hospitals and healthcare... Read More »
CDC to provide $186M in COVID-19 support grants for state, local jurisdictions
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would provide $186 million to state and local jurisdictions for COVID-19 support. “Testing and surveillance is a vital piece of our efforts to beat the coronavirus, and this new... Read More »
Bill targets future pandemic preparedness
A group of legislators recently introduced legislation designed to create a commission to assess the nation's response and make recommendations for future pandemic preparedness. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) joined 12 colleagues in presenting the Pandemic Rapid Response Act, which establishes the... Read More »
Massachusetts governor launches contact tracing initiative to mitigate the spread of COVID-19
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced the creation of the COVID-19 Community Tracing Collaborative (CTC) to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in Massachusetts. This collaboration with Partners In Health focuses on tracing the contacts of confirmed positive COVID-19 patients and... Read More »
Lawmakers introduce bill to create a national commission on national emergencies
A bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives seeks to establish a National Commission on United States Preparedness for National Emergencies. The Made in America Emergency Preparedness Act authorizes the creation of a National Commission on United States Preparedness for... Read More »
Bill addresses public health accountability for foreign officials
A Republican group of legislators announced plans to introduce the Li Wenliang Global Public Health Accountability Act designed to address foreign officials who attempted to conceal early onset COVID-19 public health information. The Act would also sanction any foreign official who may conceal a... Read More »
Measure bolsters security of stockpile supply chain during COVID-19 crisis
Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González-Colón recently led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in introducing a measure that bolsters the U.S. supply chain amid the COVID-19 pandemic. González-Colón and Reps. Donna Shalala (D-FL), Rob Bishop (R-UT), Darren Soto (D-FL), Ruben... Read More »
Sens. Tester, Moran advocate National Guard pay, benefits initiatives
Senate Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) are encouraging Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to ensure National Guard members receive benefits and pay earned from their time in active duty responding to COVID-19. The senators are advocating the action... Read More »
Sen. Warren questions hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine availability
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has forwarded correspondence to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seeking clarity regarding reported shortages of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Warren maintains the drugs, which are generally used to treat lupus,... Read More »
More than half a million medical supplies seized from price gougers to be redistributed
The federal government has seized hundreds of thousands of personal protective equipment (PPE) from price gougers with the intent of redistributing them to frontline workers working amid the COVID-19 crisis in New York and New Jersey. The items -- which included around 192,000 N95 respirator... Read More »
Sen. Peters seeks answers from Trump officials on PPE shortage
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) is urging the Trump Administration to address the nationwide shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers and emergency responders. In his home state, Peters cited the travails of the Detroit Police Department, which has had to quarantine... Read More »
Ohio receives thousands of medical supplies from Strategic National Stockpile, will not meet immediate or future needs
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) received its share of personal protective equipment from the Strategic National Stockpile in full this week, granting an equipment influx of hundreds of thousands to meet the threat of COVID-19. Ohio was among early requesters for additional equipment and its... Read More »
Food and Drug Administration, Department Health and Human Services seek COVID-19 treatment plans
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) is urging Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of the Health and Human Services (HHS) officials to provide plans addressing COVID-19 treatments and vaccines. McCaul recently sought feedback from FDA Commissioner Stephan Hahn and HHS Secretary Alex Azar on... Read More »
Fire chiefs say more relief needed for firefighters during COVID-19 crisis
Leadership at the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) commended the $2.2 trillion relief bill signed by President Trump last week, stating more relief is still needed for firefighters and emergency workers. IAFC President, Fire Chief Gary Ludwig, said the CARES Act is a significant... Read More »
Sens. Menendez, Hirono urge increased public health preparedness program funding
A group of lawmakers recently pushed for increased funding for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP). Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) led 24 of their colleagues in forwarding correspondence to the Senate’s Subcommittee... Read More »
Sen. Menendez seeks greater support from health organizations
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is encouraging expanded regional and multilateral health organizations’ support as the global confrontation of the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Menendez, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, recently forwarded correspondence to Secretary of State... Read More »
HHS accepts 31 million doses of potential COVID-19 treatments in Strategic National Stockpile
The Strategic National Stockpile grew by 31 million doses of various medications this weekend, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took on donations that may, eventually, aid clinical trials or be used to treat those hospitalized with COVID-19. To be clear, none of those... Read More »
Reps. Yoho, Soto introduce bill to create national stockpile of personal protective equipment
U.S. Reps. Ted Yoho (R-FL) and Darren Soto (D-FL) introduced a bill to ensure the United States builds its stockpile of personal protective equipment (PPE). The American-Made Protection for Healthcare Workers and First Responders Act will address the PPE shortage and build the national... Read More »
New REAL ID enforcement deadline established due to COVID-19 crisis
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials said the agency has extended the REAL ID enforcement deadline one year to Oct.1, 2021, in the wake of COVID-19. The extension is in accordance with directives from President Donald Trump, and DHS will publish a notice of the new deadline in the... Read More »
WHO Director-General presses G20 for unified response to fighting COVID-19 pandemic
The world is at war, World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the G20 Leaders Summit this week, and every country needs to unite to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. “You have come together to confront the defining health crisis of our time: We are at war... Read More »
HHS implements Executive Order targeting medical supply hoarders
In a system severely taxed by the COVID-19 pandemic, hoarding of health and medical supplies has become a serious concern, and a new Executive Order, to be enforced by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is now in effect to tackle that concern. “Today, we designated a set... Read More »
Rep. Katko introduces bill to address shortage of personal protective equipment
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced a bill Wednesday to address the shortage of personal protective equipment, ventilators, and other medical supplies. The Medical Supply Chain Emergency Act would require the president to use the authority invoked under the Defense Production Act to produce... Read More »
Lawmakers urge first responder COVID-19 support
A bipartisan group of lawmakers said they are seeking bolstered legislative support for first responders amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) joined Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD), Peter King (R-NY), Mike Bost (R-IL), and over 100 of their... Read More »
HHS offers $100M in COVID-19 preparation aid for U.S. Healthcare Systems
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) announced this week that $100 million would be given to U.S. healthcare systems to help handle a continuing surge in COVID-19 patients at nationwide hospitals. The $100... Read More »