Policy
Rep. Thompson seeks more information on protective equipment from HHS
U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) is seeking more information from Trump administration officials on the availability of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other critical medical equipment and supplies available in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The Federal Emergency Management... Read More »
Infectious disease experts urge Defense Production Act to spur medical equipment production
Heads of various medical and infectious disease associations called on President Donald Trump to swiftly invoke the Defense Production Act and use it to force private industry to meet the current demands for medical supply and equipment production. As one, the presidents and chairs of the... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Murray seek report from Trump administration on COVID-19 response
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Patty Murray (D-WA) are calling on the Trump Administration to report to Congress on the federal government’s COVID-19 response. Specifically, they are seeking information about nationwide testing capacity, hospital bed space, personal protective equipment... Read More »
Measure seeks to strengthen US supply chain
A bipartisan group of senators recently baked a measure they said strengthens the nation’s supply chain. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced the Strengthening America’s Supply Chain and National Security Act as a means of building off the plan he released last month to address the nation’s... Read More »
Lawmakers implore total implementation of Defense Production Act
A group of lawmakers recently urged President Donald Trump to immediately implement all Defense Production Act (DPA) powers to expedite the production of needed materials during the coronavirus emergency. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) recently joined 18 of their... Read More »
FDA issues hand sanitizer manufacturing guidelines
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Friday two guidelines regarding the temporary manufacturing of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer products in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are aware of significant supply disruptions for alcohol-based hand sanitizers,” FDA... Read More »
Bill targets expedited healthcare access, FDA approvals
A group of legislators introduced last week legislation designed to increase healthcare access while expediting Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for treatments approved in other countries. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), and Mike Braun (R-IN)... Read More »
Experts plead for COVID-19 response to be led by public health officials
While the preparations for COVID-19’s rapid spread through the United States have been widely noted as lacking, public health experts now are calling for public health officials -- not healthcare providers or politicians -- to take charge of the crisis and guide both the response to it and... Read More »
Washington state lawmakers seek Medicare, Medicaid COVID-19 waiver
A delegation of federal lawmakers representing the state of Washington is seeking a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMMS) national emergency waiver to aid in addressing COVID-19. The Senate and House of Representatives members have forwarded correspondence to CMMS Administrator Seema... Read More »
Air Force Chief of Staff addresses COVID-19 protections, mission fulfillment
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein recently provided insight into the branch’s COVID-19 protection efforts while also focusing on mission fulfillment and obligations. Goldfein indicated as of March 18, there have been seven confirmed coronavirus cases among active-duty personnel,... Read More »
Naval ship deployed to New York Harbor to serve as floating hospital
The USNS Comfort, a U.S. Navy ship, will be deployed to New York harbor to serve as a 1,000-bed hospital ship that will be used to treat coronavirus patients. The ship, due to arrive in April, will also have 12 fully-equipped operating rooms and increase New York's hospital surge... Read More »
Exclusive conversation with former Strategic National Stockpile director about the U.S. government’s COVID-19 response.
Listen to Homeland Preparedness News' discussion with Greg Burel, the former director of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). The SNS' massive inventory of critical medical products and drugs are essential in dispatching lifesaving supplies to the nation's emergency responders on the front lines... Read More »
IDSA endorses Trump administration’s effort to slow spread of COVID-19
The measures announced by the Trump administration to control the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus have been endorsed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and its HIV Medicine Association. IDSA officials said an “all-sector, all-society response” is essential to reducing... Read More »
Sen. Menendez advocates Defense Production Act be invoked
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) is urging President Donald Trump to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) as a means of accelerating COVID-19 national response, supply production and readiness. “In the midst of a pandemic, state and local governments should not be left on their own scrambling to... Read More »
Lawmakers seeking rural COVID-19 response coordination
Senate lawmakers are urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to galvanize Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Department of the Interior (DOI) efforts to enhance rural COVID-19 response coordination. Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) joined 22 other legislators in... Read More »
Sen. Peters proposes legislation to remedy coronavirus testing shortages
Looking for solutions to the nationwide shortages of coronavirus testing, despite the ongoing pandemic, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) proposed legislation this week that would make testing free and rapidly distributed both to communities and health care providers. Calling on both the Trump... Read More »
Trump signs Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act into law
President Donald Trump signed into law the Secure and Trusted Communications Networks Act, which is designed to help secure America’s telecommunications supply chain. The enactment of the bill was applauded by its sponsors, Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Greg Walden (R-OR), Doris Matsui... Read More »
Research firm offers assessment of Space Force
The research organization RAND Corporation recently offered an assessment of the Space Force’s role, determining most space activities in the Department of Defense should be moved into the new service. “Launching a Space Force offers the opportunity to increase U.S. military capability,... Read More »
Lawmakers advocate REAL ID Act implementation delay
Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Lou Correa (D-CA) are urging Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf to delay the Oct. 1, 2020, REAL ID Act implementation deadline. The three legislators encouraged the delayed action, citing the impact of COVID-19, the limited... Read More »
New York representatives rally for Families First Coronavirus Response Act as Senate decides to go on legislative recess
A Senate decision to go on recess amid the novel coronavirus outbreak has drawn the ire of House members, several of which have called on their legislative counterparts to immediately vote on the Families First Coronavirus Act (H.R. 6201). That act was voted through the House last week and has... Read More »
Families First Coronavirus Response Act pledges swift COVID-19 action, but strict language raises alarms
Recently advanced by the House, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) has so far run the bipartisan gamut to ease the economic toll of the novel coronavirus outbreak, but health experts warn its proposed coverage leaves new developers and patients in the lurch. While the bill... Read More »
Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense receives $2.62M grant to continue biosecurity efforts
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense received its largest grant to date from Open Philanthropy, the commission announced today. The $2.62 million grant from Open Philanthropy is the commission’s fifth grant from the philanthropic group, which has provided a total of $7.31 million in grants... Read More »
Democratic senators urge Trump to make disaster funds available through Stafford Act
Democratic U.S. senators made the request last week for President Donald Trump to immediately consider any disaster declarations invoked by governors under the Stafford Act. This action would grant states access to additional resources necessary to combat the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.... Read More »
FirstNet Authority appoints new executive director
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) Board has selected Edward Parkinson as the organization’s executive director. “After conducting a comprehensive and thorough search, we are pleased to announce the selection of Ed Parkinson to be the Executive Director of the... Read More »
Facial comparison technology introduced at JFK
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has introduced biometric facial comparison technology at John F. Kennedy International Airport Terminal 4 to secure and streamline international travel. “CBP and its partners are implementing facial comparison technology to provide... Read More »
Hackensack Meridian Health launches coronavirus test with reduced diagnosis times
As testing backlogs grow across the U.S., Hackensack Meridian Health of New Jersey announced last week that its Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) has created a rapid diagnostic for COVID-19 capable of reducing test times to mere hours. The test allows the health network to quarantine... Read More »
Trump declares coronavirus national emergency; FDA grants NY flexibility with patient testing
President Donald Trump on Friday declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, a move that will allow the federal government to tap into billions of dollars in aid to help combat the spread of the virus. The national emergency declaration will allow up to $50 billion in government... Read More »
House Democrats introduce bill to help families deal with coronavirus
House Democrats introduced legislation to bolster the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak for families. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides paid leave, establishes free coronavirus testing, supports strong unemployment benefits, expands food assistance... Read More »
Lawmakers tout 5G legislation advancement
Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) are espousing the benefits of the House advancing the Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020. “It is long past time that the Trump Administration prepare our networks for the 5G future – this bill will force the Administration to do exactly... Read More »
Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus effort targets cyberthreat defense
Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus officials said the body has crafted a landmark policy framework designed to enhance the nation’s defenses against cyberthreats while mitigating vulnerabilities. The Cyberspace Solarium Commission Report outlines recommendations for reforms to organize... Read More »
CDC to provide more than $560M to state and local jurisdictions to support COVID-19 efforts
As the federal government ratchets up its response to the novel coronavirus outbreak, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced plans to release more than $560 million in response support funding to state and local authorities. "Our state, local, tribal, and... Read More »
COVID-19 spread means Congress should ‘cool it’ when fraternizing with public
Strategies including social distancing, telework and avoiding large crowds should be practiced by all Americans, including members of Congress, to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, said top federal health officials during a reconvened hearing on Capitol Hill on Thursday. Really sick... Read More »
Senators seek answers from prison officials on coronavirus preparedness
A group of U.S. Senators recently asked the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the three largest private prison operators about the procedures they have in place to manage a potential spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons. Over 175,000 individuals are incarcerated in federal prisons and... Read More »
DHS supports law enforcement driving skills program
A report by the National Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Fund finds that law enforcement officers face a higher risk of death and injury traveling to the scene of an incident than at the actual scene itself. The report revealed that vehicle-related collisions are one of the leading causes of... Read More »