U.S. Policy
A new United States-based public-private partnership, the Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, announced last week that it will work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership to lend immediate aid to India’s COVID-19... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined other members of Congress to call on Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine globally.
In a letter sent on May 5, Merkley, along with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) recently raised concerns regarding a rise in the number of assaults on federal law enforcement officers and government facilities.
The legislators forwarded correspondence this week to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary... Read More »
Hoping to get vaccines out into the world soon, the Biden administration this week called for a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, earning commendations from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and others.
“This is a monumental moment in the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), as well as Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), are urging President Joe Biden to resume the process of selecting a new home for the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
In a letter to the Biden administration, the four Congressmen... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has implemented biometric facial comparison technology at pedestrian border crossings at all the Northern New York ports of entry.
Authorities noted the expanded scope includes Alexandria Bay, Ogdensburg, Massena, Trout River, Fort... Read More »
The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Caucus announced this week strong bipartisan support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Lawmakers have initiated an appropriations and authorization request for the program in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, emphasizing the need to maintain course towards full-rate... Read More »
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee for an annual Worldwide Threat Assessment hearing this week, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier called attention to the activities and competition offered by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.
At a national... Read More »
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a new federal goal to get at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot in 70 percent of the U.S. adult population and 160 million adults fully vaccinated by July 4, 2021.
Accessibility is the main focus in the next leg of the vaccination effort. To that end, the... Read More »
Raytheon Intelligence & Space has secured a five-year, $318 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) contract to expand checked baggage screening equipment deployment at federally managed airports.
Raytheon Intelligence & Space is a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies and previously... Read More »
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) recently reintroduced a measure they said would enhance benefits for first responders injured or killed in the line of duty and their families.
The Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 would improve the Department of... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation to ensure the United States is positioned to lead international standards-setting Thursday.
The bill would counter the Chinese government's influence and work to protect American jobs. Specifically, the... Read More »
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Rep. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has been chosen to lead the American Security Task Force.
“Bolstering our nation’s security is an integral part of Republicans’ legislative plan for when we win... Read More »
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) has issued an appeal to expand the definition of essential traveler related to the northern border, citing the need to allow families to reunite.
Higgins, co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, recently spoke with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
While the Biden administration still intends to pursue some form of the Southern Border wall, the redirection of any funding from other federal agencies for border barrier projects has been terminated.
Declaring that the Trump administration’s previous border wall construction efforts created... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) join 26 members of the House to seek federal funding of the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Program.
The grant program would provide $30 million in FY 2022 to help state and local law enforcement purchase... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently requested increased funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022.
U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairs of the House Law... Read More »
A group of senators recently requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) assess federal firefighter hiring and retention at five agencies responsible for wildland fire management.
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in forwarding correspondence to... Read More »
In a call backed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a bipartisan collection of more than 60 United States representatives wrote to House appropriators last week, asking for increased federal resources to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistant (AMR)... Read More »
Recognizing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on certain communities, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last week that it will fund an additional $29 million of grants for the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities.
Supported by the American... Read More »
Two members of Congress this week introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve oversight of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, the federal job-creation and economic development program set to expire June 30.
“The reauthorization of the EB-5 program is critical to our nation’s... Read More »
When Ebola was a low priority for the private sector, the Department of Defense (DOD) was one of the few organizations that funded early-stage research and development on vaccines and treatments. The division of the DoD that played a critical role in that research was the Chemical and Biological... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), along with Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Mike Gallagher (R-WI), introduced legislation that would address infrastructure needs to support the U.S. Navy.
The legislation,... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the three companies producing COVID-19 vaccines, seeking their plans to expand COVID-19 vaccines access globally.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), and Christopher S.... Read More »
Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA) introduced this week the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, which seeks to bolster nationwide cybersecurity efforts.
The lawmakers noted the bill would establish a pilot Civilian... Read More »
A new report, the COVID CRIME INDEX 2021 REPORT, compiled by BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, found that cybercrime has experienced a massive uptick of 74 percent among banks and insurers alike since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The data, which focused on financial institutions and their... Read More »
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas announced Tuesday that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be extending the full enforcement date for the REAL ID to May 3, 2023.
Due to the pandemic’s significant impact on state abilities to issue REAL ID-compliant driver’s... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a new anti-smuggling initiative the agency said focuses on transnational criminal organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants.
Authorities indicated Operation Sentinel is a collaborative effort with Customs and Border... Read More »
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released approximately $58 million in grant solicitations to advance community policing, combat opioid and methamphetamine use, and promote the health and safety of law... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated an internal review to identify, address, and prevent the threat of domestic violent extremism.
“Domestic violent extremism poses the most lethal and persistent terrorism-related threat to our country today,” Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) recently introduced a measure designed to bolster the domestic antibiotics supply chain and address antibiotic resistance threats.
The Onshoring Essential Antibiotics Act would provide $500 million in grants to build and improve manufacturing... Read More »
After days of pressure on the U.S. government to respond with aid for the surging COVID-19 crisis in India, an arrangement is underway that will see the deployment of vaccines in the coming weeks, as well as health advisors, raw materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), and funding.... Read More »
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced last week a bill designed to bolster cyberattack resources and better coordination for serious breaches risking domestic safety and security.
The Cyber Response and Recovery Act would help to improve the federal response to cyber... Read More »
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently reintroduced a measure they said is designed to bolster domestic personal protective equipment (PPE) production.
The Make PPE in America Act would enhance efforts to onshore production of personal protective equipment (PPE), hereby... Read More »
A $12.5 million fraud case filed earlier this year against the San Jose, Calif.-based Golden State Regional Center is yet another example of fraud running rampant in the federal EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program and underscores the need for integrity reforms and transparency, sources say.
The... Read More »
