U.S. Policy
A group of legislators recently encouraged the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to invest federal funding in wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) with an eye toward low-cost, effective COVID-19 testing.
Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA) recently joined 11 colleagues in forwarding correspondence... Read More »
Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee introduced a bill that reauthorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two years.
The Keep America Secure Act would reauthorize the DHS and provide $59 billion for FY2021 and $60 billion for FY2022. It includes funding for border... Read More »
Sens. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA) have introduced a measure they said is designed to help prevent COVID-19 spread via a pilot program requiring air traveler temperature checks at TSA screenings.
The Fly Safe and Healthy Act establishes a 120-day pilot program via the TSA to... Read More »
In a letter written to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) this week, U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), and John Cornyn (R-TX) pressed for details on drug trafficking crackdown efforts targeting the dark web and its users.
Pointing to... Read More »
More than 90 organizations representing scientists, physicians, health providers, as well as patients and medical advocates are urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ensure that reviews of COVID-19 vaccine candidates meet all regulatory standards prior to authorization.
“While we are... Read More »
A group of Republican Senators introduced a bill that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence.
The Protect and Serve Act would make it a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, serious... Read More »
Reps. Rodney Davis (R-IL) and Darin LaHood (R-IL) announced they would introduce a House of Representatives measure designed to raise police officer salaries and hire more officers.
The David Dorn Back the Blue Act is named in honor of David Dorn, a retired St. Louis Police captain killed on... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded $10 million for projects that support the development of a nationwide Terrorism and Targeted Violence Prevention (TVTP) Framework.
The grants were made through the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program and went to 29 different... Read More »
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX) and Robin Kelly (D-IL) recently introduced a concurrent resolution calling for the creation of a national artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.
The effort stems from coordinating with stakeholders and the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) - and includes recommendations from... Read More »
In a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week, 15 Democratic senators called for the agency to be fully transparent in its COVID-19 vaccine review process, over concerns President Donald Trump is pressuring it to approve a vaccine before Election Day.
Public trust must be... Read More »
Building on an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has declared a public health emergency in Oregon due to ongoing wildfires that have killed at least eight people and burned approximately 1 million acres.
The emergency declaration... Read More »
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing districts along the Northern and Southern U.S. borders introduced a bill that directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a strategy to integrate emerging technologies in the nation’s border security strategy.
The... Read More »
Leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee are seeking information from the nine pharmaceutical companies developing COVID-19 vaccines about their research and development efforts and how they are ensuring that only a safe and effective product will be made publicly available.
The... Read More »
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) has introduced a measure she said is designed to combat cross-border tunnel trafficking operations across the nation’s southern border.
The DHS Illicit Border Tunnel Defense Act has a companion measure introduced by Rep.Debbie Lesko (R-AZ) in the House in... Read More »
America’s top public health officials earlier Wednesday briefed U.S. Senate subcommittee members on two documents outlining the Trump administration’s strategy to distribute over the next several months safe, effective and free COVID-19 vaccines to Americans as quickly as possible once the Food... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) has introduced a bill that would create a COVID-19 Misinformation & Disinformation Task Force to counter the rising misinformation and disinformation related to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The task force will be charged with coordinating the government’s analysis... Read More »
House Republican leaders are seeking information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on how it plans to manage COVID-19 response efforts in addition to the flu and other respiratory issues this season.
“We share your concerns about the unprecedented convergence of two... Read More »
The House this week took up and passed the Internet of Things (IoT) Cybersecurity Improvement Act, a bill originally introduced by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Mark Werner (D-VA) in 2017, which would require Internet-connected devices purchased by the government to meet certain security... Read More »
With the development of the drug ganaxolone (GNX), Marinus Pharmaceuticals and BARDA hope to create an anticonvulsant capable of halting damaging seizures in their tracks, even those caused by deadly nerve agents like the odorless, colorless liquid, Sarin.
Some seizures have proven resilient to... Read More »
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) introduced a build that would help equip the general public, as well as businesses and governments, with the tools and guidance to protect against cyberthreats.
The bill – the Cyber Essentials Act -- directs the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is expanding its efforts to combat emerging terrorist threats and improve information sharing.
The DHS’s Public Action Plan outlines the goals set by DHS, including efforts to secure cyberspace, deter lone wolf attacks, and secure soft targets such as... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated two Defense Production Act Title III funding initiatives designed to sustain essential domestic industrial base capabilities and defense-critical small businesses.
“The Department remains closely partnered with FEMA and HHS, providing almost $2.9... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials recently noted a narcotics seizure increase of more than 1,000 percent within the Buffalo Field Office during fiscal year 2020 over last year.
“The work of the officers has been incredible, and their dedication to CBP's enforcement mission is... Read More »
After more than 15 years since Congress passed the REAL ID Act, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has indicated each state is now fully compliant in issuing the cards.
Presently 50 states have issued more than 105 million REAL ID-compliant driver’s licenses and identification cards -... Read More »
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted enhanced screening requirements on most inbound international flights this week, abruptly changing a system based on 15 airports that have been in place since March.
Under current rules, international passengers from high-risk countries... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced legislation last week seeking to provide $118.9 million in funding for the organization and strengthen global COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
The funds provided under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act would be a continuation of dues the... Read More »
The Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will award $50 million in funding for school safety initiatives through its School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP).
The program provides up to 75 percent funding for school safety measures for primary and... Read More »
A bipartisan group of senators recently called on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to improve COVID-19 data collection and management.
Specifically, the lawmakers are asking the agencies to harness technologically... Read More »
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) launched this week an initiative designed to aid in combating Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) utilizing social media platforms to recruit and raise funds with cryptocurrencies.
Gottheimer said the “Online Arsenal to Combat Foreign Terrorist Organizations”... Read More »
Under new legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), American companies operating with the support of U.S. taxpayer funds would be barred from providing any new COVID-19 vaccine to citizens of other countries ahead of Americans.
The America First Vaccine Act (S. 4542) would lock... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Eliot Engel (D-NY) are urging the Trump administration to investigate Russia’s alleged use of chemical weapons in the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.
This request triggers an investigation into Russia’s alleged violation of... Read More »
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) said the recent release of its new white paper regarding the establishment of a cyber workforce framework seeks to address industry personnel shortfalls.
The document, “Growing a Stronger Federal Cyber Workforce” was released at a virtual event... Read More »
The Trump administration announced a new cybersecurity policy for systems used in space.
The Space Policy Directive- 5 (SPD-5) puts in place key systems for global communications, navigation, weather monitoring, and other critical services. It also establishes the Department of Homeland... Read More »
Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) has joined a group of health industry organizations in launching the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) to address health, safety, and the economy.
“Unfortunately, misinformation and conflicting messages about COVID-19 have confused the... Read More »
A new facility -- the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility -- meant to house top-of-the-line labs for research into foreign animal diseases will soon transfer from the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), but outstanding issues could... Read More »
