U.S. Policy
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on Senate leadership to include federal funding for HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention, and housing programs in the next coronavirus pandemic response package.
Specifically, the Senators, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), are... Read More »
With the introduction of the Background Check Completion Act last week, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and more than 20 of his colleagues took a stand against a legal loophole that has allowed gun sales to move forward if a background check is not finished in 72 hours.
“No check, no sale... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduced legislation last week designed to strengthen and improve artificial intelligence (AI) within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
The Artificial Intelligence and National Security Act proposes to strengthen the department’s AI... Read More »
In accordance with the CARES Act containing a provision for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report on ongoing COVID-19 monitoring and oversight efforts, six recommendations have been issued.
The GAO indicated its recent analysis examined key actions the federal government has... Read More »
Lawmakers have introduced a measure creating a National Cyber Director position within the White House, who would serve as the president’s principal advisor on cybersecurity issues.
Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), Cyberspace Solarium commissioner, joined five colleagues in presenting the National... Read More »
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Ministry of Health declared this week that an Ebola outbreak which has ravaged the eastern portion of the country since 2018 has finally reached its end.
The news was hailed by global and U.S. health officials, still themselves battling the worldwide... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT) announced his support for a bill that would prevent the Trump Administration from restarting explosive nuclear weapons testing.
The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives Testing (PLANET) Act (H.R. 7140) was introduced earlier this month by Reps. Dina... Read More »
The U.S. Senate’s 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes $1.033 billion in funding to upgrade 89 Abrams tanks, announced U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).
The tank upgrades will be done at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center (JSMC) in Lima, Ohio. The bill also includes $847... Read More »
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has published new guidance designed to aid in managing new global security risks while safeguarding all modes of transportation.
Administrator’s Intent 2.0 targets tangible security threats across seven broad categories: insider risk, surface... Read More »
The Trump administration will end federal support for 13 community-based COVID-19 testing sites by the end of the month, as the White House looks to other means of financial support for ongoing efforts.
This will particularly impact Texas, which has seen an explosion of cases in recent days,... Read More »
A group of U.S. senators recently introduced legislation designed to modernize the production of medical supplies for frontline healthcare providers and ensure the utilization of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to respond to emergencies.
The Public Health Emergency (PHE) Production Act –... Read More »
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Israel Ministry of Public Security (MOPS) officials are touting the Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation collaboration.
The BIRD Foundation is soliciting collaborative project proposals... Read More »
Rep. John Katko (R-NY) is espousing the benefits of the recent introduction of Senate legislation serving as a companion measure to his bill to bolster cybersecurity protections.
Sens. David Perdue (R-GA) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) have introduced the Cybersecurity Advisory Committee... Read More »
The Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), which is tasked with supplementing state and local supplies of antibiotics, vaccines and other critical drugs and medical products, woefully needs a revamp to help the nation better prepare and respond to public health emergencies like the current COVID-19... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) are seeking answers from Trump Administration officials on how the federal government is overseeing suppliers of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing supplies, and other medical supplies.
The lawmakers cited recent reports... Read More »
Lawmakers recently gathered to address toxic exposure related to military service and a bill regarding how veterans exposed to toxic substances receive Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) care and benefits.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) led the bipartisan roundtable discussion hosted by Chairman of... Read More »
Two representatives said the inclusion of much of their Military Family Readiness Act into the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act will bolster military family support.
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee and Rep. Trent Kelly (R-MS), ranking... Read More »
Reckoning with the possibility of bad actors taking advantage of a crisis, House members introduced two bills this week to protect patients from price-gouging on taxpayer funded COVID-19 drugs, avoid monopolies, and strengthen oversight of federally invested research and development funds.
The... Read More »
A panel of public health experts called on Congress to focus on creating a mechanism that would help create vaccines for future pandemics, even as the world is working to cope with the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
“This pandemic is a harbinger of things to come,” Julie Gerberding, former... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) said five Defense Production Act Title III actions funded with $187 million would sustain and strengthen essential domestic industrial base capabilities and the defense-critical workforce.
“These actions will help to retain critical workforce capabilities... Read More »
Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Chris Coons (D-DE) joined 13 colleagues last week to introduce legislation designed to prevent foreign governments from stealing research and intellectual property domestically developed at colleges and universities.
The Safeguarding American Innovation Act gives... Read More »
In an effort to reduce shortages and the reliance on foreign medical supply chains, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Department of Defense (DoD) have teamed up with Corning, Inc. to produce more glass tubing and vials quicker.
In particular, the federal... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced two bills designed to protect and strengthen military bases from threats related to climate change and energy dependency.
One of the bills is the DOD Water Assessment and Testing Enhanced Reporting (WATER) Act, introduced by Crow, along with Reps. Xochitl... Read More »
Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) recently announced plans to introduce legislation designed to aid in retaining top talent by providing a pathway to an immigrant visa for non-citizens engaged in national security protection.
The National Security Innovation Pathway Act seeks... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report on the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) last week that called for efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to guarantee it has enough responders for emergencies and can evaluate training properly, a call echoed... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) introduced legislation to combat the threat of disinformation during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The increased use of deepfakes, manipulated media, and online bots to spread disinformation has become an emerging homeland security threat. The Protecting... Read More »
The Senate voted to support GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, this week through a resolution introduced by U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Time Kaine (D-VA).
The resolution commends and reaffirms support for GAVI. It also puts the nation’s money where its mouth is, so to speak, pledging U.S.... Read More »
U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper released the national Defense Space Strategy this week, which identifies how the Department of Defense will advance the nation’s space power.
Esper’s plan includes three objectives; maintain space superiority; provide space support to national, joint, and... Read More »
A group of Republican senators introduced a police reform bill that focuses on accountability and transparency while promoting efforts to find solutions to systemic issues affecting people of color.
The Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act is sponsored... Read More »
The U.S. government has reached agreements with both Canada and Mexico to limit all non-essential travel across borders to limit the further spread of coronavirus.
The Department of Homeland Security is a crucial part of this North American approach to stop the spread of the virus, as will the... Read More »
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense is calling for a renewed commitment to fighting COVID-19, urging Americans to protect each other.
“We formed the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense six years ago because we suspected and subsequently confirmed that our Nation was vulnerable to biological... Read More »
West Virginia law enforcement and first responder personnel will receive $439,858 in Department of Justice (DOJ) funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).
Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) said the Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental... Read More »
Gary Ludwig, president and chair of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), testified before Congress in June on the need for more federal support local fire and EMS departments.
Ludwig, appearing before the House of Representatives' Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,... Read More »
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced last week two bills, the Continuity of Economy Act of 2020 and the National Guard Cyber Interoperability Act of 2020, designed to address the nation’s cybersecurity defense vulnerabilities.
Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental... Read More »
Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS) recently introduced a bill he said is designed to support and strengthen programs essential to the Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) mission while maintaining maritime industry viability.
Wicker said the Maritime Administration (MARAD) Reauthorization Act would... Read More »
