U.S. Policy
Arguing the potential benefits no longer outweigh the health risks involved, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday revoked its Emergency Use Authorization for hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine to be used as a treatment for patients with COVID-19.
“We’ve made clear throughout... Read More »
Health experts maintain the federal government needs to craft a plan to distribute COVID-19 vaccines in Black and Latino that have borne the brunt of the pandemic nationwide.
“They are going to have to make sure we have a sound distribution plan to make sure that we don’t repeat the mistakes... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions Inc. announced Thursday it signed an agreement to provide its contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) services to support AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine candidate in the United States.
The agreement, valued at approximately $87 million, gives Emergent stateside... Read More »
The Republican Study Committee (RSC) is endorsing Rep. Bryan Steil’s bill, the Stop Evasion of Iran Sanctions Act.
The RSC’s backing of the measure is in accordance with the group’s National Security Strategy: Strengthening America and Countering Global Threats.
“The United States... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) has initiated five Defense Production Act Title 3 officials said would aid in sustaining defense-critical workforce capabilities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The $135 million action assists in retaining body armor, aircraft manufacturing, and shipbuilding... Read More »
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted an emergency use authorization to Illumina for the first COVID-19 diagnostic test utilizing next generation sequence technology.
The Illumina COVIDSeq Test is for the qualitative detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from respiratory specimens collected from... Read More »
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has earmarked $3.9 million to fund small business research for homeland security technology needs assessment.
The agency has awarded 26 competitive research contracts to 23 small businesses participating in Phase... Read More »
A new bill introduced by U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Tom Udall (D-NM), ranking members of the Committee of Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies respectively, proposes to test and ensure workers’ compensation coverage for... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Roger Williams (R-TX) and Denny Heck (D-WA) introduced a bill that would move the Secret Service from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to the Department of the Treasury, where it originally started.
The U.S. Secret Service Mission Improvement and Realignment Act of 2020... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Conor Lamb (D-PA) introduced legislation that would require foreign nations to implement systems for reporting and monitoring outbreaks of novel diseases.
In addition, the Never Again International Outbreak Prevention Act (H.R. 7132) would sanction bad... Read More »
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)is encouraging the Defense Department and his congressional colleagues to reform military training procedures in the wake of a Bradenton soldier’s death during a training exercise.
Buchanan recently forwarded correspondence to the chairmen and ranking members of the... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced a bill that would prevent explosive nuclear weapons testing.
According to a report by The Washington Post, senior Trump administration have recently discussed conducting an explosive nuclear test.
The Preserving Leadership Against Nuclear Explosives... Read More »
The Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense supports efforts by Congress to improve the country’s biodefense following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This will not be the last biological crisis this nation faces,” commission members wrote to Congressional leaders. “In addition to the potential... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Annie Kuster (D-NH) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) introduced legislation to ensure that the United States can mass produce and administer a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it is available.
The Coronavirus Vaccine Development Act requires the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development... Read More »
A report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) examines how federal agencies use infectious disease modeling to fight outbreaks and what can be done to improve them.
The report, titled “Infectious Disease Modeling: Opportunities to Improve Coordination and Ensure... Read More »
West Virginia officials are espousing the benefits of a $2.5 million Department of Justice (DOJ) funding allotment to aid several local police departments.
Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) said the $2,564,147 in funding allows law enforcement agencies to hire additional... Read More »
Bell Textron Inc., has reached agreements with nine aerospace industry firms to form Team Invictus, which will produce the Bell 360 Invictus prototype for the U.S. Army.
“Team Invictus is working together to show how cutting-edge technology will give soldiers the ability to confidently operate... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is seeking unanimous consent on a resolution that encourages U.S. engagement with the international community on the COVID-19 response.
The resolution is in response to the Trump Administration’s failure to participate in global summits related to the research and... Read More »
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officials said Baltimore special agents seized over 14,000 unapproved COVID-19 capsules and several COVID-19 test kits via Operation Stolen Promise.
Operation Stolen Promise is a national operation that includes... Read More »
As authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the United States Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (HHS ASPR) has released an additional $250 million for aid health care systems treating COVID-19... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) met with officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to examine cyberattacks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The attacks have been targeting federal... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) introduced two bills designed to boost COVID-19 diagnostic testing.
Together, the two pieces of legislation would provide $750 million of grants for public health laboratories, hospitals, and other health providers.
“In order to save... Read More »
In separate statements released this week, both the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense and the nonpartisan, nonprofit Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) expressed concern with the Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO).
“Terminating the U.S.... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) introduce legislation directing federal agencies to share real-time information about testing supply inventory and shortages publicly.
Hospitals, health care systems, nursing homes, and first responders have struggled to obtain tests and other critical supplies... Read More »
Operation Warp Speed, the White House-created program to speed up COVID-19 vaccine candidate development and manufacturing domestically, will benefit from a $628 million expansion of an existing public-private partnership with Emergent BioSolutions Inc., the U.S. Department of Health and Human... Read More »
U.S. Coast Guard, Navy, and Royal Canadian navy personnel maintain a recently signed five-year strategic plan will establish the foundation for future coordination and joint operations.
“Whether it’s combating criminal activity by international drug cartels in the eastern pacific, or... Read More »
The Department of Defense (DoD) recently announced that two entities are collaborating to build and test a fifth-generation (5G) cellular network.
The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD(R&E)) and the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) are partnering... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin (D-MD), Jim Risch (R-ID), and Chris Murphy (D-CT) last week introduced legislation designed to better detect and contain infectious disease outbreaks overseas before they become global pandemics.
The Global Health Security and Diplomacy Act (GHSDA) requires the president to... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and John Cornyn (R-TX) are urging President Donald Trump to avoid nuclear arms control treaties that put constraints on the United States while allowing adversaries to build up their nuclear arsenals.
“You and your administration have long... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Diana DeGette (D-CO) are seeking information from leadership at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the agency’s efforts to maintain food safety and address food supply disruptions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although COVID-19 is not known... Read More »
Following a response to her request of state and federal agencies to provide a detailed account of COVID-19 response efforts, U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne’s (D-IA) has launched a data tracker to provide accountability in the system.
Announcing her efforts as a matter of transparency, Axne has now... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said Office of Field Operations (OFO) personnel at the Hidalgo International Bridge seized $2,446,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine concealed within a vehicle.
On May 23, an officer encountered a brown 1999 Ford F150 pickup driven by a 20-year-old... Read More »
U.S. Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced a bill on May 22 that would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to clarify the national biodefense strategy and implementation plan.
The bill, called the RASPP Act (H.B. 6966), follows a Government Accountability... Read More »
Social media companies need to step up and use the technology they already have to limit extremist groups from spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories online, experts said Wednesday during a U.S. House Homeland Security Committee virtual forum on extremism during the COVID-19 pandemic.... Read More »
It is past time for a national COVID-19 vaccine plan from the Trump administration, according to House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders so that the country can plan for development, manufacturing, distribution, training, and education linked to these efforts, along with broad vaccine... Read More »
