News
NENA supports 9-1-1 enhancement initiative
National Emergency Number Association (NENA) personnel said the organization supports the House of Representatives’ recent action creating a new $12 billion federal grant program upgrading the nation’s 9-1-1 centers. Next Generation 9-1-1 was incorporated into the Moving Forward Act, a... Read More »
Northern Border Caucus presses US, Canadian governments for phased reopening of border
House members of the Northern Border Caucus are pushing for a phased reopening of that United States-Canadian border, which has been shut down in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In all, 29 Congress members, led by caucus co-chairs Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY), called for... Read More »
Federal agencies issue joint safety guidance for air travel in the era of COVID-19
Last week, the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security (DHS), Transportation (DOT) and Health and Human Services (HHS) issued joint guidance for the air travel industry, meant to provide a framework for airlines and airports operating amidst a global pandemic. COVID-19 has spawned more than 11.4... Read More »
Senators call on leaders of Asian nations to release detainees
A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators called on the leaders of Central Asian nations to release detainees imprisoned for peaceful activism who are at high risk of contracting COVID-19. The Senators sent letters to the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Tajikistan Emomali... Read More »
START joins RESOLVE network to help prevent, counter violent extremism
The National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) has joined the RESOLVE Network, a group of individuals and organizations focused on issues related to violent extremism and community resilience. START Director William Braniff serves on the RESOLVE Network’s... Read More »
Trusted Traveler Programs Enrollment Centers reopening postponed
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has postponed reopening Trusted Traveler Programs Enrollment Center sites until at least Aug. 10, 2020. The action stems from the agency seeking to ensure the health and safety of program applicants, per the CBP, adding the decision... Read More »
R2 Network Challenge funds awarded
First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) officials recently joined a trio of agencies in presenting Accelerate R2 Network (R2 Network) Challenge awards. The initiative serves as an interagency program connecting stakeholder response and resilience. The Department of Commerce, Economic... Read More »
US–Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program funding included in Senate Defense Bill
As the U.S. Senate considers the latest National Defense Authorization Act, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) announced last week that $500 million had been added to benefit the U.S.–Israeli Cooperative Missile Defense Program. This inclusion will benefit the development of certain missile... Read More »
BARDA, Sonica Health to develop wearable COVID-19 infection monitoring patch
Expanding on an existing partnership, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Sonica Health announced last week that they will work together to create a wearable patch capable of monitoring for COVID-19 infections. The device is meant for high-risk clinical... Read More »
Report assesses coronavirus federal oversight response
The Homeland Security Committee has released a report assessing the government’s coronavirus oversight response, detailing the Committee’s actions amid the pandemic. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, recently released a majority staff report... Read More »
Rep. Chabot introduces police reform bill
Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) said he has introduced H.R. 7384, the Safer Communities Act, that would make communities safer by highlighting functional reforms, rewarding officers making a positive impact, and addressing power abuses. “Instead of getting bogged down in partisan arguments on issues... Read More »
US Space Force finalizes command structure focused on flexibility
The U.S. Space Force (USSF) finalized its organizational structure with the Air Force this week, focusing itself more on mission than on a layered command system. In all, President Donald Trump’s addition to the military system will operate under three echelons of command: Space Operations... Read More »
Sens. Warren, Rubio push legislation for federal study on pharmaceutical supply chain’s overreliance on foreign interests
Alarmed by heavy U.S. reliance on foreign nations for both its supply of drugs and pharmaceutical products, U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) introduced a bill this week to require a study of that overreliance. Specifically, the bill would require the Federal Trade... Read More »
FDA issues guidance for COVID-19 vaccine developers on licensure
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is providing licensure guidance for those companies and organizations developing COVID-19 vaccines. The guidance, called the “Development and Licensure of Vaccines to Prevent COVID-19,” provides an overview of key considerations to satisfy requirements... Read More »
BAE Systems, Acuminor working on technology to help banks identify financial crimes
BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Acuminor are developing new technology to help banks identify transactional behavior linked to human trafficking. They are working on a trial with a major Nordic bank for their new solution to test the effectiveness of its financial crime detection systems.... Read More »
HHS signs deal with Gilead to secure supplies of remdesivir
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) struck an agreement to secure large supplies of the drug remdesivir from Gilead Sciences. HHS has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses of remdesivir -- the first authorized therapeutic for COVID-19 -- for U.S. hospitals through... Read More »
Members of Congress ask EU to designate Hezbollah as terrorist organization
A bipartisan group of Congressional lawmakers is urging European Union (EU) member states to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The lawmakers state that Hezbollah is using Europe as a launching pad for its criminal and terrorist activities, including money laundering, drug... Read More »
Sens. Rubio, Van Hollen call for passage of DETER Act
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) are urging the colleagues to pass the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act, which they said addresses foreign interference with domestic elections. While Rubio and Van Hollen filed the measure as an amendment... Read More »
Collaboration yields automated mobile app software testing
A Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP) collaboration has resulted in automated mobile application (app) software testing procedures. Officials said the partnership stems from efforts to ensure the... Read More »
Senate National Defense Authorization Act amendment would require state, federal cybersecurity coordinators
Hoping to improve cybersecurity, four senators introduced an amendment to the FY 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week that would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to appoint cybersecurity coordinators in every state. U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Maggie Hassan... Read More »
Uncertainty on Strategic National Stockpile prompts Congressional questions
Members of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee wrote United States Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar this week with concerns about efforts to replenish the much-depleted Strategic National Stockpile. That stockpile has been deeply impacted during the... Read More »
U.S. senator identifies ways to prepare for the next pandemic
Legislators are not waiting for the coronavirus pandemic to subside to suggest ways to combat future health emergencies. In his recently released white paper “Preparing for the Next Pandemic,” U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) outlines five recommendations Congress can act on in the next six... Read More »
Senators call for AIDS/HIV funding in next COVID-19 relief bill
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 »
CEPI, partners work to ensure equitable distribution of COVID vaccine
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) is part of an effort to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines for all countries. CEPI helped launch the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility (COVAX), part of the ACT Accelerator, which was established to ensure that the... Read More »
Wisconsin National Guard Unit garners honor
The 2020 Maj. Gen. William L. Sibert Award has been bestowed upon the Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team (CST) in recognition of excellence in mission readiness. The specialized unit of full-time Army and Air National Guard members are trained to respond to chemical,... Read More »
FirstNet launches Vermont cell sites
FirstNet, the broadband platform for public safety, has launched a pair of Vermont purpose-built cell sites in North Bennington and West Bridgewater. “We worked hand-in-hand with Vermont’s public safety community to understand their needs for the network,” FirstNet Authority CEO Edward... Read More »
Sen. Blumenthal, colleagues call for end to gun background check loophole
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 »
Sens. Portman, Bennet introduce legislation to bolster DoD’s AI strategy and capabilities
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 »
Biosecurity expert proposes medical countermeasures to address the next pandemic threat
Scientists did not anticipate the initial threat of SARS-CoV-2, but what if they could have. In a commentary released this month by Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at Johns Hopkins University Center for Health Security, society could be prepared for the next pandemic through a medical... Read More »
GAO highlights opportunities to improve federal COVID-19 response, recovery efforts
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 »
Bill introduced to establish National Cyber Director
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 »
DRC announces official end to second-largest Ebola outbreak
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 »
Colorado State University to collaborate with BARDA in developing platform capable of inactivating SARS-CoV-2
A new platform, SolaVAX, aims to help inactivate the SARS-CoV-2 virus -- the virus which causes COVID-19 -- in patients, and its progress will be a joint project of its creators at Colorado State University and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA). SolaVAX was... Read More »
Moderna taps Catalent to help with COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Pharma company Moderna will collaborate with Catalent – a company that develops technologies and manufacturing solutions for drugs and consumer health products – on Moderna’s mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine candidate. Catalent will provide vial filling and packaging capacity, as well as... Read More »