News
Federal lawmakers urged to provide supplemental funding to local health departments
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) is urging the Trump Administration and Congress to approve emergency supplemental funding for local health departments to respond to the coronavirus. “Our nation has taken strong steps to help address the spread of... Read More »
Sen. Hawley seeks answers from FDA on plans to mitigate drug shortages
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is seeking answers from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on how it will mitigate potential drug and medical device shortages. The inquiry follows a recent report that the recent outbreak of novel coronavirus has threatened the domestic supply of some 150... Read More »
FEMA’s firefighter assistance grant program open for applications
The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program remains open for applications until March 13 at 5:00 p.m. EST. U.S. Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) is a strong proponent of the program and urges constituents to take advantage of it. “Our fire... Read More »
National Governors Association opposes cuts to National Guard
The National Governors Association (NGA) became the most recent organization to oppose a nearly $1.7 billion cut from the National Guard and Reserve. The cut is part of a Trump administration proposal that would divert $3.8 billion in funding to the U.S.-Mexico wall border. The budget cuts... Read More »
Chinese inspections not impacted despite COVID-19 outbreak, FDA says
One of the greatest concerns pushed by U.S. lawmakers since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus -- COVID-19 -- has been the potential impacts on products coming from China, but this week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) insisted its inspections have not been hindered, nor has the virus... Read More »
U.S. braces for spread of coronavirus on home turf
The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on Monday night sent Congress a total $2.5 billion emergency supplemental spending request to fight the coronavirus outbreak, which top U.S. government officials warned will inevitably spread across the nation. “The administration believes... Read More »
Senators demand to know how terrorist leader was allowed to emigrate to United States
Three Republican senators recently sent a letter to Chad F. Wolf, Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), wanting to know how a former al-Qaeda leader in Iraq was allowed to emigrate to the United States as a refugee and become a citizen. The Department of Justice... Read More »
DHS offers states increased flexibility for REAL ID applications
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security officials is providing state governors with increased flexibility regarding electronic submission of required documents for REAL ID applications. Specifically, DHS said states may now add identity and lawful status source documents, through a secure... Read More »
Lawmakers seek information on targeting Chinese-American scientists as potential spies
U.S. Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) and Judy Chu (D-CA) are seeking information from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on reports that Chinese-American scientists are being targeted as potential spies. A recent article in The New York Times reported... Read More »
BARDA touts public-private partnerships efforts in face of COVID-19 threat
While the weekend sent global fears of a COVID-19 pandemic spiking, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Director Rick Bright touted the speed at which public-private partnerships have acted on medical countermeasures. BARDA has expanded agreements with three companies... Read More »
COVID-19 research at University of Queensland produces first vaccine candidate
In three weeks, researchers at Australia’s University of Queensland have produced a vaccine candidate for the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and have moved it to further development. Part of the larger Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) rapid response program, the effort has... Read More »
Tulane University launches new, primate-based coronavirus research program for vaccine aid
In an effort to push forward research that could yield a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, the Tulane Primate Research Center (TNPRC) announced plans to develop a nonhuman primate model focused on the disease’s clinical progression, transmission, and effects on aging populations. The... Read More »
Columbia University research teams awarded more than $2M to identify potential COVID-19 antiviral drugs
The Jack Ma Foundation recently awarded four research teams at Columbia University $2.1 million for their efforts to identify potential antiviral drugs and antibiotics for use against the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. The Chinese-based foundation awarded the funds to Columbia with the... Read More »
Commandant of the Coast Guard highlights achievements, future efforts in 2020 address
Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, recently gave his annual State of the Coast Guard Address in Charleston, S.C., highlighting the guard’s plans and accomplishments. During the speech, Schultz outlined plans to expand the Coast Guard’s footprint in the Charleston area. ... Read More »
Senate bill would create a permanent fund to respond to public health emergencies
A bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate last week that would create a permanent fund to respond more quickly to public health emergencies. The Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act (S. 3309) would provide automatic funding for the existing Public Health Emergency Fund based... Read More »
Reps. Pallone, McNerney introduce bill to emergency communications
U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to improve network resiliency in times of emergency. The Reinforcing and Evaluating Service Integrity, Local Infrastructure, and Emergency Notification for Today’s Networks Act (H.R.... Read More »
Democrats Senators seek answers from Defense Secretary on W76-2 warheads
A group of Democratic Senators recently questioned Defense Secretary Mark Esper about the decision to begin fielding W76-2 “low-yield” nuclear submarine-launched ballistic missile warheads. “We write to express our concern about the recent decision to begin fielding the W76-2 low-yield... Read More »
Senate bill would give National Guard and Reserve members equal hazard duty incentive pay
A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would give National Guard and Reserve members equal hazard duty incentive pay (HDIP). The bill was sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). Similar legislation has already been introduced in the House. “The... Read More »
GAO recommends ways to improve implementation of National Biodefense Strategy
The United States is struggling to implement a National Biodefense Strategy, according to a Government Accountability Office (GAO) review, but there are additional efforts that could make the strategy more effective. GAO first recommended that the Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary should... Read More »
New Israeli technology presents COVID-19 diagnostic that may significantly reduce testing time
According to Dr. Amos Danielli, of the Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering at Bar-Ilan University, 15 minutes may be all it takes to diagnose cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), thanks to a new diagnostic technology. While existing methods of diagnosing COVID-19 take around one hour,... Read More »
Public Health Emergency Response and Accountability Act aims to create permanent emergency response fund
New legislation proposed by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Angus King (I-ME) seeks to create a permanent fund to encourage quicker responses to public health emergencies. The Public Health Emergency Response and... Read More »
CBP launches biometric facial recognition at Houston airport
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently launched biometric facial comparison technology at Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport. The technology is intended to secure and streamline international travel. CBP has processed more than 43 million travelers using biometric facial... Read More »
Senate Democrats call upon Trump officials to provide more resources for coronavirus
A group of Senate Democrats expressed concerns to Trump Administration officials about the relative lack of resources to respond to the coronavirus outbreak. The request follows the release of the Trump Administration’s new budget proposal, which suggested cutting public health and... Read More »
US Air Force completes flight testing for new U-2 sensor
The U.S. Air Force recently completed flight testing of the Collins Aerospace Senior Year Electro-Optical Reconnaissance System (SYERS) sensor, SYERS-2C, on the U-2. The entire U-2 fleet has been upgraded with this sensor capability, which provides increased optical performance and accurate... Read More »
Counterintelligence plan addresses evolving threats
The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC) recently released a plan outlining counterintelligence approaches to threats that have evolved significantly since the last report in 2016. The National Counterintelligence Strategy of the United States of America 2020-2022 lists five... Read More »
CEPI, IABS to host meeting on vaccine platform technology licensure
In March, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI) and the International Alliance for Biological Standardization (IABS) will co-host a Brussels-based meeting on the licensing of vaccine platform technologies, to consider the potential benefits of the new registration procedure. This, the... Read More »
BARDA, Sanofi Pasteur partner to create coronavirus vaccine
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) has announced it is teaming up with Sanofi Pasteur to mix the authority’s expertise and funds with Sanofi’s egg-free, recombinant DNA platform to try and produce a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine... Read More »
Reps McCarthy, Schweikert urge FDA to hold workshop on Valley Fever
U.S. Reps. Kevin McCarthy (R-TX) and David Schweikert (R-AZ) sent a letter to both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the development of medicine to combat Valley Fever. Valley Fever is a fungal infection that can cause fever,... Read More »
DHS released $1.8B in funding opportunities for preparedness grants
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released funding opportunities for eight preparedness grant programs totaling nearly $1.8 billion. The grant programs provide funding to state and local governments, as well as transportation authorities, nonprofits, and the private sector, to... Read More »
FirstNet bringing enhancements to New Hampshire ahead of schedule
The First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) is bringing enhancements to the FirstNet network in New Hampshire ahead of schedule. AT&T and Gov. Chris Sununu recently hosted an event to celebrate. FirstNet is a nationwide, wireless communications platform for first responders... Read More »
Merck injectable vaccine being licensed in four African countries for Ebola prevention
A new milestone in the fight against Ebola was achieved last week with the announcement that Merck’s injectable vaccine, Ervebo, has been licensed for use against Ebola in four nations: the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Burundi, Ghana, and Zambia. Additional registrations of the... Read More »
Nearly 190 incidents of unregulated nuclear materials in 2019
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) received notifications of nearly 190 incidents of nuclear and other radioactive materials not under regulatory control in 2019, according to the agency’s annual fact sheet. The fact sheet was published during a recent IAEA conference on... Read More »
FDA moves to ensure protections against Novel Coronavirus
As part of the response to the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak worldwide, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week outlined its efforts to facilitate diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of the disease, keep an eye on the medical product supply chain and maximize the... Read More »
Legislation would establish arms-trafficking team within DHS
Legislation recently introduced in the House of Representatives would establish a Border Enforcement Security Team (BEST) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) focused solely on reducing arms trafficking. There are currently 57 security teams within DHS, but none with this dedicated... Read More »