News
Measure expedites CBP hiring process
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, which she said is designed to quicken the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring process. McSally said the bill eliminates the polygraph test, which officials said is a requirement in the CBP hiring... Read More »
New computer-designed vaccine could neutralize RSV
A new vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been designed from nanoparticles, and its efficacy against the illness in mice and monkeys has opened the path to human trials. RSV is respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most people, and has a relatively... Read More »
DARPA seeking technology capable of making subterranean maps
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative technologies and methodologies to map and survey subterranean environments for its Subterranean Challenge. Most underground environments are either uncharted or inadequately mapped. The technologies could improve... Read More »
House committee approves bill to fight human trafficking
A bill designed to help law enforcement and financial institutions identify and report suspected human traffickers was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee last week. The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act, sponsored by U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Bill Keating (D-MA),... Read More »
Bill seeks to repeal 1991, 2002 Authorizations for Use of Military Force against Iraq
Sens. Todd Young (R-IN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced Wednesday a measure designed to repeal a pair of Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against Iraq and end Gulf and Iraq war authorizations. Specifically, the legislation will repeal the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs. “There is no... Read More »
Chicago CBP sets new seizure record
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency's Chicago Field Office (CFO) set a record number of seizures during fiscal year 2018. CBP authorities said in fiscal year 2018, the CFO intercepted more than 24,000 packages of narcotics while weighing more than 30,000 pounds in mail... Read More »
GAO finds gaps in Defense Department’s efforts to create a dedicated Cyber Mission Force
Gaps have emerged in the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) efforts to create and maintain a cyber operation, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which has released a series of recommendations on the topic. The DOD Cyber Mission Force (CMF) is dedicated to defending U.S.... Read More »
House hosts roundtable on Valley Fever
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), co-chairman of the Congressional Valley Fever Task Force, held a Valley Fever roundtable on Wednesday, hosting scientists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National Institutes of Health (NIH), doctors, patient... Read More »
Israel-US partnership seeks proposals for homeland security related technologies
The Israel – U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation is seeking proposals for advanced technologies related to homeland security. The BIRD Foundation is seeking proposals in six areas: Advanced first responder technologies; Border protection, including... Read More »
Cell site bolsters Baltimore public safety
Baltimore County personnel are espousing the benefits of a new, purpose-built cell site designed to deliver increased coverage and capacity to first responders across the state. Officials said public safety communications is receiving a critical upgrade with the cell site launch of a new,... Read More »
Oklahoma earns emergency preparedness, implementation marks
A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) readiness review site visit of the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) has resulted in the agency receiving stellar reviews. The CDC assessment determined the OSDH ranks in the top 14 percent of all medical countermeasure supply... Read More »
Oxford-led researchers use statistical mapping to predict mosquito spread
An international team of researchers have statistically predicted where mosquitoes will spread through the use of 35 years of data and 17 climate change models. That spread data includes everything from short to long-term timeframes and, the scientists note, is precise within 5x5 kilometers.... Read More »BARDA awards $10M contract to Public Health Vaccines LLC for Marburg vaccine
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) recently announced a new, $10 million partnership with Public Health Vaccines LLC to study potential vaccine treatments for the Marburg virus. Through the Biomedical Advanced research and Development Authority (BARDA), the DHHS will work... Read More »Software a potential solution for air cargo screening issues
The Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have collaborated to develop the Opacity and Complexity Analysis Software Tool (OCAST). OCAST will be used to assist X-ray operators in determining possible... Read More »
House advances bill to expand background checks for gun purchases
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill last week that would expand federal background checks for gun purchases and transfers. The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 was approved by a vote of 240-190 with only 8 Republicans supporting it. It now moves to the Senate for action.... Read More »
Lockheed Martin MAPS-enabled systems test lauded
Lockheed Martin and industry partners are touting the results of a recent Army Modular Active Protection Systems (MAPS)-enabled systems test demonstrating the effectiveness of the active protection system. The effort supported the Army’s integration of three countermeasures and a cueing... Read More »
Lawmakers tout benefits of Singh’s Law
A group of lawmakers recently introduced Singh’s Law, a measure designed to prevent known gang members and those convicted of dangerous crimes from entering the country. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)... Read More »
Texas Biomed researchers developing spray-delivered TB vaccine
Scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute are developing a new approach to tuberculosis (TB) protection -- one that provides a better, safer defense and is deliverable by spray instead of shot. These represent major changes to the vaccine, but the scientists are seeking to... Read More »
CBP encourages Spring Break travelers to plan ahead, enroll in programs
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) ports of entry in Arizona are urging travelers to prepare for the upcoming Spring Break by enrolling in trusted traveler programs and using Ready Lanes. Non-immigrant visa, passport holders are urged to apply for tourist permits online. To use... Read More »
Battelle sends representatives to Congo to help first responders combat Ebola outbreak
Battelle, an applied science and technology nonprofit company, recently sent two employees to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to provide training to local healthcare officials in dealing with the Ebola Virus. Ebola remains a significant health issue in Africa. The nation is currently... Read More »
Legislation offers cyber enhancements
A group of legislators introduced last week a measure designed to bolster greater cyber transparency, security, and data privacy initiatives. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) said the Cybersecurity Disclosure Act of 2019... Read More »
Air Force restructures cyber domain elements
Air Force officials said cyber domain restructuring efforts will aid in achieving the overarching goal of streamlining oversight, policy, and guidance. The branch is merging its headquarters staffs to integrate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with cyber effects operations. The... Read More »
BAE Systems Incident Report shows human error critical piece of network vulnerability
Human vulnerability remains a major opening for cybersecurity incidents, according to a 2019 incident response report released last week by BAE Systems. The report surveyed numerous organizations through engagement with board level executives, IT decision makers, and information security... Read More »
Marines conduct simulated training in February
Several units of reserve Marines conducted simulated training during Night Watch, a Marine Air Command and Control System exercise, last month. During the simulation, the reservists trained in a scenario that involved degraded communication. This situation could happen during a cybersecurity... Read More »
National Association of Sheriff’s supports Singh’s law introduced by Sen. Cotton
Several groups, including the National Sheriff’s Association, voiced their support for a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) that would bar aliens associated with a criminal gang and convicted of a crime from entering the United States. The bill, called Singh's law, says aliens... Read More »
Lawmakers urge implementation of Fix NICS Act
A group of lawmakers recently petitioned the Justice Department to implement information from requisite agencies via the Fix NICS Act, which requires steps to assess progress in database correction. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dianne... Read More »
Bill enhances border patrol personnel compensation process
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced last week a measure designed to streamline and amend the overtime payment process, enabling border patrol personnel greater compensation flexibility. The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act of 2019... Read More »
Hundreds of physicians urge Congress to raise funding for global AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria efforts
In a letter released this week, more than 400 physicians and scientists called on Congress to increase the nation’s funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The United States is the largest contributor to the fund to date, comprising a third of total funding.... Read More »
Bill would increase DHS workforce morale
A bill introduced in the U.S. House last week would aim to improve employee morale at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which ranked last among the 17 major Federal agencies for morale in 2018, according to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. Since being in 2003, DHS has... Read More »
New report highlights challenges, gives recommendations for national public health emergency response
The United States is not as prepared as it could be in key areas of public health disaster management, according to a recently issued report by Trust for America’s Health. In Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism, the report’s authors... Read More »
State Department awards Emergent BioSolutions contract for chemical warfare countermeasures
Emergent BioSolutions announced today that the company has signed a deal with the U.S. Department of State to establish a supply chain for certain medical countermeasures that address chemical warfare agents. The five-year, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract includes five... Read More »Lockheed aircraft prepping for flight test
Lockheed Martin officials are preparing a pair of Sikorsky-built HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) for flight tests at the facility's West Palm Beach site in Florida. “Having these initial HH-60W helicopters in West Palm Beach for flight test is an exciting time for the Sikorsky team,”... Read More »
GAO assesses efforts to enhance Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently assessed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts to enhance the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, offering input on progress and challenges. The GAO recommended the department identify high-risk chemical... Read More »
CEPI partners with CureVac to develop The RNA Printer vaccine platform
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and biopharmaceutical company CureVac AG recently announced a partnership worth up to $34 million for the development of a vaccine-boosting creation known as The RNA Printer. The RNA Printer is a mobile, automated printing facility for... Read More »