News
BARDA calls for proposals to develop new late-stage antibiotics capable of negating antibiotic resistance
In support of the federal Project BioShield incentivization effort, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently launched a Request for Proposals for late-stage development, approval, and procurement of an antibiotic capable of overcoming... Read More »
Federal lawmakers seek ghost gun ban from Conference of Mayors
A collection of more than 40 senators and representatives published a letter last week calling for members of the United States Conference of Mayors to crack down on and ban untraceable firearms, better known as “ghost guns.” “We write today to request your consideration in addressing the... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster wildfire communications, information sharing
U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) recently introduced legislation to bolster wildfire communications and information sharing among first responders. The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Wildland Fire Communications and Information Dissemination Act... Read More »
House Invest to Protect Act urges $50M investment into smaller police departments
Backed by various law enforcement organizations and bipartisan appeal, U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and John Rutherford (R-FL) – together with 36 cosponsors – introduced the Invest to Protect Act of 2022 last week to support local police. The House bill seeks critical investments into... Read More »
Congressmembers call on Biden to overhaul U.S. counterterrorism policy
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-ME), and Chris Murphy (D-CT), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism, joined U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and other members of Congress, in calling on President Joe Biden to overhaul the U.S.... Read More »
Gates Foundation, Wellcome offer $300M to CEPI’s pandemic, vaccine development efforts
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations’ (CEPI) 100 Days Mission to reduce the vaccine development timeline received a $300 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome. While a fraction of the organization’s overall fundraising goal of $3.5 billion,... Read More »
TSA report examines increase in firearm discoveries at Georgia airports
A Transportation Security Administration (TSA) report determined firearm discoveries at Georgia airports increased in 2021. Per the analysis, officers at Georgia airports discovered 542 firearms in travelers’ carry-on luggage last year, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Cornyn push cybersecurity bill to protect commercial satellites, industrial control systems
Introduced by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) this week, the Satellite Cybersecurity Act proposes new requirements for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) to help commercial satellite owners and operators protect their networks. “Hackers have already... Read More »
Rep. Katko asks Biden to utilize NY medical expertise in public health response to Omicron surge
Citing the surge in Omicron cases nationwide, U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) urged President Joe Biden to use research and technology from academic medical centers in Central New York, like SUNY Upstate Medical University, to guide the nation’s public health response and to improve testing. In a... Read More »
Bill seeks to reduce global sex trafficking demand
U.S. Reps. Ann Wagner (R-MO), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX) introduced this week legislation that seeks to reduce demand for sex trafficking worldwide. The Sex Trafficking Demand Reduction Act would amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to reflect the need to... Read More »
Bipartisan Congressional Delegation meets with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Roger Wicker (R-MS) met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Tuesday as part of their bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Ukraine. The... Read More »
Merck, Ridgeback to supply 3 million courses of molnupiravir this year to UNICEF for COVID-19 efforts
Under a long-term agreement with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced this week, Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics have agreed to provide 3 million courses of COVID-19 oral antiviral molnupiravir for use in low and middle-income countries. Distribution will occur throughout... Read More »
CEPI, IPD partner to advance COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) recently collaborated to advance COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing in Africa. CEPI seeks to develop vaccines against future epidemics, while IPD is a non-profit public interest foundation located in... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Scott introduce legislation seeking to address federal property, assets disaster resilience
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced Tuesday a bill that requires federal agencies to consider disaster resilience when investing in and managing federal property and assets. The legislators noted the Disaster Resiliency Planning Act stems from a 2021 Government... Read More »
Lawrence Livermore National Lab, academic and army scientists to jointly develop multi-pathogen vaccine
A new partnership between governmental, military, and academic scientists seeks to collaboratively develop a vaccine over the next five years capable of protecting against tularemia, melioidosis, and plague from a single source. Aided by a $10 million grant for the Defense Threat Reduction... Read More »
Bipartisan senators introduce legislation to rebuild public health workforce
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Susan Collins (R-ME), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced legislation Friday that would reinforce and expand the U.S. public health workforce in light of current shortages. The legislation, Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act, would... Read More »
Invest in Law Enforcement Act seeks funds for smaller police departments
A new bill introduced by U.S. Reps. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), and John Rutherford (R-FL) would provide $50 million in grants for small police departments to invest in training, equipment, personnel support, and mental health resources. “Now more than ever, we need to make... Read More »
DARPA chooses ENVision program development teams
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) officials said the agency has selected 10 industry and university research teams for the Enhanced Night Vision in Eyeglass Form (ENVision) program. Authorities indicated ENVision's goal is to leverage recent advances in night vision (NV) systems... Read More »
ADL advocates increased non-profit security funding
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is advocating Congress increase non-profit security funding and confirm Deborah Lipstadt as the State Department’s Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. The ADL noted the advice stems from a recent hostage situation at a Texas synagogue resulting in... Read More »
Rep. Gottheimer introduces Medical and Health Accountability Act to improve medical supply transparency, counter equipment shortages
In the latest effort to get ahead of future medical equipment shortages, U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) announced plans for the Medical and Health Stockpile Accountability Act last week, proposing a new tracking system and data sharing guidelines, and more. While building greater resilience... Read More »
WHO recommends baricitinib, sotrovimab for treating various stages of COVID-19
Expanding options for individuals with COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) last week recommended two additional drugs for treatment: the oral inhibitor known as baricitinib and the monoclonal antibody drug sotrovimab. Baricitinib is meant for use by those with severe or critical... Read More »
Defense Department awards contracts to purchase COVID-19 test kits
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has coordinated with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to purchase 380 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits. Contracts were awarded to Orlando, Florida-based Abbott Rapid Dx North America, LLC; Mountain View, California's iHealth Lab... Read More »
DHS unveils climate change professionals initiative
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced a department program that supports adapting to climate change and improving resilience. The DHS indicated the Climate Change Professionals Program recruits recent graduates and current federal employees while serving as a new... Read More »
Former Acting Inspector General for Homeland Security pleads guilty to federal theft charges
A former Acting Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges of theft of government property in a scheme to defraud the U.S. government. Charles K. Edwards, 61, of Sandy Spring, Md., pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the... Read More »
Russian FSB arrests members of REvil ransomware gang following attacks on U.S. infrastructure
Following requests from U.S. authorities, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) arrested members of the REvil ransomware gang and shut their operations, which in the last few years have struck American ventures such as the Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and Kaseya. The Russian-based group... Read More »
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks strengthened domestic pharmaceutical supply chains
With the introduction of the House version of the Strengthening Supply Chains for Servicemembers and Security Act (H.R. 6374), U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) and Peter Meier (R-MI) this week sought to bolster cut overreliance on foreign pharmaceuticals and strengthen the domestic supply... Read More »
Bill seeks bolstered federal disaster response for underserved communities
U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Gary Peters (D-Ml) have introduced a bill they said strengthens Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster response within underserved communities facing federal aid barriers. The legislators indicated the Achieving Equity in Disaster Response,... Read More »
Sen. Gillibrand leads letter demanding emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers become permanent
In a letter dispatched to the Biden administration last week, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and nearly 20 colleagues asked that the withdrawing OSHA emergency COVID-19 protections for healthcare workers be made permanent. OSHA, or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration,... Read More »
Legislation seeks to support efforts to continue space program initiatives
U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) has introduced a bill that would aid efforts to continue space program initiatives through authorization and funding of critical government programs. The U.S. Leadership in Space Act of 2021 (H.R. 6391) calls for the National Space Council to report foreign threats... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators seek to prioritize halting fentanyl trafficking
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to Congressional leadership, noting the effort seeks prioritization of efforts to stop fentanyl trafficking. U.S. Reps. Chris Pappas (D-NH) and Vern Buchanan (R-FL) led 36 of their colleagues in advocating action to permanently classify... Read More »
Sens. Burr, Hickenlooper push Early Countermeasure Discovery Act to improve research detection of pathogens
U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) this week introduced a bipartisan bill that would increase the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) collaboration efforts surrounding research and development of countermeasures for pathogens with pandemic potential. “Two years... Read More »
Senate advances Peters, Portman cybersecurity legislation
The Senate advanced Wednesday legislation by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-Oh), promoting stronger cybersecurity coordination between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and state and local governments. Peters and Portman, the chair and ranking member of the Homeland... Read More »
BARDA, HHS to lead Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium Industry Day
As part of efforts to optimize both governmental and industrial approaches to medical countermeasure manufacturing, the U.S. Department of Health and Humans Services (HHS) and the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) will host a Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Consortium... Read More »
Bill seeks to address boosts in rural law enforcement hiring, compensation
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure that seeks to increase the hiring and compensation of rural law enforcement officers. U.S. Reps. Tom Rice (R-SC) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) recently joined 10 colleagues in introducing the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) on the... Read More »