News
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 »
Sens. Peters, Collins seek greater registration demands for foreign manufacturers of medical products
A bipartisan proposal from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) seeks increased transparency through stronger requirements on foreign manufacturers of medical products utilized in the U.S., increasing those needing to register with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “Our... Read More »
Agencies release CSA regarding infrastructure cyber threats
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials said the agency has joined a pair of government entities in releasing a Cybersecurity Advisory (CSA) providing an overview of Russian cyber operations. Authorities indicated CISA joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)... Read More »
U.S. Navy extends communications contract with Motorola Solutions
The U.S. Department of Defense announced Tuesday that it has exercised a contract option to continue its contract with Motorola to operate and maintain the U.S. Navy’s land mobile radio (LMR) system. The $29 million contract supports continued critical radio communications at U.S. Navy... Read More »
DOD awards COVID-19 antigen test kit contract for free at-home tests
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced Monday that it had awarded contracts to Atlantic Trading, LLC, of Austin, Texas and Medea, Inc., of Pleasanton, Calif., that would purchase a combined total of 27 million over-the-counter COVID-19 test kits. The contracts will support President Joe... Read More »
Sens. Merkley, Blunt seek greater biometric data collection transparency
U.S. Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) recently forwarded correspondence to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to seek greater transparency regarding biometric data collection from U.S. citizens. Merkley and Blunt are requesting more information as it relates to how CBP... Read More »
More than 40 Congressional lawmakers urge presidential action to expand equitable access to COVID-19 rapid testing
In a letter to President Joe Biden this week, a collection of more than 40 sitting members of Congress led by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) urged administration action to expand access for and increase the supply of COVID-19 rapid tests. Demanding more... Read More »
United States to purchase 600,000 additional doses of sotrovimab COVID-19 treatments
According to GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK) and Vir Biotechnology, Inc., the United States government this week agreed to purchase another 600,000 doses of the COVID-19 antibody treatment sotrovimab, which will be distributed in this first quarter of 2022. The arrangement stems from an amendment to... Read More »
Organizations advocate bolstered fire safety legislation
A group of fire fighting and fire safety organizations is imploring Congress to pass legislation improving public housing and older high-rise buildings' fire safety. Officials representing the National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), the... Read More »
FDA shortens wait time for Moderna COVID-19 booster vaccine to five months
Amid rising breakthrough cases of COVID-19, largely fueled by the spread of the omicron variant, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last week shortened the time between primary and booster vaccination with a Moderna COVID-19 vaccine to five months. This revised timeline was reflected in... Read More »
Sen. Gillibrand and Reps. Higgins, Jacobs urge DHS to keep U.S.-Canada border open to vaccinated travelers
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) joined U.S. Reps. Brian Higgins (D-NY) and Chris Jacobs (R-NY) in urging the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep the U.S.-Canada border open for vaccinated individuals. Citing the economic livelihoods of New York businesses, as well as supply chain... Read More »
Sen. Rubio advocates Brazil bilateral security cooperation
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) recently sent correspondence to Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin advocating Brazil bilateral security cooperation expansion. Rubio indicated the effort would counter growing Chinese Communist Party influence (CCP) in the Western Hemisphere. “Brazil... Read More »
Goldbelt Security wins $51.6M DoD contract for COVID-19 antigen over-the-counter test kits
As part of President Joe Biden’s pledge to provide 500 million free at-home COVID-19 tests throughout the United States, the Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded a $51.6 million contract to Goldbelt Security, LLC for delivery of test kits. Kits will be provided over the counter at no cost... Read More »
Ransomware attack closes local government operations in Albuquerque, Los Ranchos and Tijeras
An assessment is ongoing to determine the extent and source of a ransomware attack on the New Mexico cities of Albuquerque, Los Ranchos, and Tijeras, which took affected systems offline and severed network connections, forcing most county buildings to shutter on Jan. 5. While employees continued... Read More »
ICE HSI, Blue Campaign highlight victims of human trafficking with national Wear Blue Day
Calling attention to human trafficking, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Blue Campaign announced that Jan. 11, 2022, will be Wear Blue Day and encouraged supporters to join in and speak out. “Human trafficking is one of the most... Read More »
Reps. Smith, McMorris Rodgers, Brady seek accounting of existing COVID-19 funds
Three Republican representatives recently forwarded correspondence to President Joe Biden seeking an accounting of existing COVID-19 funding in anticipation of the administration requesting additional dollars. House Budget Committee Republican Leader Jason Smith (R-MO), House Energy & Commerce... Read More »
Justice Department details Chinese national espionage plea
The U.S. Department of Justice recently reported that a Chinese national formerly residing in Chesterfield, Mo., has entered a guilty plea to conspiracy to commit economic espionage. According to court documents, Xiang Haitao, 44, conspired to steal a trade secret from Monsanto, an... Read More »
CBP officers in South Texas Post increased seizures of cocaine, fentanyl in 2021
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at eight South Texas ports of entry seized significantly more cocaine and fentanyl in 2021, officials said Wednesday. According to CBP, officers have seized 1,066 percent more fentanyl and 98 percent more cocaine in fiscal year 2021, than in... Read More »
BAE Systems to continue Naval Air Warfare Center work
The Navy has reached a five-year agreement worth up to $154 million with BAE Systems for the firm to continue supporting the Naval Air Warfare Center Webster Outlying Field. “Those on the front lines need rapid integration of the latest technologies to ensure open, clear, secure, and reliable... Read More »
Log4j vulnerability prompts Senate Homeland Security Committee briefing, warnings for critical infrastructure
In response to hacker-discovered vulnerabilities in the widely used Java-based logging package Log4j, U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) convened a committee briefing with top federal cybersecurity officials this week to address the issue’s mitigation. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs... Read More »
Cue Health, BARDA partnering on development of real-time Omicron-Genotyping COVID-19 Test
While Cue Health already has a COVID-19 test on the market capable of detecting the widespread omicron variant, the organization announced that it will work with the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to create a point-of-care test specifically focused on rooting out... Read More »
Marine Corps details F-35C Lightning II deployment
The Marine Corps is touting the first Marine squadron to deploy the F-35C on an aircraft carrier, detailing the recent departure from San Diego Bay. Carrier Air Wing Nine aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln is a key milestone in Marine Corps history Officials outlined how possessing the capability to... Read More »
Rep. Higgins announces SAFER grants to improve local fire department staffing
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) recently detailed the application process for Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants, noting the effort seeks to bolster local fire department staffing. Higgins said the application period is now open, and the deadline is Feb. 4, 2022, before 5... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Rosen, Wicker request cybersecurity information from DHS, DOT
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss) sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Transportation Tuesday asking for information on the departments’ ability to thwart cyberattacks. Portman, the ranking member of the Senate... Read More »
Northrop Grumman awarded contract for production of Army’s Integrated Battle Command System
The U.S. Army has awarded Northrop Grumman Corporation a five-year contract valued at over $1 billion to produce the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The agreement would address low-rate initial production and full-rate production, touting IBCS’s open, modular, and scalable... Read More »
Rep. Meijer human trafficking legislation signed into law
U.S. Rep. Peter Meijer (R-MI) applauded this week the passage of his legislation, the DHS Blue Campaign Enhancement Act (H.R. 2795), which increases human trafficking indicators awareness. Additionally, the legislation, included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year... Read More »
Moniz, Nunn release statement on preventing nuclear war, arms race
Former U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA) and Former Secretary of Energy under the Obama administration Ernest J. Moniz, co-founders of the Nuclear Threat Initiative, said they applaud the position of world leaders that a nuclear war “cannot be won,” in a statement Monday. The statement comes in... Read More »
Lockheed Martin details F-35 program’s progression
Lockheed Martin officials are detailing the F-35 fighter jet program's progression, noting the continued expansion of its global footprint and operational capabilities enhancement. "The F-35 joint enterprise team continues to provide unmatched combat capability to the 21st-century battlespace... Read More »
Sens. Burr, Blunt request information from HHS concerning COVID-19 testing shortage
In a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, U.S. Sens. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Roy Blunt (R-MO) requested explanations for the nation’s COVID-19 testing shortages amid rising omicron variant infection cases. Specifically, they blasted the Biden... Read More »
Bipartisan amendment pushes analysis of federal government’s vaccine logistics, increased global supply
Through an amendment (H.R. 4350) to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed last week, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) guaranteed a new federal study for the logistics of distributing COVID-19 doses abroad and ensuring vaccine... Read More »