News
Moderna announces plans to supply COVID-19 vaccines to African Union
Moderna Inc. announced Monday it had a new memorandum of understanding to make up to 110 million doses of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine available to the African Union. The company said it is prepared to deliver the first 15 million doses in the fourth quarter of 2021, with 35 million doses... Read More »
CDC pledges $26M for development of advanced infectious disease forecasting, analytics
With the investment of $26 million announced this week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) hopes to modernize the science of infectious disease prediction and analytics. The first investments from CDC’s Center for Forecasting and Outbreak Analytics (CFA) -- which is expected... Read More »
House Republicans tout bills seeking to address homeland security improvements
House Committee on Homeland Security lawmakers said the panel has advanced 12 measures to bolster homeland security, which includes five Homeland Republican bills. “Homeland Republicans continue to deliver results for the American people aimed at strengthening our homeland security and... Read More »
HAVANA Act funding included in appropriations bill
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) announced the inclusion of HAVANA Act funding in the draft Department of Defense Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2022. The bill authored by Collins authorizes the CIA Director and Secretary of State to provide additional financial support for American public... Read More »
Trahan, McKinley BIO Act to be featured in House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing
Legislation from U.S. Reps. Lori Trahan (D-MA) and David B. McKinley (R-WV) will be considered in an upcoming hearing hosted by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, the legislators said Monday. The Bolstering Infectious Outbreaks (BIO) Preparedness Workforce Act... Read More »
HHS to invest $70M to accelerate COVID-19 test developers regulatory progress, revise regulatory path overall
As part of ongoing efforts to increase COVID-19 test access, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced this week that it would trigger major investments into accelerating the regulatory pathway for at-home COVID-19 tests and hopes to revise the regulatory pathway... Read More »
Bill seeks to limit domestic terrorists from holding security clearances
U.S. Reps. Liz Cheney (R-WY) and Jason Crow (D-CO) introduced legislation this week limiting domestic terrorists from holding security clearances in the wake of the FBI announcing it has nearly tripled its domestic terrorism caseload. The No Clearance For Domestic Terrorists Act (H.R. 5513)... Read More »
Moderna COVID-19 vaccine produces strong immune response in children ages 6 to 11, new data says
According to top line data from a Phase 2/3 study of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine among children ages 6-11, released this week, the company determined that two doses given a month apart produced a strong antibody response -- stronger, even, than those seen in adults. Conducted in collaboration... Read More »
Biden administration ramps up whole-government approach to address global health threats
The Biden-Harris administration has reprioritized global health security at the top of America’s national security agenda in efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and bolster health systems worldwide by improving preparation, prevention, detection, and response to the next public health... Read More »
Lawmakers urge domestic lead on global immunizations
U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), John Thune (R-SD), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) forwarded correspondence last week to President Joe Biden encouraging the United States to take the global lead regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and pandemic combating efforts. “We urge you in the... Read More »
Reps. Katko, Cuellar propose improvements to Shadow Wolves authority
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced bipartisan legislation Friday that would improve Shadow Wolves officers’ ability to stop illicit activity on tribal lands. The Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act would allow officers to be reclassified as special agents, giving them... Read More »
Bill addresses cyber incident response planning
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced legislation last week that would require the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess its cyber incident response plans and procedures. The DHS Roles and Responsibilities in Cyber Space Act's original co-sponsors were three members of the... Read More »
NSA, Maryland form new cybersecurity partnership to address data policies, security
Through a new cybersecurity fellowship announced last week by the State of Maryland and the National Security Agency (NSA), the partners intend to pursue best data practices, policies, standards, and security. As part of this arrangement, NSA senior data analyst Jason Jabers joined Gov. Larry... Read More »
HHS invests more than $562M into manufacturing of domestic COVID-19 tests
In recent weeks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has invested more than $562 million into U.S. companies to boost domestic manufacturing of COVID-19 tests and supplies. These funds, pulled from the American Rescue Plan Act, have benefited supplies such as pipette tips,... Read More »
Bill seeks to avert biomedical research threats
U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA) has introduced a bill he said seeks to protect from foreign threats biomedical research conducted or funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH). The Securing and Fortifying Everyday Biomedical Research Act (SAFE Biomedical Research Act - H.R. 5626) would ensure... Read More »
Novartis expands Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine support
Novartis officials said the company has established an agreement leveraging its manufacturing capacity and capabilities to address the COVID-19 pandemic by expanding Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine support. The agreement targets the fill and finish of more than 50 million doses in 2021 at the Novartis... Read More »
LLNL joins Human Vaccines Project to accelerate vaccine development
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) announced it had joined the international Human Vaccines Project (HVP) Thursday, bringing its expertise and computing resources to the project to aid the development of a universal coronavirus vaccine and to improve understanding of immune response.... Read More »
Bill targets continued federal anti-terrorism support
U.S. Reps. Val Demings (D-FL) and Don Bacon (R-NE) last week introduced legislation to create a plan to continue federal anti-terrorism support for Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI)-funded homeland security capabilities. The Homeland Security Capabilities Preservation Act (H.B. 5615) directs... Read More »
Gates Foundation pledges up to $120M to spur access to COVID-19 drug molnupiravir for low-income countries
Recognizing the delays that have plagued low-income countries at nearly every aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced this week a pledge of up to $120 million to accelerate access to the antiviral drug molnupiravir among low-income nations. Molnupiravir is... Read More »
House advances Secure Equipment Act
House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and U.S. Rep. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) applauded their U.S. House of Representatives colleagues for advancing the Secure Equipment Act. The measure prohibits the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing or issuing new equipment licenses... Read More »
BARDA accepting applications for at-home COVID-19 diagnostics, technologies
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) announced a new solicitation this week for the development of rapid and affordable at-home SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, as well as supportive technologies to further more widespread, decentralized testing for COVID-19. In reaching... Read More »
CISA awards $2M for cybersecurity workforce training
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) officials announced that two organizations have secured awards totaling $2 million to develop cybersecurity workforce training programs. NPower and CyberWarrior will focus on the unemployed and underemployed, urban and rural underserved... Read More »
FDA expands use of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses in eligible populations
On Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took action to expand the use of a booster dose for COVID-19 vaccines in eligible populations. “Today’s actions demonstrate our commitment to public health in proactively fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting FDA... Read More »
House approves sweeping bipartisan bill to revamp Strategic National Stockpile
The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday voted 397-22 to approve a bipartisan bill that aims to reform how the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is administered and managed. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The Strengthening America’s Strategic National... Read More »
WHO recommends seven policies to build health system resilience, renew health security
In a new position paper, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted the setbacks and failures faced worldwide during the COVID-19 pandemic and highlighted seven means for nations to begin building a more resilient and secure health system. These recommendations include: Utilizing... Read More »
Bill seeks to enhance wildfire combating efforts
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA) introduced Tuesday the Military Support for Fighting Wildfires Act, which seeks to bolster wildfire combating efforts. Garamendi joined U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-CA) and Salud Carbajal (D-CA) in delivering the bill for consideration. The legislation seeks to... Read More »
Sen. Wicker advocates naval ship fleet requirement
During a recent Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Deputy Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Defense, Sasha Baker, affirmed a U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker's (R-MS) naval fleet requirement advocacy. A hearing exchange resulted in Baker expressing... Read More »
Phase 3 results of Valneva COVID-19 vaccine candidate show high antibody response, tolerability
Results arrived this week for a Phase 3 trial of Valneva SE’s COVID-19 vaccine candidate, VLA2001, and they revealed neutralizing antibody activity greater than 95 percent, along with broad T-cell responses and significant tolerability. It was reported that the inactivated, adjuvanted vaccine... Read More »
Rep. Portman seeks answers from Customs and Border Protection nominee on crisis at Southern Border
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), the ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, grilled Tucson Police Chief Chris Magnus, President Joe Biden’s nominee for Commissioner of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), on the need for enhanced border security... Read More »
DHS provides 24/7 hotline for modeling and analysis of chemical hazards during severe weather
Recognizing the additional level of dangerous chemical hazards brought on by storm-damaged infrastructure could cause, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is providing a 24/7 hotline to address a variety of threats and how they could... Read More »
Lockheed Martin secures Army tactical vehicle contract
Lockheed Martin has secured a $9,672,781 Army Project Agreement to continue developing the Terrestrial Layer System (TLS) program for the branch's tactical vehicles. The action via the Army's Consortium Management Group (CMG)/Consortium for Command, Control, and Communications in Cyberspace (C5)... Read More »
Sen. Murray promotes $1.85B budget increase for CDC, public health funding amidst pandemic
Fed up with the dangers of an unprepared and underfunded public health system, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) voiced support this week for a fiscal year 2022 bill that would increase Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) funding by $1.85 billion. The bill, released by the Labor, Health... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Peters introduce bipartisan legislation to combat human trafficking
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI), the ranking member and chair of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced legislation Monday designed to enhance the country’s ability to combat the rise of human trafficking. The Countering Human Trafficking Act... Read More »
Justice Department outlines defense contractor bribery charge
U.S. Department of Justice officials said the chief executive officer (CEO) of Multinational Logistics Services (MLS) is facing a criminal charge for alleged participation in a bribery scheme. Frank S. Rafaraci is an American citizen living abroad. Authorities cited a criminal complaint alleging... Read More »