News
WHO approves China’s Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use globally
The World Health Organization (WHO) added the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine produced by Beijing Bio-Institute of Biological Products Co Ltd. to the list of vaccines approved for emergency use worldwide last week, giving a potential new source and new boost for efforts by the COVAX... Read More »
GAO report: Nuclear triad nearing end-of-life dates, government replacement plans necessary
A new report by the General Accountability Office (GAO) found that most of the U.S. nuclear triad is nearing or past their planned end-of-life dates and that the Departments of Defense and Energy must plan their replacements carefully. The report found that most of the nuclear triad, three... Read More »
Reps. Curtis, Neguse lead effort supporting nationwide wildfire preparedness, mitigation
The Bipartisan Wildfire Caucus is encouraging Congress to fund Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill programming supporting nationwide enhanced wildfire preparedness, mitigation, and response. U.S. Reps. John Curtis (R-UT) and Joe Neguse (D-CO) are leading Caucus members in urging the... Read More »
Lawmakers urge continued 3D firearms regulatory controls
A group of lawmakers recently requested that the Biden administration keep regulatory controls in place over three-dimensional (3-D) printable firearms and prevent online sales. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA) spearheaded the correspondence effort, which stems from a... Read More »
Bloomberg Philanthropies grants awarded to 18 cities in low and middle-income countries for vaccine distribution efforts
Bloomberg Philanthropies will award up to $50,000 each to 18 cities in low and middle-income countries that are part of the Partnership for Healthy Cities and planning vaccine distribution rollouts with high-risk populations emphasized. Vaccine preparedness activities, including communication... Read More »
Newly established Global Task Force on Pandemic Response to provide immediate assistance to India
A new United States-based public-private partnership, the Global Task Force on Pandemic Response, announced last week that it will work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s U.S.-India Business Council and the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership to lend immediate aid to India’s COVID-19... Read More »
Congress members call on drug companies to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines
U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined other members of Congress to call on Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson to expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine globally. In a letter sent on May 5, Merkley, along with Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and... Read More »
SIGA proposing intravenous TPOXX formulation
The commercial-stage pharmaceutical company SIGA Technologies, Inc. has filed a New Drug Application (NDA) with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the intravenous formulation (IV) of TPOXX. The proposed NDA to treat human smallpox disease in adults and pediatric patients is the same as... Read More »
Sen. Portman, Rep. Katko express concerns regarding violence around federal facilities
U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) and U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) recently raised concerns regarding a rise in the number of assaults on federal law enforcement officers and government facilities. The legislators forwarded correspondence this week to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary... Read More »
Novavax COVID-19 vaccine 55 percent effective against South African variant
In an initial primary analysis of the Phase 2b trial of COVID-19 vaccine NVX-CoV-2373, a New England Journal of Medicine-published report revealed that the vaccine provided approximately 55 percent efficacy to non-HIV patients when pitted against the South African variant, B.1.351. The Novavax,... Read More »
Boosters of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine well-tolerated, effective against SARS-CoV-2 and two variants
Moderna, Inc. reported initial data this week showing that in phase two testing, its mRNA COVID-19 vaccine proved effective and well-tolerated as a booster or a single 50 µg dose on the previously vaccinated, against both the original SARS-CoV-2 strain and two variants of concern. In all, three... Read More »
WHO Director-General praises U.S. call to temporarily waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines
Hoping to get vaccines out into the world soon, the Biden administration this week called for a temporary waiver on intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines, earning commendations from WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and others. “This is a monumental moment in the... Read More »
Democratic senators urge President Biden to resume selection of new FBI headquarters
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), as well as Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), are urging President Joe Biden to resume the process of selecting a new home for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In a letter to the Biden administration, the four Congressmen... Read More »
CBP implements northern New York biometric facial comparison technology
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency has implemented biometric facial comparison technology at pedestrian border crossings at all the Northern New York ports of entry. Authorities noted the expanded scope includes Alexandria Bay, Ogdensburg, Massena, Trout River, Fort... Read More »
Bipartisan legislators support F-35 Fighter program
The Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Caucus announced this week strong bipartisan support for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Lawmakers have initiated an appropriations and authorization request for the program in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, emphasizing the need to maintain course towards full-rate... Read More »
Defense Intelligence director highlights competition from China, Russia in Senate hearing
Testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee for an annual Worldwide Threat Assessment hearing this week, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Director Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier called attention to the activities and competition offered by China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran. At a national... Read More »
Biden announces federal goal of 70 percent vaccination rate for U.S. adult population by July 4
President Joe Biden announced Tuesday a new federal goal to get at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot in 70 percent of the U.S. adult population and 160 million adults fully vaccinated by July 4, 2021. Accessibility is the main focus in the next leg of the vaccination effort. To that end, the... Read More »
Three BARDA scientists recognized for Ebola contributions
Three Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) scientists have been selected as finalists for the Service to America Medals during Public Service Recognition Week this year, the group announced Monday. David Boucher, Ph.D.; Dan Wolfe, Ph.D.; and John Lee, Ph.D., who... Read More »
Raytheon secures airport security screening agreement
Raytheon Intelligence & Space has secured a five-year, $318 million Transportation Security Administration (TSA) contract to expand checked baggage screening equipment deployment at federally managed airports. Raytheon Intelligence & Space is a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies and previously... Read More »
Bill bolsters first responder injury, death benefits
Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA) recently reintroduced a measure they said would enhance benefits for first responders injured or killed in the line of duty and their families. The Protecting America’s First Responders Act of 2021 would improve the Department of... Read More »
Pfizer pledges more than $70M worth of medicines to India amid COVID-19 crisis
Responding to the spiraling COVID-19 situation in India, Pfizer Inc. announced this week that it will provide more than $70 million worth of medicines to the country immediately, with assistance from government and non-governmental organization partners. “We are donating enough medicines to... Read More »
Novavax begins testing COVID-19 vaccine on adolescents as part of Phase 3 trial
As part of a phase three trial of the Novavax, Inc. COVID-19 vaccine, NVX-CoV2373, up to 3,000 volunteers between 12 and 17 years old will be dosed at up to 75 sites across the United States to determine potential pediatric applications. While the number of vaccines for adults has been growing,... Read More »
Sens. Portman, Cortez Masto introduce bill to combat Chinese influence on technology standards
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) introduced legislation to ensure the United States is positioned to lead international standards-setting Thursday. The bill would counter the Chinese government's influence and work to protect American jobs. Specifically, the... Read More »
Rep. Katko to steer American Security Task Force
Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) said Rep. John Katko (R-NY), ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, has been chosen to lead the American Security Task Force. “Bolstering our nation’s security is an integral part of Republicans’ legislative plan for when we win... Read More »
Rep. Higgins advocates northern border family unification
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) has issued an appeal to expand the definition of essential traveler related to the northern border, citing the need to allow families to reunite. Higgins, co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, recently spoke with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
DHS halts redirection of funds for US-Mexico border barrier projects, seeks to repair construction-caused damages
While the Biden administration still intends to pursue some form of the Southern Border wall, the redirection of any funding from other federal agencies for border barrier projects has been terminated. Declaring that the Trump administration’s previous border wall construction efforts created... Read More »
Moderna to supply up to 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX for use by low-income nations
The global COVAX initiative received a major boost in its fight against COVID-19 this week through a new deal with Moderna, Inc. that will bring up to 500 million doses of vaccine into the fold for use by the lowest income countries, including up to 34 million doses this year alone. Delivery of... Read More »
Reps. Fitzpatrick, Pascrell lead coalition demanding funding of police bulletproof vests
U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) join 26 members of the House to seek federal funding of the Patrick Leahy Bulletproof Vest Partnership (BVP) Grant Program. The grant program would provide $30 million in FY 2022 to help state and local law enforcement purchase... Read More »Bipartisan group of U.S. representatives support police funding initiative
A group of lawmakers recently requested increased funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. U.S. Reps. John Rutherford (R-FL) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chairs of the House Law... Read More »
U.S. senators request GAO review of wildlands firefighter workforce
A group of senators recently requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) assess federal firefighter hiring and retention at five agencies responsible for wildland fire management. U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in forwarding correspondence to... Read More »
More than 60 U.S. lawmakers urge House appropriators for more funds to address antimicrobial resistance
In a call backed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a bipartisan collection of more than 60 United States representatives wrote to House appropriators last week, asking for increased federal resources to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistant (AMR)... Read More »
NIH to invest another $29M in grants for COVID-19 research, outreach and treatment
Recognizing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on certain communities, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last week that it will fund an additional $29 million of grants for the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities. Supported by the American... Read More »
U.S. House lawmakers introduce bipartisan EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act
Two members of Congress this week introduced bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and improve oversight of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, the federal job-creation and economic development program set to expire June 30. “The reauthorization of the EB-5 program is critical to our nation’s... Read More »
Council on Strategic Risks urges federal support for defense program combating biological threats
When Ebola was a low priority for the private sector, the Department of Defense (DOD) was one of the few organizations that funded early-stage research and development on vaccines and treatments. The division of the DoD that played a critical role in that research was the Chemical and Biological... Read More »