News
Pfizer begins Phase 1 study of oral antiviral therapeutic for use against SARS-CoV-2
Encouraged by its success against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses in test-tube studies, Pfizer Inc. has launched a phase one study of healthy adults to determine if multiple ascending doses of an oral antiviral therapeutic could be effective against COVID-19. PF-07321332 is a protease... Read More »
Congress eyes domestic terrorism law
Lawmakers began laying the groundwork for domestic terrorism legislation that would explicitly bar certain violent and/or hate groups and acts occurring in the United States, much the way that current legislation bars international acts of terrorism and violence. “As we sit here today, we are... Read More »
Sen. Capito visits Customs and Border Protection training facilities
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V), ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, visited the U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) training facilities in West Virginia Monday. Capito visited the training facilities in Summit Point, W.V, and the Advanced... Read More »
DOD advances nuclear microreactor prototype design process
Department of Defense (DOD) officials have proceeded with transportable advanced nuclear microreactor prototype design initiatives through two contract options. Teams led by BWXT Advanced Technologies, LLC, of Lynchburg, Va., and X-energy, LLC, of Greenbelt, Md., were selected from a preliminary... Read More »
House Republicans outline plan to counter China threat to United States
Rep. John Katko (R-NY), lead Republican of the House Homeland Security Committee, recently highlighted the great powers’ competition between the United States and China and how the homeland security mission plays a heightened critical role. House Republicans maintain China will be the chief... Read More »
DHS taps University of Washington to create criteria for COVID-19 digital contact tracing app testing
The Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded $959,305 to the University of Washington’s Applied Physics Laboratory this week to create testing criteria for a COVID-19 digital contact tracing app. The award was granted through the Silicon... Read More »
CARB-X funders release plan development guide to tackle threat of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
A Stewardship and Access Plan Development Guide for countering the spread of antibiotic-resistant superbugs was developed and released this week by CARB-X, some of its leading funders and major antibacterial researchers. The Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator... Read More »
Independent board questions AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine data
AstraZeneca, already racked with setbacks in the European Union, faced another crisis in its COVID-19 vaccine efforts on Tuesday when the U.S. Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) expressed concerns that recent trial data released by the company is outdated. The focus of concern is AZD1222,... Read More »
President Biden expresses support for COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) commended President Joe Biden for his statement of support for the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. The legislation seeks to combat ongoing anti-Asian racism and violence and all other types of hate related to the coronavirus. Meng introduced the bill, with U.S. Senator... Read More »
Sens. Smith, Young introduce One Health legislation to combat disease outbreaks
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-MN) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a bill that would improve coordination among government agencies when studying animal and human health to prevent disease outbreaks. Specifically, the Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act would require the... Read More »
TSA aids Connecticut drone detection testing
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel recently joined Connecticut and New York law enforcement and police departments in aiding the Connecticut State Police (CSP) with drone detection testing. “If you want to fully neutralize the threat from a drone, you need to locate... Read More »
Bipartisan, bicameral legislation seeks to support federal firefighters
Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Jon Tester (D-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) reintroduced legislation last week designed to support federal firefighters by correcting disparity between federal firefighters and state, local and municipal... Read More »
Rep. Luetkemeyer introduces bill to permanently crackdown on illicit fentanyl
A new bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO) last week, the Stopping Illicit Fentanyl Trafficking Act, seeks to permanently schedule all illicit fentanyl and remove concerns surrounding the pending expiration of a temporary Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) effort. “One of... Read More »
AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine 79 percent effective against symptomatic COVID-19 in U.S. study
As the debate over AstraZeneca’s AZD1222 COVID-19 vaccine rages in Europe, the results of a phase three trial in the United States have shown the vaccine to be 79 percent effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and 100 percent effective at preventing severe cases and hospitalization. The... Read More »
Rep. Carter reintroduces bill to establish, expand state strategic stockpiles
U.S. Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA) reintroduced legislation that would establish and expand state strategic stockpiles Thursday. The legislation, H.R. 2006, would help states prepare for future events like the COVID-19 pandemic, the Congressman said. "The COVID-19 pandemic made it... Read More »
House Homeland Security Committee advances seven bills
The House Committee on Homeland Security advanced seven pieces of legislation this week, including bills that would secure critical infrastructure networks, enhance air travel safety during COVID-19 and future pandemics, improve information sharing, and support first responders. One of the bills... Read More »
Session targets biological threats reduction
Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) and Munich Security Conference (MSC) personnel recently collaborated to convene 19 current and former global leaders and experts to address reducing high-consequence biological threats. The endeavor was offered in conjunction with the MSC’s “Beyond... Read More »
Researchers: Vaccines alone may not control pandemic
Two Georgetown University infectious disease experts maintain vaccines alone may not be enough to control the COVID-19 pandemic. Angela L. Rasmussen and Saskia V. Popescu, faculty affiliates of the university's Center for Global Health Science and Security, noted that protecting against the... Read More »
Republicans on House E&C Committee urge NIH to join investigation into COVID-19 origins
Pointing the finger firmly at China in the throes of the COVID-19 pandemic, Republican leaders on the House Energy and Commerce (E&C) Committee have written to the National Institutes of Health, urging its experts to join them in an independent investigation of the disease’s origins. As the... Read More »
IDSA, health partners call on House leaders to increase federal investments for antimicrobial resistance fight
Warning that antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest public health threats of the age, the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and several partner organizations wrote to House leaders last week urging them to create a comprehensive One Health approach to counter the rising... Read More »
U.S. Department of Commerce to expand restrictions on Russian exports in response to poisoning
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) announced Wednesday that it will expand its export restrictions on Russia in response to a March 2, 2021, determination by the Secretary of State that the country’s government had used chemical or biological weapons against... Read More »
Agencies release domestic violent extremism report findings
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), Department of Justice (DOJ), and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) personnel have released an unclassified summary assessing domestic violent extremism. The National Counterterrorism Center, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and DHS... Read More »
FBI report assesses 2020 internet crimes
The FBI's recently released 2020 Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) annual report, the top three crimes reported by victims in last year were phishing scams, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and extortion. Authorities indicated the report stems from 791,790 complaints of suspected internet... Read More »
WHO, EMA reaffirm safety of AstraZeneca vaccine following EU suspensions
Following the suspension of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine by several European countries this week, owing to reports of rare types of blood clots emerging among the vaccinated, the World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended that vaccinations continue. While the European Union suspensions... Read More »
FDA grants first marketing authorization for a COVID-19 diagnostic test beyond current emergency
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted this week marketing authorization of the BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1, allowing it to become the first SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic able to be marketed past the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. BioFire Respiratory Panel 2.1 is a test by BioFire Diagnostics... Read More »
U.S. Senators Grassley, Leahy offer bipartisan bill to tackle EB-5 program fraud, abuse
Bipartisan legislation introduced on Thursday by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) would provide a five-year reauthorization of the EB-5 Regional Center Program, which is set to expire in June, and lays out potential integrity measures designed to prevent program fraud and... Read More »
Moderna announces first doses of COVID-19 vaccine being tested on children
Moderna announced Tuesday that it has started its study of the COVID-19 vaccine in children. Called the KidCOVE study, Moderna began Phase 2/3 of its study by administering the vaccine in children from 6 months to less than 12 years of age. The study is being done in collaboration with the... Read More »
DHS, other agencies assess federal election integrity
Department of Homeland Security personnel recently joined the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency in assessing findings regarding federal election integrity. The findings from a joint report to the President issued... Read More »
Bill seeks to create federal penalties for criminals targeting law enforcement
Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) joined 16 colleagues to introduce this week legislation designed to create federal penalties for individuals deliberately targeting local, state, or federal law enforcement officers with violence. The Protect and Serve Act would make it a federal crime to knowingly cause,... Read More »
Roche releases test for SARS-CoV-2 variants
Roche recently announced the launch of a new cobas SARS-CoV-2 Variant Set 1 Test to detect and differentiate between viral variants, recognizing the growing prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, such as those first seen in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. “Viruses naturally evolve... Read More »
AstraZeneca reaches agreement with U.S. government to supply up to 500,000 additional COVID-19 antibody treatment doses
AstraZeneca announced plans this week to supply up to 500,000 additional doses of AZD7442, an under-development, long-acting antibody combination meant for use against COVID-19, modifying an existing agreement with the U.S. government. Specifically, the agreement was reached with the Departments... Read More »
Chicago EB-5 fraud cases put pressure on Senate Judiciary Chairman Durbin
U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, potentially has an EB-5 program fraud problem in his Chicago backyard. The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, named for the employment-based fifth preference visa that participants receive, is an... Read More »
GAO: CISA needs organizational changes for more effective cybersecurity
A new report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) finds that until the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA) fully implements its organization plan, it may put the country at risk for identifying and responding to cyberattacks. The GAO said legislation in 2018 elevated... Read More »
Tompkins appointed new DARPA director
Stefanie Tompkins is the new Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) director. Tompkins, who possesses nearly eleven years of DARPA service, is the 23rd person to hold the post, noting the former Army military intelligence officer has an exceptional understanding of the agency’s... Read More »