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Threats
The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) warned this week that President Donald Trump’s 2020 budget proposal not only neglects but actively undermines investments necessary to maintain immediate and long-term responses to infectious disease threats.
The organization lauded the $58... Read More »
The Department of
Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory
(JPL) are researching Internet of Things (IoT) as it relates to emergency
communications for first responders.
S&T is
testing a multicomponent communications system... Read More »
INTERPOL and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT) held a three-day workshop last month for law enforcement from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, meant to train them on means of countering internet and social media use by terrorists.
In all, 15 participants... Read More »
As a means of targeting gangs and violent crime, a pair of North Carolina lawmakers are advocating additional funding for the Middle District of the state's U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Richard Burr (R-NC) recently forwarded correspondence to Jim Crowell, director of... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) officers in Laredo, Texas, recently intercepted an alleged cocaine smuggling effort yielding a $109,000 forfeiture.
The March 5 seizure at the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge stemmed from a CBP officer referring a... Read More »
An influenza season forecasting challenge issued annually by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shown the value of cooperation among international researchers working to forecast influenza outbreaks.
The influenza season forecasting challenge is one issued annually by... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to combat Russian influence while creating economic opportunities at home and abroad.
Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) said the European... Read More »
Sen. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently introduced the Anti-Border Corruption Improvement Act, which she said is designed to quicken the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hiring process.
McSally said the bill eliminates the polygraph test, which officials said is a requirement in the CBP hiring... Read More »
A new vaccine candidate for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been designed from nanoparticles, and its efficacy against the illness in mice and monkeys has opened the path to human trials.
RSV is respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms in most people, and has a relatively... Read More »
The Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is seeking innovative technologies and
methodologies to map and survey subterranean environments for its Subterranean
Challenge.
Most underground environments are either uncharted or
inadequately mapped. The technologies could improve... Read More »
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said the agency's Chicago Field Office (CFO) set a record number of seizures during fiscal year 2018.
CBP authorities said in fiscal year 2018, the CFO intercepted more than 24,000 packages of narcotics while weighing more than 30,000 pounds in mail... Read More »
Gaps have emerged in the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) efforts to create and maintain a cyber operation, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which has released a series of recommendations on the topic.
The DOD Cyber Mission Force (CMF) is dedicated to defending U.S.... Read More »
House Minority
Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), co-chairman of the Congressional Valley Fever Task
Force, held a Valley Fever roundtable on Wednesday, hosting scientists
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and National
Institutes of Health (NIH), doctors, patient... Read More »
An international team of researchers have statistically predicted where mosquitoes will spread through the use of 35 years of data and 17 climate change models.
That spread data includes everything from short to long-term timeframes and, the scientists note, is precise within 5x5 kilometers.... Read More »
The Department of
Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have collaborated to develop the
Opacity and Complexity Analysis Software Tool (OCAST).
OCAST will be
used to assist X-ray operators in determining possible... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced a bill
last week that would expand federal background checks for gun purchases and
transfers.
The Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 was approved
by a vote of 240-190 with only 8 Republicans supporting it. It now moves to the
Senate for action.... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently introduced Singh’s Law, a measure designed to prevent known gang members and those convicted of dangerous crimes from entering the country.
Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA)... Read More »
Scientists from the Texas Biomedical Research Institute are developing a new approach to tuberculosis (TB) protection -- one that provides a better, safer defense and is deliverable by spray instead of shot.
These represent major changes to the vaccine, but the scientists are seeking to... Read More »
The U.S. Customs
and Border Protection (CBP) ports of entry in Arizona are urging travelers to
prepare for the upcoming Spring Break by enrolling in trusted traveler programs
and using Ready Lanes.
Non-immigrant
visa, passport holders are urged to apply for tourist permits online.
To use... Read More »
Battelle, an applied science and technology nonprofit
company, recently sent two employees to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to
provide training to local healthcare officials in dealing with the Ebola Virus.
Ebola remains a significant health issue in Africa. The
nation is currently... Read More »
A group of legislators introduced last week a measure designed to bolster greater cyber transparency, security, and data privacy initiatives.
Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), John Kennedy (R-LA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) said the Cybersecurity Disclosure Act of 2019... Read More »
Air Force officials said cyber domain restructuring efforts will aid in achieving the overarching goal of streamlining oversight, policy, and guidance.
The branch is merging its headquarters staffs to integrate intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance with cyber effects operations. The... Read More »
Human vulnerability remains a major opening for cybersecurity incidents, according to a 2019 incident response report released last week by BAE Systems.
The report surveyed numerous organizations through engagement with board level executives, IT decision makers, and information security... Read More »
Several units of reserve Marines conducted simulated
training during Night Watch, a Marine Air Command and Control System exercise, last
month.
During the simulation, the reservists trained in a scenario that
involved degraded communication. This situation could happen during a
cybersecurity... Read More »
Several groups, including the National Sheriff’s
Association, voiced their support for a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton
(R-AR) that would bar aliens associated with a criminal gang and convicted of a
crime from entering the United States.
The bill, called Singh's law, says aliens... Read More »
A group of lawmakers recently petitioned the Justice Department to implement information from requisite agencies via the Fix NICS Act, which requires steps to assess progress in database correction.
Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Dianne... Read More »
Reps. Will Hurd (R-TX), Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) introduced last week a measure designed to streamline and amend the overtime payment process, enabling border patrol personnel greater compensation flexibility.
The Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Amendment Act of 2019... Read More »
In a letter released this week, more than 400 physicians and scientists called on Congress to increase the nation’s funding for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria.
The United States is the largest contributor to the fund to date, comprising a third of total funding.... Read More »
The United States is not as prepared as it could be in key areas of public health disaster management, according to a recently issued report by Trust for America’s Health.
In Ready or Not: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism, the report’s authors... Read More »
Emergent BioSolutions announced today
that the company has signed a deal with the U.S. Department of State to
establish a supply chain for certain medical countermeasures that address
chemical warfare agents.
The five-year, indefinite-delivery,
indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract includes five... Read More »
Lockheed Martin officials are preparing a pair of Sikorsky-built HH-60W Combat Rescue Helicopters (CRH) for flight tests at the facility's West Palm Beach site in Florida.
“Having these initial HH-60W helicopters in West Palm Beach for flight test is an exciting time for the Sikorsky team,”... Read More »
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently assessed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts to enhance the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, offering input on progress and challenges.
The GAO recommended the department identify high-risk chemical... Read More »
The Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and biopharmaceutical company CureVac AG recently announced a partnership worth up to $34 million for the development of a vaccine-boosting creation known as The RNA Printer.
The RNA Printer is a mobile, automated printing facility for... Read More »
Several federal government agencies, including the
Department of Homeland Security, introduced a program this week called the
Opioid Detection Challenge, a $1.55 million competition to develop opioid
detection technologies.
The Opioid Detection Challenge calls upon innovators
to submit plans... Read More »
The U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command Life
Cycle Management Command recently placed a $75 million order with Oshkosh
Defense, a tactical wheeled vehicles and life cycle sustainment services
company.
The order is for 354 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
(FMTV) A1P2 trucks and... Read More »
