Threats
Bipartisan, bicameral push yields legislation to increase Tribal public health access, preparedness
With the introduction of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act, a bipartisan collection of senators has made a bicameral push to increase Tribal public health security and preparedness through greater access to CDC resources. U.S.... Read More »
Senate committee advances legislation offering federal cybersecurity resources for commercial satellites
The Satellite Cybersecurity Act, authored by U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX), advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee last week, raising the possibility of federal resources for cybersecurity on private commercial satellites. Peters is... Read More »
WHO releases strategy to equitably scale up use of genomic surveillance for pathogens
Within 10 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) sees a path to increase the use of and access to genomic surveillance for monitoring and analyzing pathogens through a strategy targeting inequities and leveraging existing capacities. Genomic surveillance is a process whereby pathogens are... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster support for Baltic allies
U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) recently introduced the Baltic Defense and Deterrence Act, which seeks to enhance support for Baltic allies by codifying the U.S. Department of State's Baltic Security Initiative. “The tragic events of the last month have taught us once... Read More »
U.S. Chamber of Commerce urges action regarding retail crime
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has forwarded correspondence to four entities, encouraging action regarding retail theft and organized retail crime negatively impacting communities and businesses nationwide. The organization has sent letters to Congress, the National Governors Association, the... Read More »
Sens. Grassley, Feinstein introduce legislation to update, reauthorize Trafficking Victims Protection Act
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) jointly introduced legislation to reauthorize existing programs and create new ones dedicated to halting human trafficking, supporting victims, and increasing federal response and coordination on the matter. Touted by Feinstein as... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators seek specifics of U.S. aid for Ukraine
A full quarter of the U.S. Senate wrote to White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan this week, requesting details on the speed, composition, and supply of lethal aid being delivered to Ukraine to counter the Russian invasion. Approximately one month ago, Russia invaded its western... Read More »
DOE National Nuclear Security Administration requests $21.4B for FY 2023 budget
In releasing President Joe Biden’s Fiscal Year 2023 budget request, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has requested $21.4 billion for 2023 to modernize, innovate and maintain its deterrence capabilities simultaneously. Weapons... Read More »
TSA outlines proposed FY 2023 budget appropriations
The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) said $9.70 billion in proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Budget appropriations have been earmarked for the agency. The figure represents $1.4 billion more than the TSA’s FY22 appropriations. Once approved by Congress, it is slated to support... Read More »
Republican senators scrutinize DHS over southern border policies, potential reversal of Title 42
A group of Republican senators wrote the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) this week to criticize current border policies and urge additional information ahead of a potential revocation of U.S. Title 42. The senators noted the possible problems a reversal of Title 42 policy, which allows... Read More »
Bill urges for reauthorization of Global Magnitsky sanctions against human rights violators
A group of Republican senators introduced legislation last week that seeks to reauthorize the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act for 12 years, until December 31, 2034. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Tom Cotton (R-AR), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ron Johnson (R-WI), James Lankford... Read More »
Smiths Detection to supply TSA explosive detection systems
Threat detection and security screening technology firm Smiths Detection has been selected to supply 47 CTX 9800 DSi explosive detection systems to the Transport Security Administration (TSA). “We are delighted to announce this new order to supply our CTX 9800 DSi systems, which highlights... Read More »
NIST: Ultraviolet light capable of cleaning N95 masks for reuse
The life of N95 masks – a component in fighting the spread of COVID-19 – may be extendable for far longer than initially thought with the use of ultraviolet light, according to recent research from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). In a study published in the Journal... Read More »
OPCW Executive Council discusses nearly 98 percent destruction of chemical weapons achieved in United States
Members of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Executive Council attended a meeting in The Hague last week to assess the progress of chemical weapons destruction efforts in the United States as they hone in on completion. As a matter of demilitarization transparency,... Read More »
CISA, FBI and DOE warn of Russian cyber threats to critical U.S. infrastructure
Together, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and United States Department of Energy (DOE) recently warned that action is needed to counter the ongoing threat of state-sponsored Russian cyber operations to the U.S. energy sector and... Read More »
Republican senators push DOJ to reinstate China Initiative aimed at countering Chinese espionage
Criticizing the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to end the national program started under the Trump administration known as the China Initiative, eight Republican senators called on the department last week to reinstate moves to counter Chinese espionage and other activities. “If... Read More »
DHS S&T seeks to bolster flood preparedness, response efforts
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has issued a Flood Data Collection & Analysis solicitation to aid flood preparedness and response efforts. The solicitation via the agency's Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) seeks technology capable... Read More »
Rhode Island law enforcement personnel support active shooter legislation
The Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association (RIPCA) and Rhode Island law enforcement recently expressed support for U.S. Rep. David N. Cicilline's (D-RI) Active Shooter Alert Act (H.R.6538). Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha also supports the measure, which would create a program... Read More »
Moderna to request authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine testing for children under 6 following positive trial results
Interim data emerged this week from a Phase 2/3 trial of Moderna, Inc.’s mRNA-1273 COVID-19 vaccine on children between 6 months and 6 years old, demonstrating efficacy similar to usage on adults and with a generally well-tolerated profile. The KidCOVE trial provided participants with two 25... Read More »
Republicans urge Attorney General to crackdown on retail crime
Linking retail crime to organized crime and denouncing it as exploding across American cities, 16 Republican representatives wrote to United States Attorney General Merrick Garland this week, demanding a national strategy and fight against both. “One of the essential functions of our... Read More »
Bipartisan group of senators urge federal action to support private, public institutions against Russian cyberattacks
Fearing Russian cyberattacks as reprisal for support of Ukraine, a bipartisan collection of senators wrote to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week pushing for dedicated resources to aid private and public institutions. Led by U.S. Sen. John... Read More »
Reps. Katko, Comer express concerns regarding terrorist border apprehension
U.S. Reps. John Katko (R-NY) and James Comer (R-KY) expressed concerns to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding failure to disclose apprehension information for southern border terrorists. “We write to conduct oversight over the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS)... Read More »
Bill seeks human trafficking prevention efforts expansion
U.S. Reps. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Karen Bass (D-CA), and Nancy Mace (R-SC) recently introduced legislation that seeks to expand human trafficking prevention efforts. The Human Trafficking Prevention Act requires posting National Human Trafficking Hotline contact information... Read More »
FDA advisory committee to discuss future COVID-19 vaccine boosters next month
At a virtual meeting on April 6, 2022, the United States Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) will meet to address the future of COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and the process for selecting them for use against specific viral... Read More »
Legislation creating national plan to prevent methamphetamine addiction, overdose signed into law
Legislation introduced to create a national plan to combat the growth of the methamphetamine addiction and overdose crisis was recently signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Methamphetamine Response Act requires the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) to create and deploy a... Read More »
Sens. Boozman, Kennedy advocate bolstered Russian cyberattacks prevention efforts
U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-AR) and John Kennedy (R-LA) recently joined a group of colleagues advocating bolstered efforts that focus on preventing cyberattacks initiated by Russia or its representatives. Boozman and Kennedy and 11 other Senate members signed correspondence to Defense Secretary... Read More »
Congressional COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus in new press for response funding in any coronavirus package
In a letter sent to Congressional leadership, the co-chairs of the COVID-19 Global Vaccination Caucus urged the inclusion of $5 billion in global COVID-19 response funding with any COVID-19 supplemental package. This would shore up aid when USAID has said it will have fully obligated the funding... Read More »
TSA awards more than $781M for airport checkpoint CT x-ray scanners
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded two contracts worth a combined $781.2 million to procure and maintain base and full-size Computed Tomography (CT) x-ray systems for scanning carry-on items at airport checkpoints. This will result in 469 base and 469 full-size systems... Read More »
Republican senators introduce resolution bolstering Ukraine’s air defense
U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has joined nine colleagues in introducing a resolution encouraging the Biden administration to facilitate transferring aircraft that include MiG-29s to aid Ukraine's air defense systems. The resolution supports continued efforts by members of the North Atlantic... Read More »
Bill supports FEMA National Risk Index
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently introduced legislation that seeks to make permanent the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Risk Index (NRI) to aiding natural disaster vulnerable communities. The measure would also require FEMA to use data from... Read More »
Study demonstrates Soligenix COVID-19 booster vaccine capabilities against COVID-19, variants among non-human primates
In a study conducted on non-human primates, Soligenix, Inc.’s CiVax COVID-19 booster vaccine candidate produced increased neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 and its Delta Omicron variants. The results, released last week, showed the heat-stable vaccine candidate generated as much... Read More »
Legislation introduced to allow U.S. Fire Administration assistance for local investigations of major fires
Under a bill introduced to the House of Representatives this week, the Empowering the U.S. Fire Administration Act, four legislators proposed changes to federal legislation that would allow the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) to aid local firefighter investigations after major... Read More »
Measure targets ports of entry staffing shortages
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and John Cornyn (R-TX) recently reintroduced legislation to strengthen border security and address ports of entry personnel shortages. The Securing America’s Ports of Entry Act, which passed out of committee last Congress, would fully staff the nation's airports,... Read More »
Rep. Quigley praises passage of gun violence prevention measure
U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL) is commending President Joe Biden's signing of legislation introduced to bolster gun violence prevention efforts. The NICS Denial Notification Act was signed into law by Biden under the FY22 Omnibus package. It requires federal authorities to alert state and local... Read More »