Threats
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 »
Roche offers tests capable of identifying, differentiating between SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants
The more detail provided on a disease, the better for doctors to pursue proper treatment, and in that regard, Roche and its subsidiary TIB Molbiol announced this week that they have tests capable of identifying between the Delta variant and various Omicron subvariants of SARS-CoV-2. These tests... Read More »
DHS S&T requests new means to identify, counter threats to public safety
A new solicitation issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) this week sought modern means of identifying and mitigating threats to so-called soft targets: sports venues, shopping complexes, schools, and more. As a program, Securing... Read More »
Senate HELP Committee advances PREVENT Pandemics Act to floor in effort to strengthen U.S. health system
A new attempt to strengthen the U.S. public health, medical preparedness, and response system will have its day in the Senate, after it was voted forward in a 20-2 vote by the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. The Prepare for and Respond to Existing Viruses, Emerging New... Read More »
Sens. Peters, Portman tout infrastructure cybersecurity threat reporting provision
U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) are espousing the benefits of a critical infrastructure cybersecurity threat reporting provision signed into law as a part of the government funding legislation. Peters and Portman authored the provision requiring critical infrastructure... Read More »
CEPI provides nearly $1 million additional to icddr,b study of Nipah virus survivors
With an eye on potential vaccine development, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) announced this week that it will expand its partnership with Bangladesh’s icddr,b for a study into survivors of the deadly Nipah virus. This support will take the form of nearly $1 million... Read More »
CISA hosts 200 international organizations for Cyber Storm VIII cybersecurity exercise
Over three days last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) drew together more than 2,000 representatives from approximately 200 international organizations for an extensive cybersecurity exercise revolving around critical infrastructure: Cyber Storm VIII. “Over the... Read More »
Congressional Border Security Technology Caucus formed to modernize border
Four congressmen founded a new bipartisan Border Security Technology Caucus this week to keep Congress informed of available technologies to improve U.S. border security. It was created by U.S. Reps. Tony Gonzales (R-TX), Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN), Tim Ryan (D-OH), and Vicente Gonzalez... Read More »
Lawmakers seek DHS insight regarding Russian cyberthreat protections
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) joined 19 colleagues in sending correspondence to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, seeking information regarding agency efforts to protect the nation from Russian... Read More »
Republican lawmakers oppose Iranian Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
A group of 49 Republican Senators recently expressed to President Joe Biden they are not in favor of the revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran. “According to press reports, the Biden Administration may soon conclude an agreement with Iran to provide substantial sanctions relief... Read More »
DNI details biometric technology research initiative
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) research and development arm, the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), has initiated the Biometric Recognition & Identification at Altitude and Range (BRIAR) program. “National security technologies must accurately and reliably... Read More »
Sens. Hickenlooper, Cassidy introduce bill to modernize biosurveillance
U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced legislation Thursday that would modernize programs currently focused on surveilling and forecasting future pandemic-causing viruses. Called the Modernizing Biosurveillance Capabilities and Epidemic Forecasting Act, the bill... Read More »
Senate advances cybersecurity provision that would empower CISA and increase cyberattack reporting demands
The Senate advanced as part of the government funding legislation a provision from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) that would require cyber attacks on critical infrastructure to be reported and further federal oversight. Peters and Portman, chairman and ranking member of the... Read More »
DHS details domestic violent extremism report
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a report that seeks to assess efforts to maximize preventing, detecting, and responding to potential domestic violent extremism threats. “Every day, the more than 250,000 dedicated public servants at DHS work to ensure the safety... Read More »
Moderna doses first participant in Phase 2 study of Omicron booster vaccine
Dosing officially began last week in a Phase 2 trial of Moderna’s COVID-19 Omicron variant-specific, bivalent booster vaccine candidate. Known currently as mRNA-1273.214, the candidate combines another Omicron booster candidate with Moderna’s official COVID-19 vaccine, mRNA-1273. "We are... Read More »
U.S.-Mexico law enforcement collaboration takes down human smuggling operation
The U.S. Department of Justice said a recent collaboration of U.S. and Mexican law enforcement resulted in an enforcement operation dismantling a transnational human smuggling organization in Nogales, Sonora. “The Attorney General established Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA) to address the threat... Read More »
Trust for America’s Health report urges investment into public health system as readiness falls
In a new report released this week, the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) called out gaps in states’ emergency response capabilities and advocated for urgent investment in a new public health system. The report, Ready or Not 2022: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases,... Read More »
DHS S&T awards $24M contract to Auburn University to aid development of Detection Canine Program
The Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine (AUCVM) has been awarded a five-year, $24 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) canine development contract. “Canines are an important tool in support of the S&T mission to prevent and respond... Read More »
NIAID begins 100 person trial of systemic allergic reactions to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines
Researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) began a clinical trial this week investigating rare but potentially serious systemic allergic reactions to COVID-19 mRNA vaccines. “People who experienced an allergic reaction after receiving a COVID-19 mRNA... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster border security initiatives on Tribal Lands
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) said the House of Representatives' advancement of the Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act (H.R. 5681) represents wins for border security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Katko is ranking member of the House Committee on Homeland Security and introduced the... Read More »
House Omnibus adds major grant fund increase for protection of nonprofits, houses of worship
In a move hailed by U.S. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, the bipartisan Omnibus Appropriations Agreement for FY 2022 now includes an increase of funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to $250 million. The funding, representing a 39... Read More »
Sens. Warner, Kaine applaud resolution condemning HBCU bomb threats
U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) applauded the Senate's recent passage of a resolution condemning a recent series of bomb threats against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Warner and Kaine indicated the resolution, spearheaded by U.S. Sens. Chris Coons... Read More »
Bill targets fraudulent gun sales
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA) recently introduced the Stopping the Fraudulent Sales of Firearms Act, which seeks to prevent gun sellers from circumventing technology companies’ terms of service by prohibiting fraudulent sales of... Read More »
World governments, organizations pledge more than $1.53B for CEPI’s 100 Days Mission
According to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), its effort to produce safe and effective vaccines within 100 days of an identified epidemic or pandemic threat has garnered $1.535 billion from world governments and organizations. The 100 Days Mission is a five-year plan... Read More »
U.S. Rep. Krishnamoorthi leads bipartisan letter of support for greater global vaccination funding
Joined by nine of his colleagues, U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) wrote to House Appropriations Committee leaders this week requesting additional financial support for global vaccination efforts to end the COVID-19 pandemic and strengthen international relations. The effort is, at least in... Read More »
Bipartisan group of legislators call for Putin war crimes accountability
A bipartisan group of legislators recently introduced a Senate resolution calling for Russian President Vladimir Putin and members of his regime to be held accountable for various war crimes in the wake of the nation's Ukraine invasion. U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Roger Marshall (R-KS)... Read More »
Reps. Kim, Slotkin target Chinese support for Russia’s Ukraine invasion with DICTATOR Act
With the introduction of the DICTATOR Act to the House this week, U.S. Reps. Young Kim (R-CA) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) are pushing for investigations into whether the Chinese government is helping Russia evade international sanctions linked to its invasion of Ukraine. While most nations agreed... Read More »