Threats
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 »
DEA adds Kalamazoo to Detroit Field Division’s Operation Engage drug epidemic efforts
For its second year of Operation Engage – a community-level approach to tackling the drug epidemic – the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Detroit Field Division received funding to add efforts in a second Michigan city: Kalamazoo. “The Detroit Field Division is bringing... Read More »
Sens. Feinstein, Padilla, Booker request more information on Justice Department’s prioritization of hate crime investigations
U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Cory Booker (D-NJ) recently forwarded correspondence to Attorney General Merrick Garland, seeking more details regarding Justice Department hate crime investigative efforts. "Hate crimes are on the rise across the country," the... Read More »
Alaska legislators announce supply chain, border security funding
U.S. Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), and U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-AK) are touting a $187 million funding allotment that would bolster the supply chain and border security. The legislators lauded the funds garnered from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. It would... Read More »
DHS to launch fourth Hacking for Homeland Security program course
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently announced that the fourth Hacking for Homeland Security (H4HS) program course is slated for Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). The course would be offered during the Spring 2022 semester at the Heinz... Read More »
WHO publishes first-ever malaria vaccine recommendation following guidelines update
In the most recent update to its malaria guidelines, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that the vaccine RTS,S/AS01 be used to prevent P. falciparum malaria among children living in areas of moderate to high transmission. This represents the first time a vaccine for malaria was... Read More »
House considers Ukrainian Protection Act that would temporarily block deportation of Ukrainians in U.S.
A mix of Democrats and Republicans collectively introduced the Ukrainian Protection Act of 2022 (H.R. 6892) to the House last week, proposing to grant Ukrainians currently in the United States a Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and barring their deportation during the war with Russia. Current... Read More »
DHS outlines Israeli security agreements
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established security agreements with the Government of Israel and private sector partners to collaborate on varied joint security issues. “DHS is proud to continue to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the United States and Israel... Read More »
SIGA Technologies launches clinical trials for oral TPOXX as post-exposure prophylactic
Efforts are underway to study the possibilities of oral smallpox treatment TPOXX as a post-exposure prophylactic (PEP), with the announcement of clinical trials by SIGA Technologies, Inc. last week. These trials will support a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) label expansion for the drug,... Read More »
NIH opens multiple health technologies to potential licensing through Medicines Patent Pool
The primary goal of the international COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) to facilitate access to COVID-19 health products received a major boost last week with an offer from the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) for several related technologies. These offers would allow potential... Read More »
Sens. Ernst, Warnock seek more training sought for dog-based animal disease detection
Triggered by a new case of avian flu in Iowa and cases of African Swine Fever in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, U.S. Sens. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) have introduced legislation to streamline funding for dogs used to detect animal diseases on cargo. The National Detector Dog... Read More »
Lawmakers tout advanced homeland security bills
Homeland Security Republicans are espousing the benefits of advancing five House Committee on Homeland Security bills they said are designed to bolster homeland security. The Securing the Checkpoint Property Screening System (H.R. 6827) authorizes appropriations for the full requirement of... Read More »
Senate advances legislation to strengthen cybersecurity, protect critical infrastructure
A new legislative package from U.S. Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) advanced through the Senate this week, setting up the House to consider revamps to public and private sector cybersecurity and the lingering question of governmental adoption of cloud technology. The... Read More »
Bipartisan push creates House Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act to get military equipment overseas
Faced with the ongoing, globally denounced Russian military invasion of Ukraine, a bipartisan collection of House lawmakers this week introduced the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 – legislation that would make it easier to ship military equipment for Ukraine’s use. The bill... Read More »