Threats
Rep. Higgins advocates northern border family unification
Rep. Brian Higgins (D-NY) has issued an appeal to expand the definition of essential traveler related to the northern border, citing the need to allow families to reunite. Higgins, co-chair of the Congressional Northern Border Caucus, recently spoke with Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
DHS halts redirection of funds for US-Mexico border barrier projects, seeks to repair construction-caused damages
While the Biden administration still intends to pursue some form of the Southern Border wall, the redirection of any funding from other federal agencies for border barrier projects has been terminated. Declaring that the Trump administration’s previous border wall construction efforts created... Read More »
Moderna to supply up to 500 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to COVAX for use by low-income nations
The global COVAX initiative received a major boost in its fight against COVID-19 this week through a new deal with Moderna, Inc. that will bring up to 500 million doses of vaccine into the fold for use by the lowest income countries, including up to 34 million doses this year alone. Delivery of... Read More »
More than 60 U.S. lawmakers urge House appropriators for more funds to address antimicrobial resistance
In a call backed by the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), a bipartisan collection of more than 60 United States representatives wrote to House appropriators last week, asking for increased federal resources to address the growing threat of antimicrobial resistant (AMR)... Read More »
NIH to invest another $29M in grants for COVID-19 research, outreach and treatment
Recognizing the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on certain communities, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced last week that it will fund an additional $29 million of grants for the NIH Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities. Supported by the American... Read More »
Council on Strategic Risks urges federal support for defense program combating biological threats
When Ebola was a low priority for the private sector, the Department of Defense (DOD) was one of the few organizations that funded early-stage research and development on vaccines and treatments. The division of the DoD that played a critical role in that research was the Chemical and Biological... Read More »
Senators introduce SHIPYARD Act to support National Defense Infrastructure
U.S. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), along with Reps. Rob Wittman (R-VA), and Mike Gallagher (R-WI), introduced legislation that would address infrastructure needs to support the U.S. Navy. The legislation,... Read More »
Lawmakers seek expanded global COVID-19 vaccine access
A group of lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the three companies producing COVID-19 vaccines, seeking their plans to expand COVID-19 vaccines access globally. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), and Christopher S.... Read More »
Bill seeks to bolster nationwide cybersecurity
Sens. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) joined Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Ken Calvert (R-CA) introduced this week the Civilian Cyber Security Reserve Act, which seeks to bolster nationwide cybersecurity efforts. The lawmakers noted the bill would establish a pilot Civilian... Read More »
Cybercrime sees major spike during COVID-19 pandemic, according to new BAE Systems report
A new report, the COVID CRIME INDEX 2021 REPORT, compiled by BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, found that cybercrime has experienced a massive uptick of 74 percent among banks and insurers alike since the COVID-19 pandemic began. The data, which focused on financial institutions and their... Read More »
Moderna invests to increase COVID-19 vaccine dose supply to up to 3 billion in 2022
Moderna, Inc. announced major investments this week to bring global rollout of its COVID-19 vaccine to as many as 3 billion doses next year and somewhere between 800 million and 1 billion doses this year. The increase in supply stems from new funding commitments to Moderna’s owned and... Read More »
Former CDC director argues for technical, operational and political approach to combat future pandemics
While the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the dangers of ill-prepared public health initiatives, a new case study-based report from the global Resolve to Save Lives initiative and its president and CEO Dr. Tom Frieden highlights the numerous ways that governments can invest in and prioritize... Read More »
Ebola detecting sensor in development phase
An Iowa State University research team is developing a new sensor capable of detecting Ebola in a single drop of blood while providing results in an hour. Researchers indicated the sensor is based on DNA aptamers, described as short, single-stranded DNA molecules selectively bound to a specific... Read More »
DHS unveils new anti-smuggling initiative
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has unveiled a new anti-smuggling initiative the agency said focuses on transnational criminal organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants. Authorities indicated Operation Sentinel is a collaborative effort with Customs and Border... Read More »
BARDA, Enalare Therapeutics to reformulate respiratory stimulant for emergency treatment of opioid-induced respiratory depression
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) and Enalare Therapeutics partnered this week to reformulate the agnostic respiratory stimulant ENA-001 into an intramuscular, emergency treatment for opioid-induced respiratory depression (OIRD). The action is being undertaken... Read More »
Merck announces voluntary licensing agreements with five Indian generics manufacturers to boost access to COVID-19 therapeutic
Merck has reached voluntary licensing agreements with five Indian generics manufacturers to produce molnupiravir for the COVID-stricken nation, granting it another oral therapeutic to aid the COVID-19 pandemic. While molnupiravir is currently being studied in a phase three trial to treat... Read More »
DOJ releases $58M to combat Illicit drugs, improve officer wellness
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday that its Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office) has released approximately $58 million in grant solicitations to advance community policing, combat opioid and methamphetamine use, and promote the health and safety of law... Read More »
DHS initiates internal review addressing threat of domestic violent extremism
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has initiated an internal review to identify, address, and prevent the threat of domestic violent extremism. “Domestic violent extremism poses the most lethal and persistent terrorism-related threat to our country today,” Secretary of Homeland... Read More »
Legislation seeks to bolster antibiotics supply chain
Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Tina Smith (D-MN) recently introduced a measure designed to bolster the domestic antibiotics supply chain and address antibiotic resistance threats. The Onshoring Essential Antibiotics Act would provide $500 million in grants to build and improve manufacturing... Read More »
NNSA dispositions more than 100 Manhattan Project-era nuclear facilities
The National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announced a major milestone this week with the removal of more than 100 facilities in Tennessee and Texas that date back to the Manhattan Project era of nuclear development. Today, nearly 60 percent of the NNSA’s facilities are more than 40... Read More »
Sanofi to fill/finish manufacture up to 200 million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine under new agreement
As part of a new agreement reached with Moderna, Inc., Sanofi will provide fill/finish manufacturing services and supply packaging for up to 200 million doses of Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, beginning in September. “We welcome the opportunity to work with Sanofi on... Read More »
DHS releases report on cross-border e-commerce
On Friday, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate Center of Excellence’s (COE) Borders, Trade, and Immigration Institute (BTI) announced the release of a report on cross-border e-commerce. Working with the University of Houston, the report looked at... Read More »
United States to dispatch vaccines for overwhelmed India as COVID-19 crisis deepens
After days of pressure on the U.S. government to respond with aid for the surging COVID-19 crisis in India, an arrangement is underway that will see the deployment of vaccines in the coming weeks, as well as health advisors, raw materials, personal protective equipment (PPE), and funding.... Read More »
Legislation targets enhanced cyberattack resources
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced last week a bill designed to bolster cyberattack resources and better coordination for serious breaches risking domestic safety and security. The Cyber Response and Recovery Act would help to improve the federal response to cyber... Read More »
Bill encourages domestic PPE production
Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH) recently reintroduced a measure they said is designed to bolster domestic personal protective equipment (PPE) production. The Make PPE in America Act would enhance efforts to onshore production of personal protective equipment (PPE), hereby... Read More »
FDA, CDC greenlight resumption of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine use
Following a recommended pause due to rare cases of severe blood clots among those administered the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are encouraging use to continue. The announcement followed... Read More »
Reps. DeFazio, Larsen introduce Healthy Flights Act
U.S. Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rick Larsen (D-WA), chair of the Subcommittee on Aviation, joined 15 of their colleagues in introducing the Health Flights Act of 2021 on Thursday. The legislation would create a set of... Read More »
Los Alamos National Laboratory touts biothreat detecting device
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) researchers are espousing the benefits of a device capable of detecting biothreats from samples such as blood, water, CSF, food, and animal samples. The Portable EnGineered Analytic Sensor with aUtomated Sampling (PEGASUS) is a miniaturized waveguide-based... Read More »
Bill addresses migrant influx at southern border
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to respond to the migrant influx at the southern border. Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) joined Reps. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and Tony Gonzales (R-TX) in introducing the Bipartisan Border Solutions Act, maintaining the... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Portman, Peters introduce bill to demand long-term contracts for American-made PPE
U.S. Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Gary Peters (D-MI) introduced legislation last week that would strengthen domestic manufacturing efforts, particularly for personal protective equipment (PPE) leased through long-term Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) contracts. The pair, who represent the Ranking... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Warren, Rubio reintroduce legislation enforcing study of pharmaceutical supply chain’s reliance on foreign countries
U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) reintroduced last week the U.S. Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Review Act to demand a study of the nation’s reliance on foreign nations for the pharmaceutical supply chain. The bill would require a study produced by the Federal Trade... Read More »
House advances Rep. Garbarino’s transit security legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced Wednesday legislation, introduced by U.S. Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), that would provide transit security grant recipients flexibility in how they use the grants while establishing performance periods. The Transit Security Grant Program Flexibility... Read More »
Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders call for Syrian chemical weapons accountability
Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders have expressed support for enforcing the international norm against chemical weapons, particularly the Assad regime’s illegal use of chemical weapons in Syria. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jim Risch (R-ID), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH)... Read More »
Legislation introduced to address foreign adversary land purchases near U.S. military installations
A group of lawmakers recently introduced a measure designed to prevent adversaries from acquiring land near military bases, which they use to finance regimes and place military installations at risk. Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Reps. Ronny Jackson (R-TX), Tony Gonzales... Read More »