Committee on Small Business Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) recently chaired a full committee hearing on the threat of cyber attacks on small businesses in the U.S. “According to a recent study, over 70 percent of cyber attacks occur in businesses … Read More
A team at the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) has developed a means for Department of Defense (DoD) labs across the globe to quickly obtain a genomic analysis of unknown and potentially hazardous biological samples without incurring the cost and … Read More
Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson provided an up-to-date analysis of security and immigration enforcement priorities on Thursday. “In June 2016, apprehensions by the Border Patrol on our southwest border – an indicator of total attempts to cross the border … Read More
A coalition of New Jersey lawmakers from both houses of Congress called for additional resources on Wednesday to address the security needs of New Jersey communities. The coalition included U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Melendez (D-NJ), along with … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents stationed at the Pharr International Bridge cargo facility seized approximately $5 million in two separate, unrelated incidents last week. The first incident occurred on June 30 when officers encountered a tractor trailer hauling a … Read More
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson released a statement on Tuesday regarding Transportation Security Administration (TSA) wait times and security procedures going forward. “From Wednesday, June 30 through Monday, July 4, TSA screened 10.7 million travelers. June 30 … Read More
A vehicle stop by the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) and subsequent investigation helped the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) locate a wanted fugitive in Ottawa, Canada, on Friday. CBSA arrested Adrien C. Peters of South Beloit, Illinois, at an Ottawa … Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) met with New Mexico National Guard officials in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Saturday to discuss increasing resources for counter drug efforts along the U.S.-Mexico border. Additional talks included efforts to enable the New Mexico … Read More
FLIR Systems acquired Armasight, Inc., a leading developer of precision sporting, hunting and military optics products, for approximately $41 million on Wednesday. “The addition of Armasight to our existing scopes and sights business provides us with meaningful additional scale and … Read More
U.S. Rep. Candice Miller (R-MI) applauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday for its intentions to award Operation Stonegarden grants to Macomb, St. Clair and Sanilac counties. The awards include port security grants for Macomb County, the … Read More
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) placed a hold on Tuesday on the 2017 Intelligence Authorization Act due to a provision in the bill that seeks a massive expansion of government surveillance into Americans’ email, web browser history and communications through … Read More
Researchers at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) presented data on Monday regarding gene sequences and the global variations in malaria parasites. NIAID researchers determined the genomes of approximately 200 P. vivax strains that recently infected people … Read More
The European Center for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) produced a policy briefing on Monday highlighting preparedness measures to minimize the risk of Zika virus spreading in continental Europe. The briefing is primarily to protect pregnant women and those who … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized methamphetamine and cocaine in separate incidents last week. Officers working at the Dennis DeConcini crossing on Wednesday were alerted to a suspicious vehicle by a canine narcotics unit. After a brief investigation, officers … Read More
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.’s Center for Innovation in Advanced Development and Manufacturing (CIADM) received a task order on Monday valued at up to $21.9 million from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) to develop and manufacture a Zika vaccine. … Read More
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet held a hearing on Tuesday to examine the progress of FirstNet, the first nationwide, high-speed network dedicated to public safety. Chairman of the Subcommittee … Read More
The Beijing China Power Information Technology Company Limited (China Power), a subsidiary to the State Grid Corporation of China, signed a strategic agreement on Wednesday with the Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). The agreement stipulates that the two … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Trusted Traveler Programs reached a new milestone on Wednesday by enrolling their five millionth member in the program. Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, and Free and Secure Trade (FAST) provide expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk … Read More
The U.S. House of Representatives passed two cybersecurity bills on Tuesday that were authored by U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX). “Over the last several years we’ve witnessed evolving cybersecurity threats from nation-states such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, … Read More
Smiths Detection, Inc. (SDI), received a task order award of $40.9 million on Tuesday for its RadSeeker handheld radioisotope detector and identifier under its single-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. … Read More
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD) renewed his call last week for the U.S. House of Representatives to take up the bipartisan Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 2016 following a new report on aviation security by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). … Read More
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner R. Gil Kerlikowske named Mark Morgan as chief of the U.S. Border Patrol on Monday. Kerlikowske said that Morgan’s selection was based off of a nationwide search process that produced a qualified group … Read More
U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez (D-CA) questioned cybersecurity experts on Friday during a hearing conducted by the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies. The hearing, titled “Oversight of the Cybersecurity Act of 2015,” saw private sector industry members give … Read More
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two solicitation notices on Tuesday related to the development and procurement of anthrax vaccines for the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a move that Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., said shows the government’s … Read More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its Pre-Approval Inspection (PAI) of Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.’s Building 55 for the large-scale manufacturing of BioThrax (anthrax vaccine adsorbed). Following the PAI’s conclusion, Emergent BioSolutions received a No Action Indicated decision and … Read More
The International Association of Fire Chiefs Foundation (IAFCF) selected 10 first responders and safety officers on Friday for the 2016 Hazmat Conference Scholarship Awards. The scholarships, made possible by a grant from Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., provides each recipient with full … Read More
The Defense Information Systems Agency’s (DISA) Defense Spectrum Organization (DSO) named Alion Science and Technology on Wednesday as an awardee of a five-year, multiple-award contract valued up to $137 million to assist the military’s access to wireless spectrum frequencies. Alion … Read More
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) exercised an option on Wednesday for the supply of 171,000 doses of Bavarian Nordic’s Imvamune smallpox vaccine to the national stockpile at a total value of up to $7.7 million. Imvamune is a … Read More
The National International Health Regulations (IHR) of the United States notified the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday of the first confirmed case of locally-acquired Chikungunya virus in the state of Texas. The patient … Read More
The U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector held a border safety initiative (BSI) on Tuesday to raise awareness about the dangers posed by swift-moving canal systems and the barren desert terrain in border communities in an effort to save lives. … Read More
Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.’s supplemental Biologics License Application (sBLA) seeking approval for the manufacture of BioThrax (anthrax vaccine adsorbed) at the company’s Building 55 was accepted for review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this week. “Emergent’s large-scale (Building … Read More
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) began its new Prometheus program on Monday to identify prognostic biomarkers that indicate contagiousness following infection but prior to symptoms appearing in a patient. Prometheus will seek to discover a minimal set of … Read More
Steven M. Holland on Tuesday was named director of the division of intramural research (DIR) at the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Dr. Holland is widely respected within NIH … Read More
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted orphan drug status to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., on Wednesday for BioThrax (anthrax vaccine adsorbed) for post-exposure prophylaxis of anthrax disease from suspected or confirmed exposure to Bacillus anthraces. BioThrax is the only … Read More
The Alliance for Biosecurity released the names of recipients of the 2016 Congressional Biosecurity Champion Awards on Monday The winners include U.S. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Brian Schatz (D-HI), along with U.S. Reps. … Read More
