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Heinrich blocks attempt to expand warrantless government surveillance

Friday, July 1, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 social media without judicial... Read More »

NIAID: Two Zika vaccines protect mice from infection

Friday, July 1, 2016 by Alex Murtha

The National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) released a report on Tuesday detailing how a single dose of either of two experimental Zika vaccines protected mice infected with the virus for four to eight weeks after receiving the inoculations. NIAID said that this... Read More »

Lockheed Martin’s Q-53 radar demonstrates counter-UAS capabilities

Thursday, June 30, 2016 by Alex Murtha

Lockheed Martin’s Q-53 counter fire radar last week demonstrated its ability to identify and track unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and pass that information to a command and control node. Lockheed said that this capability will assist forces in a crowded battle space with emerging air threats.... Read More »

New study reveals global variations in malaria parasites

Thursday, June 30, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 in... Read More »

ECDC preparing for Zika virus in the EU

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 wish to become pregnant,... Read More »

Katko, House members denied access to Cuba by Cuban government

Wednesday, June 29, 2016 by Alex Murtha

U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), along with other House members, was blocked by the Cuban government last week from entering the country to assess security risks associated with resuming air travel between the United States and Cuba. The Cuban government signed an accord on Feb. 16 that will allow... Read More »

Emergent BioSolutions receives BARDA order to develop, manufacture Zika vaccine

Monday, June 27, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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. Three cGMP lots... Read More »

Subcommittee hearing examines FirstNet’s progress

Monday, June 27, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 »

Legislators introduce bill to protect energy grid from cyber attacks

Saturday, June 25, 2016 by Alex Murtha

A bipartisan coalition of lawmakers introduced legislation on Wednesday to protect critical energy infrastructure from potentially catastrophic cyber attacks. The Securing Energy Infrastructure Act of 2016 was co-sponsored by U.S. Sens. Jim Risch (R-ID), Angus King (I-ME), Martin Heinrich (D-NM)... Read More »

Smiths Detection receives $40.9 million task order award for RadSeeker technology

Friday, June 24, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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... Read More »

Thune renews call for House action on Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act

Friday, June 24, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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). “This new GAO report further... Read More »

Warner applauds new FAA ruling on unmanned aviation systems

Friday, June 24, 2016 by Alex Murtha

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) applauded the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday for finalizing a long-awaited rule governing the commercial use of small drones. “Unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have the potential to totally revolutionize our economy and way of life, on a scale... Read More »

NY-NJ Port Authority to deliver new counter-terrorism training for employees

Thursday, June 23, 2016 by Tracy Rozens

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates one of the busiest networks of aviation, ground, rail and seaport facilities in the nation, is preparing to deliver a new counter-terrorism and personal safety-training program for its employees. “We always tell people, if you see... Read More »

EU Civil Liberties Committee endorse plan to check citizens at external borders

Thursday, June 23, 2016 by Alex Murtha

The European Union (EU) Civil Liberties Committee endorsed a plan by the EU Commission on Tuesday that will systematically check all EU citizens entering or leaving the EU against wide and national security databases. The plan, authored by Monica Macovei and approved by a vote of 48-6, also... Read More »

HHS solicitations signal intent to maintain SNS anthrax vaccine stockpile

Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 intent to maintain an... Read More »

GAO: NSDD is addressing challenges, but more improvement needed

Wednesday, June 22, 2016 by Alex Murtha

A U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released on Saturday found that the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) nuclear smuggling detection and deterrence (NSDD) program is addressing challenges but should improve its overall plan. The full GAO report examined... Read More »

FDA completes Pre-Approval Inspection of Emergent BioSolutions’ Building 55 BioThrax manufacturing facility

Tuesday, June 21, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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... Read More »

Alion awarded $137 million by DISA DSO for wireless spectrum improvement

Monday, June 20, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 will... Read More »

Chikungunya virus found in Texas patient

Monday, June 20, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 became ill in... Read More »

GAO report: Ninety-one percent of those on terrorist watch list pass firearm background checks

Monday, June 20, 2016 by Alex Murtha

U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) released data from a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on Wednesday that shows that approximately 91 percent of known or suspected terrorists passed a background check to purchase a firearm or explosives between Feb. 2004 and Dec. 2015. The GAO... Read More »

FDA accepts for review Emergent BioSolutions’ sBLA for Building 55 Biothrax production

Friday, June 17, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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... Read More »

Holland named division of intramural research director for NIH

Friday, June 17, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 and beyond as a highly skilled and... Read More »

House Oversight Committee examines antibiotic resistant bacteria

Friday, June 17, 2016 by Alex Murtha

The House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on Tuesday concerning the U.S. public health response to antibiotic resistant bacteria, otherwise known as “superbugs.” The hearing was initiated after the discovery of the MCR-1 gene in a Pennsylvania woman who contracted... Read More »

FDA grants orphan drug status to Emergent BioSolutions, Inc.’s BioThrax

Thursday, June 16, 2016 by HPN News Desk

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 »

BARDA raises concerns over colistin-resistant bacteria found in U.S. patients

Thursday, June 16, 2016 by Alex Murtha

The Biomedical Advance Research and Development Authority (BARDA) recently said that it is anticipating a threat posed by the bacterial gene mcr-1, which confers resistance to the antibiotic colistin and was found in a bacterium isolated from a patient in the United States. While the bacteria is... Read More »

Lockheed Martin enters into partnership with Interset for insider threat detection solution

Thursday, June 16, 2016 by Alex Murtha

Lockheed Martin entered into a partnership with Interset’s insider threat detection solution on Monday. The decision was announced at the 2016 Gartner Risk and Security Summit conference in National Harbor, MD. “Insider threats pose one of the highest risks to an organization, and... Read More »

Coats raises objections to DoD weapons acquisition procedures

Wednesday, June 15, 2016 by Alex Murtha

U.S. Sen. Dan Coats (R-IN) spoke out on Wednesday against the status quo of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) weapon acquisition system, which the DoD uses to procure weapons systems and related items from various defense. Coats said that the process, which includes the design and development... Read More »

Royce, Ryan join House Republicans in unveiling new national security agenda

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 by Alex Murtha

House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), along with Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI), unveiled the House Republicans’ blueprint for security at home and abroad on Friday. The blueprint is part of the House GOP’s “A Better Way” initiative, which outlines ideas to... Read More »

SAIC launches Cyber Academy with Huntsville City Schools

Tuesday, June 14, 2016 by HPN News Desk

The Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) launched a new initiative on Thursday with Huntsville City Schools in Alabama to provide strategic support to the school system’s Cyber Academy. The initiative is part of a three-year, $300,000 commitment, with SAIC providing cyber... Read More »

Carper expands bank cyber security investigation following attacks to SWIFT system

Monday, June 13, 2016 by Alex Murtha

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) expanded his ongoing investigation on Wednesday into steps federal agencies are taking to better protect banks around the world against cybersecurity threats after multiple attacks against the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system.... Read More »

LLNL supports test of NYC subway biodefenses

Monday, June 13, 2016 by Alex Murtha

Lawrence Livermore National Lab (LLNL) researchers took to the New York City subway system last month to aid in conducting a series of tests on how a biological agent, such as anthrax, might disperse throughout the rapid transit system as a result of a bioterrorism attack or accidental release.... Read More »

Appropriations Committee releases FY 2017 funding bill

Friday, June 10, 2016 by HPN News Desk

The House Appropriations Committee released its proposed FY 2017 Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill on Wednesday. The bill targets critical programs such as aviation security, border and immigration enforcement, customs activities, protections against cyberterrorism,... Read More »

Katko’s TSA bill unanimously passes though House

Friday, June 10, 2016 by HPN News Desk

The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed bipartisan legislation on Tuesday to address growing Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) wait times at the nation’s airports. The Checkpoint Optimization and Efficiency Act of 2016, authored by U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY), seeks to... Read More »

Northrop Grumman, NEC Corp. cooperate on cyber security project

Friday, June 10, 2016 by Alex Murtha

Northrop Grumman Corp. entered into a collaboration on Monday with NEC Corp. to deliver the Japan-Cyber Operations Research, Training and Experimentation (J-CORTEX) system. The system is a private, cloud-based cyber range that quickly and effectively emulates customer environments for the... Read More »

CBP intercepts new type of pest at Philadelphia International Airport

Thursday, June 9, 2016 by Alex Murtha

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed on Friday that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists discovered a long-horned beetle larvae inside a bamboo stick carried by a passenger from Mexico, marking the first recorded find of the species in... Read More »

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