By KENDRA LEIGH MILLER
WEST WARWICK — Rhode Island Congressman Jim Langevin visited AstroNova Tuesday afternoon as part of his Rhode Island manufacturing tour. AstroNova, formerly Astro-Med, Inc. located on East Greenwich Avenue, is a data visualization technology firm global leader in developing and applying data visualization technologies in products serving industrial, packaging, aerospace, and the defense markets.

The company creates solutions that acquire, process, analyze, store, print, and present data in a variety of useable forms. These solutions are adapted specifically to customer requirements to enhance the quality, productivity, and profitability of their businesses. AstroNova has three branches including Test and Measurement, Aerospace and Quicklabels.

All AstroNova products are derived from its data visualization technology and are manufactured in its Rhode Island, Canada and Germany facilities. Direct sales and service centers are operated in the Unite States, Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, UK, China, Malysia and Singapore.
Because Langevin believes strongly in keeping the economy growing in the state through, in part, manufacturing, he felt is was important to include AstroNova as part of his tour. The company started out with producing data and measurement equipment then branched out into the printing areas.

Tom Carll, vice president and general manager for the aerospace area, explained that the company produces printers for air crafts that provide readouts for all the instrument data and area data necessary for a flight, which can be printed as well.

“Even with all this new technology of Ipads, etc, the pilots are still telling us that they like the information printed because they can have it right in front of them without scrolling through anything and the can write on it,” Carll said.

Carll added that much of their aerospace business come from Boeing, American Airlines and Delta.

“We’re in the process of creating a smaller printer so it can fit into smaller aircrafts,” he added.
Langevin was impressed with the work that goes on there as well as how the company has been able to grow and hopefully attract the younger people to join in the career.

“We always hear about the skills gap and I’m always looking for ways we can improve training systems for young folks who have recently graduated or before they graduate,” the Congressman said.

Woods said the company does work with students from University of Rhode Island and Brown University. Some of the companies they work with include Kimberly-Clark, General Motors, Raytheon, Panasonic and Boeing. They attribute their growth to their efficiency and product line expansions.

By Monique Bethell

Cyber security threats to computer equipment and anything connected to the internet is something most people are used to hearing about. Now the cybersecurity concerns are much closer than ever before… Hackers can attack implantable, wireless medical devices and other lifesaving medical equipment. Now… its personal.

Earlier this month, Johnson & Johnson had to inform 114,000 diabetic patients that one of its insulin pumps, the J&J Animas OneTouch Ping, could be hacked. The device could be attacked, disabling the pump or alter the dosage.

Just recently, MedSec, a cybersecurity firm exposed a life threatening security vulnerability which endangered the safety of patients who own defibrillators and pacemakers manufactured by St. Jude Medical.

Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital paid a $17,000 ransom to a criminal enterprise that broke into the hospital’s system, earlier this year encrypted data, then demanded an even larger payment.

Hackers have been using this type of ‘ransomware’–a type of malware in which attackers can steal or delete the contents of users’ computers if they don’t pay a ransom–for the past 25 years. However, how, it seems, the same type of malware, can be used to hack into medical devices and equipment. Cyber experts have determined that Ransomware in medical devices is the single biggest cyber security threat for 2016, according to a recent report from research and advisory firm Forrester and reported by Motherboard.

Am I at risk?

The answer is probably… even if you are just someone whose provider uses online patient portals to access medical records. The truth is everyone is at risk because of the growing and rapidly expanding threat of hackers that can illegally access anything connected to the internet.

The video below, originally published by the Wall Street Journal provides a better overview of the security threats and vulnerabilities.

The government responds….

Earlier this year, the FDA issued a letter warning hospitals and patients that a pump commonly used to ration out proper dosing of medicine in IVs could be vulnerable to attack. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), who co-chairs the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, wrote the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to praise the agency’s draft cybersecurity guidelines for medical devices.

As noted in a statement published by the Hill.com, Langevin said, “I strongly support FDA’s efforts to improve the security of medical devices, and if finalized, the draft guidance would make substantial progress in this area,”. He further supported their progress while expressing concern about the potential for harm to patient safety if medical devices are compromised. Such concerns are equally shared by security specialists who worry that hackers can penetrate hospital firewalls and seal patient data, and control the functions of vital equipment such as medication pumps, ventilators and heart monitors.

An ever larger issue is the vulnerability of hospitals to attacks that could threaten operations, systems and infrastructure needed to save lives, particularly during an emergency situation or national crisis.

So what…now what?

So it’s clear that now even medical devices have become the target of aggressive, unethical computer hackers. Addressing the security threat posed by this vulnerability will require multiple levels of intervention.

The FDA diligently working to update its digital security guidelines and recommendations as more medical devices are connected to the Internet. Organizations that develop medical devices and technology will have to take additional measures to increase their security protocols before obtaining final approval. Physician offices, clinics, hospitals and other health care provider organizations will need to partner with cybersecurity firms to take extra steps to ensure the safety of patient data and other medical technology.

By: Motif Magazine

We asked the following questions of candidates for US Congress. These are the people we’d be sending to Washington, so we went easy on the RI-related policy questions and tried to open up some of the bigger pictures. Respondents in the race for District #1 were David Cicilline (Dem, incumbent) and Russell Taub (Rep). Respondents in the race for District #2 were Jeff Johnson (Ind), James Langevin (Dem, incumbent), Rhue Reis (Rep). Independent candidate Sal Caiozzo could not be reached for comment. Any editing was strictly for clarity or spelling.

What is the single most important issue facing RI right now and how would you address it in Congress? Is the biggest issue facing the country different?

Jim Langevin (D): The most important issue facing Rhode Island and our nation is the economy, and fostering an environment that supports job growth. This is one of my top priorities in Congress, because as I visit businesses around our state, I hear often that companies are hiring but are struggling to find qualified candidates. This gulf, known as the skills gap, is a national issue because our education system has become disconnected from the workplace. As co-chair of the bipartisan Career and Technical Education Caucus in Congress, I am focused on closing that skills gap and ensuring that young people have access to the training, education and certification programs that will prepare them for the jobs that are available today and will grow in the future.

Would you advocate changing any gun laws, if elected? In what ways?

Langevin: I support the Second Amendment, but I also support commonsense reforms that will keep guns out of the wrong hands. I believe that every person who purchases a gun should have to undergo a background check. That means we must close the gun show loophole, and prohibit individuals on the No-Fly List who are suspected of terrorism from purchasing weapons. I also introduced the Crackdown on Deadbeat Gun Dealers Act to ensure that gun dealers are complying with federal regulations. Finally, we should reinstate and strengthen the federal ban on assault weapons, some of which have been used in recent shootings.

If you had to choose, would you allocate more financial support to 1. arts education 2. health education / fitness or 3. traditional academics?

Langevin: Arts education, health education and traditional subjects like math and science are all critical to a well-rounded education, and none should be overlooked. Last year, I supported passage of the bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act, which empowers schools to incorporate art, music and many other subjects beyond the standard curriculum, and includes grant programs for extracurricular activities, with a special focus on using them to further student achievement. All of these investments are critical to student success.

What’s your position on the idea of free college tuition?

Langevin: I believe that higher education should be accessible to all students – not just those who can afford it. I have advocated strongly for the expansion of Pell grants that help young people pay for college, and we must do more to get the overall cost of college under control. That must include reining in interest rates on student loans. I believe that the interest rate should cover only the essential costs of administering the loan. The federal government should not be making a profit on the backs of hardworking students.

According to a study in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, US maternal mortality rates are currently some of the highest among developed nations. What do you view as the biggest contributing factor to this statistic and what can be done to address it?

Langevin: While the Affordable Care Act has reduced the percentage of uninsured Americans to a record low of just over 9%, access to quality, affordable healthcare remains a challenge, particularly in rural communities and for low-income women. We must work to improve on the ACA and continue breaking down barriers to care, for women and for all Americans. We must also do much more to support mothers in general, and that includes enacting paid family medical leave so that women don’t have to fear losing their jobs for taking care of themselves and their children.

Are you concerned about the economic effects of climate change, particularly on RI? And if so, what should be done to slow or reverse the effects of climate change?

Langevin: Climate change presents serious economic, environmental and national security challenges. In Rhode Island, we feel the effects more acutely because our economy is closely tied in to our coastal resources. Sea level rise, coastal erosion and the increasing frequency and severity of severe weather events threaten our homes, our businesses and the lives of our citizens. There are many steps we can and must take to address climate change, including reducing global emissions and decreasing our consumption of oil. As Energy Task Force Chair and a founding member of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, I believe that renewable energy is the future. We must invest in innovation and development of clean technologies like solar, wind and geothermal. I have supported legislation that would require 20% of our nation’s electricity to come from renewable sources by 2020, and that is just the beginning of what we must do to slow the damaging effects of climate change.

In a recent Washington Post survey, only 3% who responded considered congresspeople highly productive. Why do you think people look at congress so unfavorably?

Langevin: Partisanship has reached an all-time high, which is incredibly frustrating because I have seen what good can come from working across the aisle. In fact, I have made bipartisanship a hallmark of my tenure in Congress, and I work with as many Republican partners as possible: on workforce development, it’s Republican Congressman GT Thompson of Pennsylvania; on cybersecurity, it’s Republican Congressman Mike McCaul of Texas; on disability policy, it’s Republican Congressman Gregg Harper of Mississippi. And that’s just to name a few. We don’t agree on everything, but we work together to find common ground and get results. That’s what our constituents deserve and expect from the people they elect.

By Cassius Shuman

Citing the importance of cybersecurity and the employment opportunities it can provide, U.S. Rep. James Langevin (D) said, “It’s a an important issue, and a security threat that presents many challenges.” Langevin discussed that subject, and a few others, when he visited with the staff of The Block Island Times on Wednesday, Oct. 5.

“We should all have a healthy concern about cybersecurity in this country,” said Langevin. “Nobody uses the internet more than in the United States.”

Langevin, who is co-chair of the Congressional Cybersecurity Caucus, said that online security and global terrorism are the country’s two major threats. He noted that “raising awareness, cyber hygiene and password protection” are essential to protection from cyber threats.

Langevin said one of the “more vulnerable” internet networks in this country is the voter registration system. “The FBI and Homeland Security have evidence that the Russians, or foreign entities, have certainly been probing, trying to look into our voter registration system,” he said. “So everyone is working overtime to protect those systems. The state of Rhode Island, as well as the federal government, is working closely with Homeland Security to ensure that the voter registration systems are as safe and secure as possible.”

“The real danger is that they could undermine confidence in the country’s election system,” added Langevin. They could do that “by sewing doubt into whether an election outcome is genuine, legitimate, etc.”

With regard to Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump joking that Russia should hack into Hilary Clinton’s email server, Langevin said he thought Trumps remark was “outrageous, highly objectionable and very disappointing. It’s another example of bringing the election, and campaign, to a new low.”

Langevin said that while cybersecurity presents its challenges, it also can provide job opportunities. “It’s a jobs issues we need to focus on. It’s an opportunity for our young people,” he said, “because we don’t have nearly enough people going into the Information Technology or cybersecurity fields. I hope that our young people will consider that as an option.”

Langevin noted that “there are a number of programs” he supports related to cyber-based careers. “CyberPatriot is one of those programs,” he said. “It’s a competition for kids that are good with computers. There’s also the Cyber Corps program. It’s a joint program between the Department of Homeland Security and the National Science Foundation.”

“We need more support for these programs,” added Langevin, noting his support of the Every Student Succeeds Act (2015), which is a new federal education law that replaced the No Child Left Behind Act (2001). “We have a skills gap in our state, and across the country.”

On Sept. 15, Langevin filed legislation called the Offshore Wind Incentives for New Development Act, which is aimed at ensuring extension of federal tax credits for offshore wind energy projects from 2019 to 2025. “It’s all complementary” in providing tax incentives for the offshore and renewable energy businesses in the northeast. “Sen. (Sheldon) Whitehouse is working with us on this,” he said. “He’ll be introducing the companion bill.”

Langevin said that he tries “to come out to Block Island whenever possible.” He noted that the boat ride was a little “rough” coming over to the island on Wednesday. “But I’m a guy who likes a little turbulence on an airplane, so I don’t mind a bumpy ride,” he said.

By The Warwick Beacon

As part of Rhode Island Manufacturing Week and his ongoing program to visit area businesses, Congressman James Langevin visited Astra Nova just over the Warwick line in West Warwick Tuesday afternoon. The manufacturer of data visualization technology employs 250 in Rhode Island and is a major supplier of highly technical high-speed printers used in aircraft. Langevin said he is amazed by the “talented people” he’s met on his business tours and that the experience has reinforced his belief that “manufacturing is not dead; it has become advanced and high tech. We need to get the word out to many young people that this is an option.” As part of the tour, Langevin asked employees where they had graduated. At Astra Nova he found graduates of New England Institute of Technology, CCRI and the Coventry Career and Technical Center. Explaining the functions of a device that monitors various systems to the congressman are Daniel Ricci, Alex Lamake and the company’s president and CEO Gregory Woods. (Warwick Beacon photo)

By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

The newly repainted arch at Rocky Point in Warwick was unveiled in a public ceremony Monday, with speeches by public officials that sparked memories of the long-gone amusement park.

“You think of things like the Shore Dinner Hall and the chowder and the clam cakes that you could get here. I could almost taste them almost,” said Congressman Jim Langevin. “So many fond, fond memories.”

The arch, one of 11 displayed at the New York City World’s Fair of 1964-65 made its way to Warwick by unknown means, said Mayor Scott Avedisian.

“The arch, originally created by General Mills, the cereal company, was one of 11 originals that represented peace through understanding, and stood as markers during New York’s World’s Fair,” said Avedisian.

Long rusted and unused during the years that Rocky Point stood abandoned, the arch was repainted by a city employee. The cost was covered by more than $5,000 in grant money from the Rhode Island Foundation, in a project overseen by the non-profit Rocky Point Foundation, headed by newspaper publisher John Howell.

“The arch really fit very well at the time with an amusement park, and here it comes sort of full circle, and now is representing not only a place, hopefully of peace, but a bright future … for future generations to enjoy this place,” Howell said.