InsIde sIA Government relAtIons

JUNE - J U LY 2 0 1 4
Inside SIA A Monthly Briefing for SIA Members
Government relations
The 2014 SIA Government Summit in June was a great
opportunity to network with industry leaders and hear
from top officials in Washington working on
security issues.
Newly confirmed Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Undersecretary for Science
and Technology (S&T) Dr. Reginald Brothers
delivered a keynote address unveiling his
expansive vision for the S&T Directorate—
focused on improving long-range planning
and strategic partnerships with the private
sector to bolster the “homeland security
industrial base.”
Acquisition Platform and the implications for the security
industry in doing business with the government.
G ove r n m e nt
Summit
June 3–4
Top DHS research and procurement officials discussed
opportunities for industry to engage and conduct business
with their department. Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., provided an
outlook for fiscal 2015 DHS funding, and raised concerns
about pressing border security issues. General Services
Administration (GSA) Assistant Commissioner Marty
Jennings detailed the upcoming transition to the Common
CAPITOL HILL
Restrictions on Foreign Security Firms in South
Africa – SIA Members and Staff met with House and
Senate trade staff, alerting them to passage of a bill
in South Africa that would specifically force divesture
of a majority stake in global security firm affiliates
operating there. If signed into law without revisions,
the bill would violate the terms of the African Growth
and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which provides duty-free
treatment exports to the United States from subSaharan
Africa. The House and Senate Trade Subcommittees
are considering extension and changes ahead of its
expiration in 2015. Click here to read the SIA letter
Top security industry executives discussed
trends related to the government sector,
including identity/access control, the GSA
schedules program, the convergence of
physical and logical security, data management
and increased situational awareness.
Panels featuring leading congressional and
federal agency officials discussed the status
and opportunities for industry input on
legislation dealing with issues such as the biometric exit
system for foreign nationals, DHS procurement reform,
cybersecurity and the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism
Standards (CFATS) program.
Read a wrap up of the Summit, review key presentations and
view pictures from it at the SIA Government Summit website.
We look forward to seeing you at the 2015 SIA Government
Summit!
to Committee leadership. Jake Parker, SIA director
of government relations, was interviewed by CSNBC
Africa on the issue. Click here to watch the interview.
DHS Acquisition Reform – On June 9, the House
of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 4228,
the DHS Acquisition Accountability and Efficiency
Act, endorsed by SIA. This bipartisan legislation
requires changes in DHS acquisition management,
including development of a multiyear acquisition plan
to guide the process and inform industry of long-term
acquisition priorities. SIA has been involved in drafting
this legislation since October 2013, successfully
advocating the inclusion of language ensuring that (1)
Inside SIA Government relations
JUNE-JULY 2014
the acquisition plan be made publically available, (2)
DHS consult with industry partners in developing the
plan, (3) opportunities for small business participation
are maximized and (3) “breaches” in major programs
triggering congressional reporting requirements are
clearly defined. The bill is now under consideration in
the U.S. Senate.
House Passes CFATS Authorization – On July 8,
the House of Representatives unanimously passed
H.R. 4007, legislation authorizing the CFATS program
for three years. The Senate Homeland Security and
Government Affairs Committee was scheduled to meet
July 30 to mark up its version of the legislation. SIA
Members and Staff continue to meet with Members
of Congress in support of the legislation, as providing
a long-term extension of CFATS provides certainty and
increases adoption of security measures at chemical
facilities throughout the nation.
CPSC Rule Blocked – On July 16, the House narrowly
passed, by a vote of 229-194, an amendment offered
by Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., that would prohibit
the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC)
from proceeding with its new rules on voluntary recalls.
The underlying bill, the fiscal 2015 Financial Services
and General Government Appropriations Act, was later
passed in the House and now awaits further action in
the Senate. SIA has been working to raise awareness
among Members of Congress that the CPSC proposal
could undermine “fast track” recalls by manufacturers.
Click here to see SIA’s comments to CPSC on this issue
in February.
Access to Federal Background Checks – SIA sent
a letter to the Senate Judiciary Committee requesting
consideration of S. 1362, authored by Senator Charles
Schumer, D-N.Y., which authorizes the attorney general
to allow the electronic physical security industry,
regardless of where the company is based, to access
to the FBI database in performing background checks.
Current law already permits this for several other
industries, including security guard personnel. Click
here to read the letter.
Funding for REAL ID Act Implementation – SIA sent
a letter to the members of the Senate Appropriations
Subcommittee on Homeland Security, asking that
funding for implementation and enforcement of
nationwide security standards for drivers licenses under
the REAL ID Act be maintained. This followed word
that amendments could be offered during committee
markup of the fiscal 2015 DHS Appropriations bill to
eliminate this funding. Ultimately no such amendment
was offered. Click here to read the letter.
FEDERAL AGENCIES
Recording Devices on Trains – The Rail Safety
Advisory Committee of the Federal Rail Administration
(FRA) kicked off its first meeting to draft regulations
implementing a National Transportation Safety Board
(NTSB) recommendation to require the installation
and use of crashworthy inward and outward facing
recording devices in all locomotive cabs. Since 2008,
NTSB has recommended using audio and imaging
technology to strengthen investigations and prevention
efforts in response to rail accidents in Chatsworth,
Calif.; Red Oak, Iowa; Bronx, N.Y.; and other locations.
The committee is considering a host of technical issues
as part of the requirements, and SIA is engaging FRA
and the committee members to assist in this yearlong
rulemaking process.
Cybersecurity Framework – SIA joined a group of
22 trade associations in sending a letter to the White
House supporting the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) Framework for Improving
Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, a flexible approach
to addressing cybersecurity risks that focuses on
collaborative and voluntary measures. Click here to read
the letter.
Inside SIA Government relations
JUNE-JULY 2014
STATE LEGISLATURES
Mo. Governor vetoes RFID restrictions – On July 9,
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon vetoed S.B. 523, which would
prohibit the use of RFID technology in schools. This
bill passed both chambers of the Missouri legislature
this session. In his veto statement, Nixon noted the
importance of school districts being able to assess and
determine technology needs. He stated:
“Local school officials are in the best position to
determine the appropriate use of this technology
within their school districts. Indeed the technology
sought to be banned could be a significant public
safety tool during emergency situations. Quickly
identifying the location of students during a critical
incident unfolding at a school or during a natural
disaster is vitally important to law enforcement
and first responders. Prohibiting the use of this
technology would eliminate an important option
for school districts to consider when analyzing
measures to protect the safety and security of
their students.”
SIA sent a letter of opposition to this bill. Click here to
read the letter.
C o n t ac t U s
Jake Parker
Director of Government Relations
[email protected]
301-804-4722
Elizabeth Hunger
Manager of Government Relations
[email protected]
301-804-4714
For more information, visit us online at securityindustry.org