ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Advocating for full federal funding to secure our nation's ports, rails and public transit systems are top priorities on The Security Industry Association's (SIA) 2008 Legislative Agenda. The ambitious 12-point plan includes advocacy in a range of new areas including agriculture, trade, education and health care.
"Ensuring the safety of our nation's critical infrastructure is the prevailing theme throughout our legislative agenda," says Richard Chace , executive director and CEO, The Security Industry Association. "SIA will work to secure funds for our ports, hospitals, schools, public transit systems and rails to buy the smartest, most effective security solutions possible."
Agenda highlights include:
-- Ensuring Congress funds the FY09 Port Security Grants Program at
-- Securing
-- Advocating for
-- Collaborating with the International Association for Healthcare Security & Safety (IAHSS) on a legislative proposal to promote patient and facility security at more than 5,000 hospitals nationwide. SIA supports authorizing
-- Securing
-- Positioning our industry to better advise the government on future directives like HSPD-12 and TWIC. SIA will seek legislation establishing a federal "physical security advisory committee" to counsel the White House and Department of Homeland Security on the potential impact of government directives.
-- Working to ensure the federal tax code provides incentives for investment rather than imposing unfair burdens upon contractors. SIA supports the Agriculture Business Security Tax Credit Act of 2007. Today, agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, while used legitimately by many farmers and agribusinesses, can be used to manufacturer explosives that further terrorist acts. This initiative would provide a tax credit for agribusinesses that make access control and perimeter security investments.
-- Reforming federal physical security training program to ensure that government end-users have the proper education and training to protect our government facilities.
"This agenda will help security directors get the funding they need to protect their most valuable assets, their people and facilities," said Rob Hile , chair of SIA's Government Relations Committee and vice president of Business Development, Adesta, LLC.
To view the full agenda visit www.siaonline.org. To learn more about SIA's advocacy efforts contact Don Erickson , SIA's director of Government Relations at 703/647-8484 or [email protected].
CONTACT:
Peggy O'Connor
The Security Industry Association
703/647-8485
SOURCE Security Industry Association