2008 Legislative Agenda
Campus Safety Funding for Colleges and Universities:
Background: The House Committee on Education and Labor passed
legislation providing federal grants to colleges and universities for
campus safety initiatives. This committee-passed proposal does not authorize
use of these funds for the acquisition and installation of access control,
video surveillance, intrusion detection, and perimeter security technologies
and systems.
Goal: Amend the Higher Education Act to allow colleges and universities
to purchase electronic security equipment with campus safety funds.
Port Security Grant Program:
Background: The SAFE Port Act of 2005 authorizes $2 billion over
five years for port security grants administered by the Department of
Homeland Security. These funds may be used for security gates and fencing,
remote surveillance, concealed video systems, and “other security
related equipment that contributes to the overall security of passengers,
cargo, or crew members.” SIA worked with key members of Congress
to secure $400 million for the FY2008 Port Security Grant Program.
Goal: Secure full Fiscal Year 2009 Funding for the Port Security
Grant Program.
Health Care Facility Physical Security Grant Funding:
Background: The federal government does not administer a significant
grant program for health care facilities to purchase the electronic physical
security equipment needed to protect patients, staff, visitors, and critical
care facilities.
Goal: Establish a dedicated source of federal funding for hospitals
and health care facilities to conduct security assessments and acquire
physical security equipment including access control, locking, and video
surveillance systems.
Extend Cooperative Purchasing Schedule 84:
Background: Section 211 of the E-Government Act of 2002 authorized
cooperative purchasing, the ability for state and local government to
purchase products and services at a negotiated rate, for GSA Schedule
70. In December 2007, the House of Representatives unanimously passed
H.R. 3179, legislation extending cooperative purchasing to Schedule 84.
Goal: Secure the enactment of legislation extending the GSA Cooperative
Purchasing Program to Schedule 84.
Public Transit/Rail System Security Grants:
Background: The “Improving America’s Security Act of
2007” authorizes $3.4 billion for federal grants from FY 2008 through
FY 2011 to public transportation agencies for security improvements including
the acquisition of perimeter protection, access control, fencing, surveillance
equipment, and fire suppression equipment. The law creates a similar grant
program authorizing $1.2 billion in grants to railroad carriers, state
and local governments, and Amtrak for railroad security improvements.
Goal: Secure funding for rail and public transit security grant
programs
School Security Funding:
Background: In 2000, Congress passed legislation establishing
the “Securing Our Schools” Grant Program which authorized funds
for local schools to acquire locks, metal detectors, improved lighting,
and school security assessments. In 2008, legislation was introduced clarifying
the use of grant funds for the installation of surveillance equipment
and authorizing $50 million annually for the program.
Goal: Secure $30 million in FY 2009 funding for the Secure Our
Schools Grant Program.
Agriculture Facility Security Tax Credits:
Background: The Agricultural Business Security Tax Credit Act
of 2007 would establish a tax credit for agricultural businesses equal
to 30-percent of the cost of making security investments related to perimeter
security, access control, installation of security lighting and cameras,
and computer network security items.
Goal: Secure enactment of legislation providing a 30% tax incentive
to agri-businesses for physical security investments
Fire Safety Grant Funding:
Background: The College Life Safety and Fire Protection Act (H.R.
1409) would authorize $3 million annually for a new Department of Education
grant program for colleges and universities to acquire fire alarm detection
and prevention systems such as sprinklers, smoke detectors, and extinguishing
systems.
The Long-Term Care Life Safety Act of 2007 (H.R. 2882) would authorize
$40 million annually for a new Department of Health and Human Services
grant program for nursing homes, hospice facilities, and assisted living
facilities to retrofit such facilities with fire detection and prevention
systems including automatic fire sprinkler systems and warning systems
for occupants.
Goal: Secure enactment of legislation to provide $3 million in
grants to colleges, universities, and nursing homes for fire safety improvements
Wastewater Treatment Facility Security Grants:
Background: There are approximately 16,000 such facilities in
the United States. Examples of physical security investments that could
be made through the use of these grant dollars include: access control
systems; security cameras; installation and rekeying of doors and locks;
smoke detection systems; and network security. The program would be administered
by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Goal: Support enactment of legislation authorizing $200 million
in grants to states, public and privately owned utilities for physical
security investments at wastewater facilities.
Federal Physical Security Advisory Committee:
Background: The Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972, governs
the creation and management of federal advisory committees. Monitored
by the GSA, there are approximately 1,000 of these nationwide. They consist
of private sector individuals who provide advice to federal agencies on
public policy matters. These committees can only be established when deemed
essential to the performance of a duty imposed on a federal agency by
law. An example is the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee which
created a working group to provide advice on technical matters regarding
the Transportation Worker Identification Card.
Goal: Support the establishment or modification of a federal advisory
committee to advise the Department of Homeland Security on issues related
to securing public buildings and facilities.
Tax Withholding of Contractor Payments:
Background: The Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act
of 2005 mandates that federal, state, and local governments withhold three
percent of all payments to “any person providing property or services”
to the government beginning in 2011. As a member of the Tax Withholding
Relief Coalition, SIA supports legislation (H.R. 1023/S.777) to repeal
this onerous withholding requirement.
Goal: Secure the repeal of Section 511 of the Federal Tax Code
requiring federal, state, and local governments to withhold three percent
of payments to government contractors.
Education and Training for the Federal Security Workforce:
Background: In 2001, a Department of the Treasury study identified
a lack of physical security training and education opportunities for federal
government professionals. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
(FLETC) manages a physical security training program deemed inadequate
by government end users. SIA supports initiatives to reform the FLETC
program.
Goal: Strengthen existing education and training programs for
federal physical security professionals.
Opening International Government Markets for Physical Security Products:
Background: Established in 1981, The World Trade Organization
Government Procurement Agreement (GPA) opens up government markets by
ensuring that regulations, laws, and procedures regarding government procurement
do not discriminate against foreign products or suppliers. The GPA enables
the U.S. and other GPA parties to provide their suppliers with non-discriminatory
access to government markets. SIA supports steps by the U.S. to advocate
for the removal of multinational discriminatory procurement policies.
Goal: Advocate for trade policies that expand opportunities for
SIA members to sell their products in international markets.
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