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SIA forms Homeland Security Advisory Council

SIA forms Homeland Security Advisory Council

WASHINGTON-To aid federal policy makers in their mission to improve homeland security, the Security Industry Association has formed the Homeland Security Advisory Council to represent SIA's different technology groups on the national stage. Chaired by Peter Michel, former chief executive officer of Brink's Home Security, the council was chartered by SIA's board of directors to develop policies about homeland security and be the association's voice on that issue. "We are going to be developing and issuing policy advisories on a very regular basis, based on some of the things that our technology groups go into," said Neil Ivy, director of industry groups and government affairs for SIA. "These advisories will be forwarded to legislators and to the (Bush) administration and we'll just keep at this and really see where it goes." Representation on the advisory council will include the chairs of SIA's other technology- oriented advisory councils. The council has already released its first issue paper that recommends Congress enact legislation to standardize and modernize existing technology used to verify identity, particularly state and federal IDs. "Advising our leaders and our citizens about the most effective security technology solutions, applications and policies is a role that SIA views as an obligation and takes very seriously. There is a correct way to approach the implementation of security. Our Homeland Security Advisory Council is taking the lead of promoting how technology should be utilized in the public and private sectors," said Richard Chace, SIA executive director, in a statement. Other topics will include airport security, infrastructure security, border security, congressional response and risk assessment/crisis management. Trade associations in Washington representing many different industries have also launched Homeland Security groups over the past few months, Ivy said, but what SIA's group can offer federal officials is the brainpower of security industry executives. "We have some good strong links into the Homeland Security office currently and we think we have a lot to offer in terms of answers to technology," Ivy said.

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