NCISS - Legislative Committee Update 6/2/09
Colleagues:
Congress has just returned to Washington after the Memorial Day
recess. Larry Sabbath reports that the congressional leadership
is planning to push hard to make progress on several of
President Obama's legislative initiatives before the August
recess. Although many of the committees which have jurisdiction
over NCISS issues also are dealing with energy and health
reform, they are not limited to dealing with one issue at a
time. A major hearing has already been held on one data breach
bill and Senators are in negotiation already on a compromise on
labor legislation important to contract security firms.
Here is a brief rundown on the major issues the NCISS
Legislative Committee is following:
HR-2221 The "Data Accountability and Trust Act" by Rep. Bobby
Rush (D-IL). A hearing was held earlier this spring. Rep. Rush
has pledged to work with another subcommittee chairman on this
and other issues relating to the Internet, leading to a vote
this summer.
S-139 The "Data Breach Notification Act" by Senator Diane
Feinstein (D-CA). The bill is pending in the Senate Judiciary
Committee. Chairman Pat Leahy (D-VT) may introduced his own
version of data breach legislation. He pledged earlier this year
to make privacy legislation a priority.
HR-122 "Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act of
2009" by Rod Frelinghuysen (R-NJ). We met with the Congressman's
staff to urge that an exemption be provided to permit
investigators access to critical information.
S-141 "Protecting the Privacy of Social Security Numbers Act" by
Senator Feinstein. Although the bill includes a helpful
exception for "business to business" transactions, NCISS is
urging a more specific exemption.
HR-1529 "Second Chance for Ex-Offenders Act" by Rep Charles
Rangel (D-NY). The bill would provide for expungement of federal
criminal records.
S-30 "Truth in Caller ID Act" The bill prohibits "spoofing" with
the intent to defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything
of value".
HR-1409/S560, the "Employee Free Choice Act" This major labor
reform would deny employers the right to obtain a secret ballot
vote for organizing efforts and would impose binding arbitration
in when no first agreement can be reached. It is labor's top
priority and the fight is led by the SEIU which has attempted to
organize guard companies.
Legislation to restrict the use of Social Security numbers
similar to that offered in the last Congress in the Ways and
Means Committee and Energy and Commerce Committee has yet to be
introduced. Larry Sabbath, Francie Koehler, and I have already
met with Ways and Means staff in Washington, DC to express our
concerns about such legislation. We are concerned that such a
bill could be offered as an amendment to the pending data breach
bill, HR 2221.
We have also been busy monitoring bills at the state level
sending alerts and copies of potentially threatening bills to
our NCISS Regional Directors and state association Presidents.
The NCISS Legislative Committee will continue to keep you
updated on pending legislation and new bills that threaten the
investigative and security profession.
Applications for membership and updated information on events
may be obtained by going to www.nciss.org.
Your donations are critical to our mission and continued
success. Contributions in any amount are greatly appreciated and
may be sent to:
NCISS Legislative Fund
7501 Sparrows Point Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21219
Thank you for your continued loyalty and support.
Sincerely,
Jimmie Mesis, NCISS Legislative Chairman
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