September 6, 2002—A newly formed trade association, The Homeland Security Industries Association (HSIA), kicked off its formation by presenting seven position statements that recommend how government and industry can work together on critical homeland security areas.
The HSIA position statements address airport security; port and maritime security; protection against bio-terrorism and chemical agent attacks, radiological and nuclear security; critical infrastructure protection and physical security; information technology security; security equipment and information sharing security; and best business practices.
HSIA is a non-profit organization founded by Washington attorney Bruce Aitken, Co-chair of Aitken, Irvin, Berlin & Vrooman, LLP, who serves as its President. The new association will serve four major purposes for its members, including:
- monitoring and analysis of homeland security related legislation, regulations hearings
- review and disseminate to members information related to federal, state, and local requests for proposals related to homeland security procurement
- development of papers, reflecting industry positions that may be shared with federal, state, and local government officials
- provide a networking forum for its members.
The seven HSIA position statements address areas of focus in a national homeland security program and offer guidance on how HSIA members might assist.
“When it comes to bio-terrorism and radiological and nuclear security, HSIA contends that the development of building decontamination standards would be a tremendous contribution as would a thorough environmental analysis of the side effects of decontamination techniques,” Mr. Aitken commented.
“On critical infrastructure and physical security, HSIA is encouraging greater information exchange among all government officials and broadband spectrum management,” the HSIA president said.
More than 60 companies have been active in forming HSIA, which first met in the summer 2002. For more information, contact Bruce Aitken, at 202/331-3096,
