13/05/2007
NASCO testifies before homeland security committee
Washington, DC
Joseph Ricci, executive director of the national association of security companies (NASCO), USA's largest contract-security trade association representing firms employing more than 450,000 security officers, provided testimony in front of the full house homeland security committee regarding the direction and viability of the federal protective service on Tuesday, May 1st. Ricci emphasized NASCO's and the private security community's support for raising standards for licensing contract security firms, and improving performance and compliance of screening and training for contract security officers.
The hearings focused on proposed FPS reductions in law enforcement officers and the potential impact on the security and safety of federal office buildings, especially in light of increased threats and a recent report that found deficiencies in contract security compliance.
"Contract security provides tens of thousands of contract security guards at federal facilities across the country, including the nearly 15,000 FPS contracted security guards that protect 8,800 federal facilities" says Ricci "We will continue to work closely with the FPS and other government agencies and departments to improve performance and compliance, and welcome an opportunity to work with congress to raise standards"
Other panelists included:
• Hon. James L. Taylor, deputy inspector general, department of homeland security
• Gary Schenkel, director, federal protective service (FPS), department of homeland security
• David L. Wright, president, American federation of government employees (AFGE), Local 918, FPS Union
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