"The day was a resounding success-house and senate offices were visited to garner support of our federal legislative agenda-in some cases face-to-face meetings with senators and congressman supplemented visits with key staff. The impact was very positive, and we plan to build on this experience in 2008 when we do it again," says John Chwat, NBFAA government relations director.

"The 2007 day on Capitol Hill was a great opportunity for our members to meet with their elected representatives and to tell them what's needed to protect the citizens in their communities and to enhance public safety in the United States. It was a chance to make a difference, and I believe we were successful" Says George Gunning, NBFAA president.

"I thought it was an awesome opportunity to interact with our elected representatives and their legislative staffs, to underscore and emphasize the importance of the legislation NBFAA is proposing and supporting; and to advocate the reasons why the legislation is so vital to our industry and, ultimately, our customers and their safety. I was frankly surprised at how receptive and responsive all the legislative staff persons were to our presentations, and I am cautiously optimistic and hopeful that it will translate into tangible results regarding the legislation we are advocating" says Kevin McGraw, Protection One, Inc.

More than 40 NBFAA members, including association board members and state leaders from across the United States, joined the government relations team during the two-day event. In addition to the visits to the Capital Hill offices, members met with congressmen Jim Saxton (R-NJ) and Michael Arcuri (D-NY) at evening events.

NBFAA strongly supports recent legislation introduced by Fossella and several co-sponsors. The new legislation, H.R. 1409, the "College Life Safety and Fire Prevention Act," would establish a demonstration incentive program within the U.S. department of education to promote the professional installation of fire alarm detection systems, or other fire prevention technologies in qualified student housing, dormitories, and other university buildings. Congressman Arcuri is one of the sponsors.

During the Capitol Hill visits, NBFAA members asked that congressmen in the U.S. house of representatives support passage of H.R. 1409 by co-sponsoring the bill, support passage out of the house education and labor committee and the U.S. house, and that the bill be introduced in the U.S. Senate, with the ultimate passage of this life safety legislation.