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HIT THE HILLERS
IT'S TIME TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS
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Dear Members,
The annual NCISS "Hit the Hill" Day is Tuesday, April 8th. It's time to begin scheduling your Congressional appointments. This year, we are urging all attendees to make their own appointments.
Please make your appointments, if possible, so that you have from 12:30 to 1:30 to attend
our luncheon. Lobb
yit has made arrangements for us to have lunch in one of the rooms at the Rayburn House Office Building. This is a first!
Here is the address:
2203 Rayburn House Office Building
Date: 8 April 2014
Time: 12:30 - 1:30 PM
I. Contact your lawmakers: Contact both your US Senator (s) and Congressional Representative (s) to request an appointment. You may also request an appointment with the Representative serving the district where your office is located. To find your Representative, go to www.house.gov. On the first page, enter your zip code on the "find your representative" link. This will link you to the website of your member of the House. Use www.senate.gov to locate the websites of your senators.
II. Obtain contact information: Each website for a Member of Congress will have a "contact" link, listing phone and/or email contact information. Some may have specific instructions for requesting appointments. If there are specific instructions, please follow them. Usually, they' will want an email explaining why you want an appointment. Given a choice, I suggest you start with a phone call to the Washington office. If you have any difficulty finding the number, you can call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 where you can be connected directly.
III. Phone call message: Ask to speak to the appointment scheduler and say, "I am calling to request an appointment on April 8th with Representative (or Senator) ____________. I would like to discuss several issues affecting my investigation (or security business)." Most of the time, you will then be asked to send information about issues of concern. If you leave a message and don't receive a response in a couple of days, call back. You may have to call several times. You may also contact the local Congressional office for assistance. That number is listed as a contact on the congressional websites.
IV. Meeting with staff. If it becomes clear at any point that you won't be able to meet with the member of Congress, ask to meet with staff. If you are urged to meet with staff instead of the member of Congress, ask to meet with the person handling privacy, social security, or security issues. Do not be disappointed. The legislative staff is a critical part of the legislative process, are typically current on the issues, and often make recommendations to the elected representative
V. Sample appointment request letter:
"I am writing to request an appointment on April 8th with Representative (or Senator) ______________. I would like to discuss several issues affecting my investigation (or security) business." I'm in town with the annual congressional visit day of the National Council of Investigation & Security Services. I am interested in discussing...(security or investigation key issues are listed below)
__________________________________________________________
To avoid duplicate appointments as well as trying to meet with as many Representatives and Senators as time permits, please email me at
You can still register, although there may not be rooms available at the Hit the Hill Hotel. Here is the link to the registration form for our 2014 Mid-Term Meeting and Hit the Hill event in Washington, DC April 6-8
Registration: HIT THE HILL
All of the events surrounding Hit the Hill will be held at the Hotel Monaco in Old Town Alexandria in the midst of many interesting shops and restaurants. Hotel reservation information is also on this form. Try the hotel first and if they are booked, I am sure they would happy to refer you to one nearby. Capitol Hill is a short metro train ride away from the hotel, stopping next to the Capitol Hill Club, Cannon House Office Building, and Lobbyit's Capitol Hill office at 430 New Jersey Ave., SE. Early indications are that this may be our best attended Hit the Hill in years, so you may want to book your hotel right away. We will attempt to increase our room block if we get sold out.
For those of you unable to attend, you will see that there is a section on the form to make a donation of any amount to our Legislation Fund. For most of you, $35 from your dues goes to our legislation fund and the remainder goes to cover our day to day operating expenses, overhead, and our Executive Director fee. Funding our lobbying program costs well over $35 per person, and we are only able to continue with your generous donations, and donations from many of our state and international association members. Everyone attending this event in Washington does so at their own expense, and their generosity benefits all of us in this profession. Whether you are able to give $25, $100, or more, your donation will be greatly appreciated and put to good use protecting our best interests. Even if you are attending, any donation is greatly appreciated.
Anyone making a Legislative Fund donation of any amount on the registration form will be placed into a drawing for free membership dues for 2015 or for a free registration to our Annual Conference in Las Vegas in September. It is your choice. The drawing will be held during Hit the Hill, so please donate today. Your name will be along with all of the donors in a future NCISS eReport. Amounts will not be listed unless the donation is $300 or more.
Best Regards,Bob Heales
President, NCISS
7501 Sparrows Point Blvd.
Baltimore, Maryland 21219
800.445.8408
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KEY SECURITY ISSUES
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1. S 1737 -- Minimum Wage Fairness Act
S 1737 was introduced on 11/19/13 and placed on the Senate Legislative calendar (bypassing committee). The sponsor is Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), the bill currently has 29 cosponsors. Companion Bill: HR1010.
The bill would provide for an increase in the federal minimum wage and to amend the Internal Revenue Code to extend increased expensing limitations and the treatment of certain real property. Minimum wage would progressively increase from $8.20 per hour for the first 6 months, $9.15 an hour six months later then $10.10 an hour the following year.
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Many NCISS member security companies would be harmed by an increased minimum wage requirement.
2. S 1837 -- Equal Employment for All Act of 2013
S 1837 was introduced on 12/17/13 and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. The sponsor is Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), the bill currently has 9 cosponsors. Companion Bill: HR 645
The legislation would prohibit employers from checking the credit history of potential employees. The prohibition applies regardless of whether the potential employee consents to a credit check.
- NCISS member security companies would be limited in their ability to fully vet potential employees under this bill.
3. National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Pending Rules
The "Ambush" Rule
On March 11, 2014, the NLRB proposed new regulations that would radically change the process for union representation elections, effectively shortening election time frames and limiting employees' opportunity to hear from employers before making a crucial workplace decision.
Right now, the median time between petition and election is 38 days. Under the original ambush election proposal, the time frame could have been as short as 10 days. The shorter the election, the less time employers and employees have to communicate about the general disadvantages of unions or about a specific union attempting to organize the workplace.
- The proposed rule is based on a false premise, violates employer speech rights, and denies employees the ability to make an informed decision about representation.
Hope to see you in April!
 | | Maria Landry |
NCISS Legislative Chair - Security
(985) 882-5247
mlandry@vinsonguard.com
Legislative Archives:
http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs052/1102296473151/archive/1110377933456.htm
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KEY INVESTIGATIVE ISSUES
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1. Death Master File (DMF)
In December, 2013, Congress passed a budget deal which included limitations on public access to the Death Master File (DMF). The provision is expected to save $700 Million. While this provision is now the law, the Department of Commerce is responsible for promulgating regulations to allow a variety of legitimate uses. Commerce is scheduled to release an interim final rule by March 29, which will then be subject to public comment. - Commerce needs to hear from PI's and their Members of Congress to ensure that DMF access for Private Investigators (PIs) is maintaine
2. Pretexting
On February 12, Chairman Rockefeller introduced S. 2025, the Data Broker Accountability and Transparency Act.
- Importantly, this bill contains a prohibition of "pretexting" by data brokers..
Specifically, S. 2025 includes the following language:
SEC. 3. PROHIBITION ON OBTAINING OR SOLICITATION TO OBTAIN PERSONAL INFORMATION BY FALSE PRETENSES.
(a) In General.--It shall be unlawful for a data broker to obtain or attempt to obtain, or cause to be disclosed or attempt to cause to be disclosed to any person, personal information or any other information relating to any person by making a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation to any person, including by providing any document to any person, that the data broker knows or should know to be forged, counterfeit, lost, stolen, or fraudulently obtained, or contains a false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation.
(b) Solicitation.--It shall be unlawful for a data broker to request a person to obtain personal information, or any other information, relating to any other person if the data broker knows or should know that the person to whom the request is made will obtain or attempt to obtain that information in the manner described in subsection (a).
- NCISS Members must insure that private investigators are not swept into the definition of data brokers, and should ask for a specific statutory exemption.
3. Geolocational Privacy Act
S. 639, the Geolocational Privacy and Surveillance Act (Wyden) would require consent of the subject when using GPS technology for tracking individuals.
Companion Legislation: HR 1312. Prohibits intentionally intercepting or disclosing geolocational information. Amends the US code to specify the circumstances in which a person may acquire geolocation information.
Exceptions include: (1) information acquired by a provider of a covered service (electronic communication service, remote computing service, or geolocation information service) in the normal course of business; (2) federal officers, employees, or agents conducting foreign intelligence surveillance; (3) persons having given prior consent; (4) public information; (5) emergency information; (6) theft; and (7) a warrant.
- S.639 must be amended to include an exemption for PIs.
The bills listed for both investigation and security vital to our busineses. It is incumbant for all of us to help ourselves, our colleagues, and our clients fight restrictive legislation. None of us can do it individually. The first line of defense is to attend Hit the Hill. If you cannot attend, please contact your representative in their home office. If you need assistance in what to say, please contact me and I will provide talking points or a proposed script that you can adapt for your meeting.
Do not hesitate to call me or send me an email if I can help in any way.
 | | Francie Koehler. |
Legislative Archives:
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Your Membership, Your Voice ...
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The National Council of Investigation and Security Services, Inc., is a cooperative effort of those companies and associations responsible for providing private security and investigation services to the legal profession, business community, government and the public.
It is the role of NCISS to meet and solve these problems while seeking to uncover and recommend action on any hidden potential problems which may have an effect on our profession.
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NCISS Board
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Executive Council
President
Bob Heales
1st Vice President
James Huckabee
2nd Vice President
Tom Shamshak
3rd Vice President
Dean Beers
Secretary
Debbie Anderson
Treasurer
Brad Duffy
Chair
Jim Zimmer
Executive Director
Carol Ward
DirectorsRegion 1 Terry Myer
Region 2
Thomas Jackson
Region 3
Ken Cummins
Region 4
Greg Carter
Region 5
Andrea Orozco
Region 6
Tawni Tyndal
Members at Large
Dean Gluth Bill Fletcher Dr. Daniel Benny Larry Flannery
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Office Depot Discount Program
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As a member, you can save with the NCISS Office Discount. There is no cost to you. You get a savings and Office Depot donates to NCISS on each transaction.
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Save up to 80% off preferred products
Effective July 1st all online Office Depot orders will be delivered next day with a $5.95 shipping & handling charge for orders is $50.00. Orders exceeding $50.00 are delivered next day for free.
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NCISS Endorsed Insurance Provider
Brownyard Programs
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NCISS ENDORSED INSURANCE PROGRAMS
Available ONLY to
NCISS Members
NCISS PI
INSURANCE PLAN
NCISS GUARD
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for Guard Companies...
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Provides lower cost Workers Compensation Insurance to select, high quality NCISS security guard member companies.
To contact for more information:
E-Mail: Info@BrownyardPrograms.com
Website: www.BrownyardPrograms.com
Tel # 631-581-9300
Fax #: 631-581-9385
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