July 31, 2008   LIEBERMAN COMMENDS DHS FOR START OF PRIVATE SECTOR PREPAREDNESS PROGRAM   Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman, ID-Conn., Thursday expressed satisfaction that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun implementation of its Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program. DHS announced that it has retained ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board to manage the program (ANAB), which will set standards and guidelines that businesses can voluntarily subscribe to in order to obtain a preparedness certification. ANAB is an internationally recognized organization that serves the conformity assessment needs of business and industry. “From the corner store to the multi-billion dollar corporation, the private sector has a shared responsibility with government to be prepared for disaster,” Lieberman said. “With proper preparation and training, thousands of American lives and jobs could be saved. Since DHS is four months behind in implementing this program, I encourage it to move onto the next steps with greater alacrity.” Approximately 85 percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure is privately owned, making private sector preparedness an essential part of our homeland security. Lieberman led the effort to enact a voluntary private sector preparedness accreditation and certification program, included within the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act (H.R. 1), which was signed into law on August 3, 2007. The program implemented a recommendation of the 9/11 Commission which found the private sector was largely unprepared for a terrorist attack and stated in its report, “private-sector preparedness is not a luxury; it is a cost of doing business in the post-9/11 world. It is ignored at a tremendous potential cost in lives, money, and national security.”   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2008 Press Releases   July 31 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS RELEASE DETAILS ON THE NATIONAL CYBER SECURITY INITIATIVE   July 31 current Press Release   July 29 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS REACT TO GAO REPORT ON MASSIVE TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSITION   July 23 - LIEBERMAN ASSESSES INFORMATION SHARING PROGRESS   July 23 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS CALL FOR CONTRACTING ACCOUNTABILITY   July 23 - IG REPORT INDICATES DHS MUST IMPROVE INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITY EFFORTS   July 22 - SENATORS LIEBERMAN AND COLLINS PROMOTE ENERGY ALTERNATIVES TO END AMERICA’S STRATEGIC VULNERABILITY   July 16 - NUCLEAR DETECTION SYSTEMS LACK COORDINATION AND WAY TO GAGE COST EFFECTIVENESS   July 11 - LIEBERMAN, COLLINS, CANTWELL INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO HELP CURB HIGH ENERGY AND FOOD PRICES   July 10 - COMMITTEE EXPLORES ROOTS OF IDEOLOGY THAT LEADS TO TERRORISM
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510