Event Report: Security Industry Leaders Take Their Stories to Capitol Hill on Security Hill Day

The Security Industry Association (SIA), with support from the Electronic Security Association (ESA), hosted the 2024 Security Hill Day March 5-6, bringing together nearly 50 security industry executives in Washington, D.C., to promote industrywide policy priorities on Capitol Hill. For this year’s Security Hill Day, which was generously sponsored by Alcatraz, Allstate Security Industries, Allegion, Amazon, Avangrid, CPI Security Systems, Doyle, Loud Security Systems, Resideo, The Monitoring Association and Trinity Wiring & Security Solutions, policy priorities ranged from artificial intelligence (AI) and school security to workforce development, counter-UAS and various critical homeland security grant programs.

To open the event on March 5, special guest speaker Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.), spoke to attendees about his work in Congress on AI and the newly formed House AI Caucus, of which he serves as the co-chair. Rep. Obernolte was also awarded the SIA Legislator of the Year Award for his leadership and work on AI and continued support for our industry. Attendees then heard from Michael Richards, director of policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Technology Engagement Center. Roberts provided an update on his work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s state and federal artificial intelligence portfolio and AI Policy Working Group, which comprises over 100 companies and trade associations, including SIA.

The following day started with a policy breakfast session and featured special guests highlighting key subject areas: Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) covering homeland security and border security needs, Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) providing an update on House Appropriations Committee’s work on homeland security and Kelly Murray, associate director for chemical security at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, highlighting the need for Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards reauthorization. Attendees also heard from key congressional leadership staff on several key issues and the political operations of the House Majority Whip’s Office.

Following the policy breakfast, attendees spent the day meeting with lawmakers and their staff from both the House and Senate to convey the industry’s policy priorities and educate on the important role our industry plays in manufacturing, providing and installing the security technologies that protect the American people and our nation’s critical assets and infrastructure.

In one day alone, attendees completed over 65 meetings with house and senate offices, including over 40% of the U.S. Senate. Lawmakers and their staff rely on these meetings and firsthand accounts from company executives detailing how various policies impact their business, their employees, customers and the general public when making critical policy decisions.

Whether it’s dispelling myths, educating offices on industry needs and priorities, encouraging action or simply creating lasting relationships – it cannot be overstated how impactful Security Hill Day is for our industry’s voice in Washington, DC.

Thank you to all our executives in attendance, speakers and event sponsors for making Security Hill Day a resounding success yet again. View SIA’s photo gallery here for more highlights!