SIA and ESA Joint Letter of Support for the Skills Renewal Act

The Security Industry Association (SIA) and the Electronic Security Association (ESA) have expressed strong support for S. 3779 and H.R. 7032, the Skills Renewal Act, which would create a flexible skills training credit to cover costs associated with training courses and other postsecondary education programs for those who lost their jobs as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

In a June 17, 2020, letter to Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), SIA CEO Don Erickson and ESA CEO Merlin Guilbeau applauded the legislation for aiming to strengthen the United States’ labor force by allowing individuals to have greater flexibility in pursuing educational opportunities that can help advance their careers upon reentry into the workforce. Additionally, the letter highlights several SIA and ESA initiatives to address the security skills gap within the industry and help members identify and recruit qualified employees and encourages the authorization of funding for expenses necessary to obtain or maintain certification or licensure credentials that are separate for preparatory educational and training programs.