[emergency] ANSI Forms Homeland Security Standards Panel // Standardsfor State and Local Preparedness

Allen, Rick et al.

In doing research on additional technical
standards in the emergency management space, I came across this recent
news release from ANSI and the attached Congressional Report.  While
this information relates primarily to non-technical, macro-level standards,
I thought that it would be worthwhile distributing it to the TC group.
 At some point, a liaison with this ANSI panel could be beneficial
to our mission.  Perhaps this could occur via existing OASIS relationships
such as NIST.

Karl Kotalik

NC4, A Division of Candle Corporation

310-727-4627

www.nc4.us

 

Homeland Security: Standards for State
and Local Preparedness.  

Congressional Research Service, January
2, 2003

 

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 

 

Copyright 2003 PR Newswire Association,
Inc.

         
                     
   PR Newswire

         
                  February
6, 2003, Thursday

 

HEADLINE: ANSI Forms Homeland Security
Standards Panel as Coordination Body for  Private and Public Sectors

 

DATELINE: NEW YORK, Feb. 6

 

   The American National
Standards Institute (ANSI), a private non-profit  organization that
administers and coordinates the U.S. voluntary standardization  and
conformity assessment systems, has announced the establishment of the  Homeland
Security Standards Panel (HSSP), a cross-sectoral coordinating body for
 the development and enhancement of Homeland Security and emergency
preparedness  standards.

 

    ANSI established the
HSSP in direct response to needs identified in the  January 2, 2003,
Report for Congress titled Homeland Security: Standards for  State
and Local Preparedness.  

 

"Neither the federal government,
nor the  nongovernmental sector presently has a comprehensive, consolidated
program for  developing new preparedness standards," the report
states. Formation of the  Panel also supports the March 1, 2003, transfer
of twenty-two federal agencies  to the new Department of Homeland
Security.

 

    The HSSP will promote
a positive, cooperative partnership between the public  and private
sectors.  Its initial tasks will be to catalog, promote, accelerate
 and coordinate the development of standards in Homeland Security
areas including  transportation, biometrics, cyber security, and interoperability
of  emergency-response equipment.  The HSSP will also identify
and communicate to  governmental units the existence of current standards
that can meet urgent  needs.

 

    "ANSI is uniquely
positioned to address the urgent national priorities in  homeland
security by facilitating the standardization efforts of the public and
 private sectors," said Dr. Arden L. Bement Jr., director of
the Commerce  Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology.
"ANSI is the  logical source in the private sector to undertake
this important initiative,  which complements NIST's role to coordinate
Federal activities in voluntary  standards.  NIST is pleased
to have been asked to provide the co-chair for this  very important
panel."

 

    "This is not the
first time that we have responded to calls from the  government and
industry when coordination challenges have presented themselves,"
 added Dr. George Arnold, chairman of the ANSI Board of Directors.
"The HSSP is  the latest example of the value that the Institute
provides on behalf of the  nation."

 

    Membership in the HSSP
will include representatives of industry, government,  professional
societies, trade associations, standards developers, and consortia  groups
directly involved in U.S. homeland security standardization.

 

    ANSI's mission is to
enhance U.S. global competitiveness and the American  quality of life
by promoting, facilitating, and safeguarding the integrity of  the
voluntary standardization system.  ANSI is the official U.S. representative
 to the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), the International
Organization  for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical
Commission  (IEC), via the U.S. National Committee.  The organization
has offices in  Washington, DC and New York City.

 

   SOURCE The American National
Standards Institute

 

CONTACT: Stacy Leistner, +1-212-642-4931,
or Stephanie Carroll, Marketing and  Public Relations Assistant, +1-212-642-4890,
or fax, +1-212-398-0023, or   both of American National
Standards Institute (ANSI)

 

URL: http://www.prnewswire.com

 

LOAD-DATE: February 7, 2003

 

Attachment:
crsreportSHS.pdf

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