Trade Associations
News releases, reports, statements and associated documents from national and international trade associations influencing the debate on federal policies.
Featured Stories
Watch Out for Scammers Claiming to Be From the Social Security Administration
ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Council of Better Business Bureaus issued the following news release:
The New Year means the start of tax season. The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious calls that claim to be from the Social Security Administration. Scammers are ramping up their efforts to steal Social Security numbers to use in filing fraudulent tax returns.
How the Scam Works
You answer the phone, and it's someone alleging to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or another government entity. The name on your caller ID may even back
... Show Full Article
ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Council of Better Business Bureaus issued the following news release:
The New Year means the start of tax season. The Federal Trade Commission is warning people to be on the lookout for suspicious calls that claim to be from the Social Security Administration. Scammers are ramping up their efforts to steal Social Security numbers to use in filing fraudulent tax returns.
How the Scam Works
You answer the phone, and it's someone alleging to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or another government entity. The name on your caller ID may even backthat up that claim. The caller says your social security number has been used to fraudulently apply for a credit card or commit another crime. In order to fix the situation, the caller needs you to confirm your SSN and other personal information. If you don't cooperate, the caller threatens to take you to court or have your Social Security number blocked or revoked.
No matter the details, the stories are designed to induce fear. Scammers hope that under pressure you will tell them your SSN and other sensitive personal information. Scammers can use SSNs to commit identity theft and file tax returns in your name to steal your refund.
How to Avoid the Scam
* Never give personal information to unsolicited callers. If someone contacts you without your permission, refuse to tell them any personal information.
* Remember, the SSA will never call you asking for your Social Security number. They will never ask you to pay anything, nor will they threaten your benefits.
* Don't trust your caller ID. The internet has made it possible for scammers to use fake IDs when they call your home. If you receive a suspicious call, don't make any important decisions based on what your caller ID says.
* Contact the Social Security Administration: If you are concerned about a call you received from someone who claims to be with the SSA, you can call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
For More Information
To learn more about other kinds of scams, go to BBB.org/ScamTips.
If you've been targeted by this scam, help others avoid the same problem by reporting your experience at FTC.gov/Complaint and BBB.org/ScamTracker.
[Category: Business]
Perna 'Responsible' for Fixing Army Housing
ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news, dated March 20:
The inspection and condition of Army housing is now being overseen by the U.S. Army Materiel Command, whose commander has vowed to restore soldiers' and families' confidence in the service's commitment to their welfare and safety.
Army Secretary Mark T. Esper and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley launched a sweeping inspection of on-post housing following reports of widespread problems with potential hazards and serious maintenance issues, mostly in privatized housing.
The U.S. Army
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news, dated March 20:
The inspection and condition of Army housing is now being overseen by the U.S. Army Materiel Command, whose commander has vowed to restore soldiers' and families' confidence in the service's commitment to their welfare and safety.
Army Secretary Mark T. Esper and Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley launched a sweeping inspection of on-post housing following reports of widespread problems with potential hazards and serious maintenance issues, mostly in privatized housing.
The U.S. ArmyInstallation Management Command (IMCOM), which is responsible for on-post housing, on March 1 became a major subordinate command of U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC). In remarks at a recent event hosted by the Association of the U.S. Army's Institute of Land Warfare, AMC Commander Gen. Gus Perna said he is now "the responsible commander."
"Now that IMCOM works for AMC, I am the responsible commander for all that housing on all these installations. It's not only the partnered housing, but it's the government housing and the barracks on top of that," he said, noting that the effort involves "110,000 housing units and countless more barracks spaces."
To address the issues with base housing, Perna said, Esper and Milley put forth clear guidelines that include town halls, quarters inspections, the implementation of 24-hour hotlines and reporting on the status and completion "to the right standard" of work orders to address and improve life, health and safety.
"We are taking responsibility in this effort, and we will work our way through the solution," Perna promised, emphasizing AMC's goal of ensuring soldiers and their families feel confident "that Army leadership is responsible, and we'll take care of them."
Just as important, he said, is making sure soldiers feel they're getting their money's worth with good, quality housing.
"The secretary and the chief stood up and said, 'We are responsible for the condition of our housing areas, and we will take responsibility,' and we're going to move out and fix it," Perna said. "I hold myself accountable to that end."
[Category: National Defense]
Landmark IoT Security Summit Gathers Industry Cybersecurity Experts and Leaders to Build Cross-Sector Guidelines for Securing Connected Devices
WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The Information Technology Industry Council issued the following news release, dated March 21:
The Council to Secure the Digital Economy (CSDE), a partnership that represents thousands of companies across the globe that play key roles in the digital economy, today convened 18 major cybersecurity and technology organizations in an unprecedented effort to identify baseline security standards for the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace.
The CSDE, led by USTelecom - The Broadband Association and The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) and with strategic
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WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The Information Technology Industry Council issued the following news release, dated March 21:
The Council to Secure the Digital Economy (CSDE), a partnership that represents thousands of companies across the globe that play key roles in the digital economy, today convened 18 major cybersecurity and technology organizations in an unprecedented effort to identify baseline security standards for the rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT) marketplace.
The CSDE, led by USTelecom - The Broadband Association and The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) and with strategicpartner the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)TM, spearheaded the multi-stakeholder workshop in support of the U.S. Departments of Commerce (DOC) and Homeland Security's (DHS) Anti-Botnet Road Map that calls for more extensive government-industry engagement, and more broadly in response to international regulatory activities.
Jonathan Spalter, President and CEO, USTelecom; Jason Oxman, President and CEO, ITI; and Gary Shapiro, President and CEO, CTA; said "Connected devices are transforming the way we live, work and play, but with this unprecedented connectivity and innovation comes a higher risk of cyberattack and malicious activity. CSDE is confronting this issue head on by coming together - across different industry sectors - to forge consensus around these essential security standards. Our goal: Deliver the power of anytime/anywhere connectivity and the confidence of device security to consumers and IoT users everywhere."
With an estimated 20 billion IoT connected devices in service worldwide by 2020, the cyberattack surface is substantial and growing. By 2021, the global cost of cyber-crimes is expected to reach $6 trillion annually- the equivalent of almost Japan's entire economy, the 2 third largest in the world. In addition to rising costs, the summit aims to help consumers have more peace of mind when connected technologies without fear of threats to their security or privacy. The CSDE-led group will share its findings with government bodies and international organizations, including the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) teams working on baseline security.
In November, CSDE released the 2018 International Anti-Botnet Guide to help governments and organizations reverse the growing trend of security breaches in connected devices. Coinciding with the report's release, CSDE held an event featuring government officials and industry leaders discussing the need for public and private sector collaboration to effectively combat cybersecurity threats. The meeting featured keynotes from Christopher C. Krebs, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and Evelyn Remaley, Deputy Associate Administrator, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA).
Participants in the CSDE IoT security summit included:
* Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
* Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS)
* CableLabs
* U.S. Chamber of Commerce
* Coalition for Cybersecurity Policy and Law
* CTA
* CTIA
* Internet of Secure Things (IoXT)
* Internet Society (ISOC) / Online Trust Alliance (OTA)
* IoTopia
* ITI
* Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF)
* Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA)
* UL
* USTelecom
* Industrial Internet Consortium (IIC)
* Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)
[Category: Computer Technology]
Global Thought-Leaders Among Featured Speakers at Investments & Wealth Institute 2019 Annual Conference Experience
DENVER, Colorado, March 23 -- The Investment Management Consultants Association issued the following news release, dated March 21:
More than 1,500 advisors from across the nation will gather for the Investments & Wealth Institute 2019 Annual Conference Experience--ACE, May 5-8, 2019, at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This industry-acclaimed conference is packed with investment and wealth management thought leaders and includes numerous industry experts and innovators. This year's conference will feature seven general sessions led by:
* Herman Brodie, founding director, Prospecta Limited
*
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DENVER, Colorado, March 23 -- The Investment Management Consultants Association issued the following news release, dated March 21:
More than 1,500 advisors from across the nation will gather for the Investments & Wealth Institute 2019 Annual Conference Experience--ACE, May 5-8, 2019, at the ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. This industry-acclaimed conference is packed with investment and wealth management thought leaders and includes numerous industry experts and innovators. This year's conference will feature seven general sessions led by:
* Herman Brodie, founding director, Prospecta Limited
*Alexandra Cole, co-founder, Purpose Generation
* Adam Grant, PhD, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, The Wharton School
* Raghuram Rajan, PhD, Katherine Dusak Miller Distinguished Service Professor of Finance, Chicago Booth
* Cam Marston, president, Generational Insights
* Marci Rossell, PhD, journalist and economist
* John Sileo, founder and chief executive officer, The Sileo Group
In addition, ACE will also offer two pre-conference workshops:
* Wealth Management Workshop: An Overview of the CPWA Body of Knowledge in collaboration with Yale School of Management with John Nersesian, CIMA(R), CPWA(R), CIS, CFP(R), head of advisor education, PIMCO
* Professional Conduct and Regulation (Ethics) with Marguerita Cheng, CFP(R), RICP(R), chief executive officer, Blue Ocean Global Wealth
ACE will begin with the first general session following the pre-conference workshops on Sunday, May 5, at 5 p.m. General sessions, super sessions, deep dives, facilitated labs, and workshops offer attendees a variety of learning options based on tracks that align with their interests, including the following: investment management, wealth management, advanced business strategies, retirement management, distribution excellence, and institutional consulting.
ACE also will offer attendees unique experiences and new forums for learning such as EDTalks on the Exhibit Hall floor, book signings, and an Oculus virtual reality experience. Also new this year are a NexGen Reception that will feature Vegas gaming lessons, a VIP Women in Wealth Luncheon, and an International Member Breakfast.
ACE 2019 in Las Vegas offers up to 24 hours of live and online continuing education (CE) credit, including one hour of ethics CE for Certified Investment Management Analyst(R) (CIMA(R)), Certified Private Wealth Advisor(R) (CPWA(R)), and Retirement Management Advisor(R) (RMA(R)) certificants.
[Category: Financial Services]
Center Favors More U.S. Troops in Europe
ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news, dated March 20:
Enhancing the U.S. military's posture in Europe could better deter Russian aggression by showing resolve and reducing Russian advantages, according to a new report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
Placing U.S. troops closer to potential Russian objectives "could undermine Russia's confidence in its theory of victory and give Moscow significant pause when contemplating a conventional attack on any NATO member state," says the report, "Strengthening the Defense of
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ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 23 -- The Association of the U.S. Army issued the following news, dated March 20:
Enhancing the U.S. military's posture in Europe could better deter Russian aggression by showing resolve and reducing Russian advantages, according to a new report from the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
Placing U.S. troops closer to potential Russian objectives "could undermine Russia's confidence in its theory of victory and give Moscow significant pause when contemplating a conventional attack on any NATO member state," says the report, "Strengthening the Defense ofNATO's Eastern Frontier."
"If deterrence were to fail, an enhanced U.S. posture could better enable NATO to contest a Russian attack at the start of a conflict and delay Russia from achieving its objectives long enough to buy time for major U.S. and NATO reinforcements to arrive in theater."
The report comes as the U.S. is considering what a senior Defense Department official called a "very serious, robust" $2 billion proposal for a permanent U.S. base in Poland. Kathryn Wheelbarger, acting assistant defense secretary for international security affairs, said an agreement could be finalized in six months, but it could be two or three years before a base is built.
Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti, who is expected to step down soon as U.S. European Command commander and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told the House Armed Services Committee there are benefits to having a new permanent base, but he also sees value in the current U.S. policy of rotating U.S.-based forces to Europe for training and then sending them home. "I am perfectly content with the large forces that are rotating today," he said.
Air Force Gen. Tod Wolters, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Africa and the Allied Air Command, has been proposed by the Defense Department as Scaparrotti's successor. Wolters' nomination is pending before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The center's report is available here: https://csbaonline.org/research/publications/strengthening-the-defense-of-natos-eastern-frontier
[Category: National Defense]
Bottled Water Industry Supports Access to Clean Water for World Water Day 2019
ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 23 -- The International Bottled Water Association issued the following news release, dated March 21:
In recognition of World Water Day 2019, members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are highlighting the importance of people having access to safe, clean drinking water. The United Nations' World Water Day is always held on March 22 and this year's theme is "Water for All."
"Water is essential for human life -- vital for the health and proper functioning of the body," said Jill Culora, IBWA's vice president of communications. "People should drink
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ALEXANDRIA, Virginia, March 23 -- The International Bottled Water Association issued the following news release, dated March 21:
In recognition of World Water Day 2019, members of the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) are highlighting the importance of people having access to safe, clean drinking water. The United Nations' World Water Day is always held on March 22 and this year's theme is "Water for All."
"Water is essential for human life -- vital for the health and proper functioning of the body," said Jill Culora, IBWA's vice president of communications. "People should drinkwater in all forms - whether from the tap, filtered or bottled. And its especially important for people on the go to stay hydrated by choosing water over other less healthy sugary drinks."
"As the bottled water industry promotes water consumption, it also supports a strong public water system, which is important for providing citizens with clean and safe drinking water. But there are times that public water systems are compromised, and when this happens, bottled water also plays a vital role by providing the clean drinking water that people need."
"Because the bottled water industry is strong and viable year-round, with bottling plants located throughout the country, it is well-poised to step in and quickly provide clean drinking water in times of emergencies," said Culora.
Currently bottled water companies are continuing to supply bottled water to residents of Flint, Michigan, in the aftermath of a lead contamination of the public water supply that started in 2014, as well as recent flood and tornado survivors in the Midwest and South. In recent years, IBWA members have supplied bottled water to residents facing public water contaminations in Toledo, Ohio, which was caused by a toxin from an algae bloom in Lake Erie, and in Charleston, West Virginia, following a chemical spill. The industry regularly acts in response to various hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters as they occur, she said.
The bottled water industry recognizes that clean drinking water remains limited or unavailable in many parts of the world. Bottled water companies are doing their part to help when possible and regularly assist communities around the world by providing clean, sanitary drinking water in areas where insufficient water delivery infrastructure poses serious health risks.
The bottled water industry also does its part in protecting and preserving water resources. Bottled water is both sustainable and renewable, and has the lowest water footprint of any packaged beverage.
"Water conservation is something that has always been critical to the bottled water industry's mission," said Culora. "Bottled water companies are good stewards of the environment, and they are continuously developing efficient ways to use and conserve water sources in order to help ensure that future generations have access to these sustainable water resources.
Bottled water companies are continuously dependent upon a safe, fresh supply of water. Contrary to many false claims, they do not "drain aquifers" or use more water than can be replenished. Constructing bottled water plants are a very costly endeavor, and the water used must be renewable to justify the investment that bottled water manufacturers make to bring a source to market. It is a business decision made after extensive analysis of source water sustainability and plant impact. Once a bottling plant is built, water use and withdrawals are closely monitored by the company.
In addition, the industry actively supports comprehensive water use and groundwater management policies that are science-based, multi-jurisdictional, treat all users equitably, and provide for future needs of this important resource.
Research shows the the bottled water industry is a minimal user of water, and bottled water production accounts for just 0.01 percent of all water used in the United States. To put that figure into perspective, total U.S. bottled water consumption is about 18 billion gallons of water per year, which is the amount of tap water New York City uses in just 2.5 weeks.
Bottled water has the lowest water footprint of all packaged drinks. In North America, bottled water uses only 1.39 liters of water (including the 1 liter consumed) to produce a 1 liter product, according to a 2018 Antea Group study for IBWA.
[Category: Water]
APA Testifies at Congressional Hearing on Building Resilient Communities
WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The American Planning Association issued the following news release, dated March 13:
APA Legislative and Policy Committee member Jennifer Raitt testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) this morning.
Raitt, the director of planning and community development for the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts, spoke about the need for good planning, strategic investments, and strong federal-local partnerships can create safer and more resilient communities.
During her testimony, Raitt called upon Congress
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WASHINGTON, March 23 -- The American Planning Association issued the following news release, dated March 13:
APA Legislative and Policy Committee member Jennifer Raitt testified before the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation and Housing and Urban Development (T-HUD) this morning.
Raitt, the director of planning and community development for the Town of Arlington, Massachusetts, spoke about the need for good planning, strategic investments, and strong federal-local partnerships can create safer and more resilient communities.
During her testimony, Raitt called upon Congressto reject the administration's budget proposal and to boost funding for federal programs, such as CDBG, HOME, Choice Neighborhoods, BUILD (formerly TIGER), transit capital grants, and the range of surface transportation programs. Increasing funding to these key federal programs will continue to advance resiliency and expand opportunity in the nation's communities. She also urged Congress to make proven Department of Transportation (DOT) and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs even more impactful by improving evaluation and planning program mandates to better integrate resilience.
Improving the coordination of federal investments with local comprehrensive plans will heighten the impact of these efforts while avoiding waste, inefficiency, and compounding future losses from natural disasters.
* "APA and planners around the country are committed to creating just, healthy and prosperous communities that expand opportunity for all." Jennifer Raitt.
Raitt concluded her remarks stating that planners have a significant and direct role in planning for community resilience. While resiliency strategies and plans will be crafted and implemented locally, there is an essential partnership between local communities and the federal government.
APA's participation in today's congressional hearing reflects the long-standing advocacy efforts the association has undertaken on behalf of its members and the profession.
Watch the full hearing: (https://youtu.be/6b1HYfqaKx4)
[Category: Consulting]
