AIT Alliance Names Washington Representative Winner of Automatic Identification Technology Award

Pittsburgh, PA — July 5, 2016 – AIM North America (AIM NA), the industry association and authority on barcode, RFID, RTLS, the Internet of Things, NFC, and mobile computing, announced that it has named US Representative Rick Larsen (D-WA-2) the recipient of the 2016 Automatic Identification Technology (AIT) Award.
 
The AIT Award, created in 2013, is presented annually to an individual, committee, group, or organization from the government sector that has championed the successful use of automatic identification technology within local, state, or national government.  It is sponsored by the AIT Alliance, a committee of AIM North America dedicated to raising awareness about AIT and encouraging the adoption of AIT policies within U.S. government agencies and the U.S. government contractor community.
 
In selecting Representative Larsen for this year’s honor, the AIT Alliance cited his significant commitment to promoting the use of automatic identification technologies in the Department of Defense (DoD). 

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Larsen supported H.R.4909, FY 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes language that would direct the Defense Contract Management Agency to adopt implement, and verify item-unique identification (IUID) standards across the DoD and the defense industrial base.  The bill also directs other DoD agencies to brief Congress on their efforts to fully implement the IUID policy.  Additionally, Representative Larsen’s office has been instrumental in coordinating high-level Congressional briefings with the House Armed Services Committee officials on AIT compliance.

“It is an honor to receive this award,” said Larsen, a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Providing our armed forces with the technology to make data-driven decisions about their equipment allows service members to maximize their resources while making the most of taxpayer dollars, and I appreciate the Association’s support of these efforts.”
 
“The AIT Alliance is thankful for the bipartisan support this legislation received from members of the House Armed Services Committee, and to Representative Larsen for leading the way,” said Mary Lou Bosco, Chief Operating Officer of AIM NA.  “We applaud his consistent support of the role automatic identification technologies can play in the government and are pleased to recognize his efforts.”
 
Representative Larsen is serving his eighth term in the US House of Representatives. Larsen is a leader on transportation and aviation, trade, and U.S.-China relations. He is the ranking member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Aviation, serves on the House Armed Services Committee, and is founder of several Caucus Leadership efforts, including the U.S.-China Working Group and the Congressional Arctic Working Group. He is a strong advocate for pro-growth policies that support innovation, job creation, and a strong economic foundation.

Press Contact: Mary Lou Bosco — marylou@aimglobal.org — 1 (724) 742-4473

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