Homeland Security Democrats Pass Chemical Security Legislation
After months of hard work, and over the course of a contentious two day markup, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, applauded the Committee’s passage of significant legislation to secure our nation’s chemical security plants.
“’The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006’ passed by this Committee helps eliminate vulnerabilities at chemical plants all around our country,” said Rep. Thompson.
The bill realizes a number of principles that Homeland Security Democrats have long advocated, including a provision to establish a federal floor, not ceiling, for chemical plant security regulations that was offered by Rep. James Langevin (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack.
“I am pleased that the bill and report language will make it clear that states may craft laws that go above and beyond federal mandates to keep their communities safe,” said Rep. Langevin. “This critical amendment clarifies the bill’s language to explicitly permit local governments to better protect residents located in or around chemical facilities.”
The bill also included a common sense provision from Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), which requires that high-risk chemical facilities use technology methods to reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack where the Secretary deems it is feasible and a board made up of federal agencies and industry representatives agrees. This provision also protects low risk facilities from forced mandates which may not be appropriate.
"Reducing the impact of a terrorist attack on high risk chemical plants is one of the most important responsibilities of this committee. It's time that we force high-risk chemical facilities to use every option available to reduce the consequences of a terrorist attack on the communities surrounding them," said Rep. Markey.
Also included in the bill is the authority for the Secretary to place the country’s chemical plants into tiers based on risk, and to set security performance standards which increase in rigor for the higher risk groups.
For More Information:
Please contact Dena Graziano or Todd Levett at (202) 226-2616.
