July 27, 2005   SENATOR COLLINS TO INTRODUCE CHEMICAL SECURITY LEGISLATION IN FALL Committee holds fourth hearing; Coast Guard, security chiefs testify   Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today chaired the fourth and final hearing to examine the security of the nation’s chemical industry against terrorist attacks. Today’s hearing featured testimony from the Coast Guard, company security chiefs, and other parties who are responsible for working to prevent and respond to emergencies at chemical sites. Senator Collins expects to introduce legislation in the fall to strengthen security at chemical facilities across the country. Currently, only a fraction of these sites are regulated for security by the federal government. “The goal of these hearings has been to help this Committee develop comprehensive, bipartisan legislation to address what clearly is one of our nation’s greatest homeland security vulnerabilities,” said Senator Collins. “We have learned that the United States is home to thousands of facilities that manufacture, use, or store chemicals for legitimate purposes that could cause devastation if turned against us as weapons. We have also learned that voluntary measures and a patchwork of state laws, while helpful, are not enough. Federal regulation is clearly necessary to ensure adequate and consistent security measures to protect both our communities and an industry that is vital to the American economy.” At today’s hearing, company security chiefs described the day-to-day challenges of securing chemical facilities and a local emergency manager gave expert testimony on responding to chemical incidents. A Rear Admiral of the United States Coast Guard also detailed the success of security measures implemented under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which has been praised for improving security at chemical facilities in our ports and waterways. During previous hearings on chemical security, key representatives of the chemical industry expressed support for federal legislation to regulate security at chemical facilities, including oversight and enforcement by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The Administration also testified in support of federal legislation to regulate security at chemical sites. As part of its examination of this issue, the Committee also heard from witnesses representing labor and environmental associations, chemical safety professionals, and homeland security experts. The Environmental Protection Agency has listed some 15,000 chemical facilities that produce, use or store large quantities of hazardous chemicals. The Department of Homeland Security, using a different methodology, has identified 3,400 facilities that could potentially affect more than 1,000 people if attacked, and nearly 300 chemical facilities where a toxic release could potentially affect 50,000 or more people.   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 July 2005 Press Releases   July 29 - Senator Collins Stresses Need For DHS Guidance And Oversight Of Visa Security Program   July 29 - Senator Collins’ Statement On GAO’s Paul Posner   July 27 current Press Release   July 27 - Senate Homeland Security Leaders Call For Increased Mass Transit Security Funding   July 26 - Senator Collins’ Legislation Stops U.S. Companies from Using Foreign Subsidiaries to Do Business with Terrorist States   July 22 - Senators Collins & Lieberman Criticize TSA for Violating Privacy Laws While Testing Passenger Prescreening System   July 22 - Senators Collins, Lieberman Launch Investigation into Mass Transit Security in the U.S.   July 21 - Senator Collins Says Move By China To Revalue Yuan Is Good First Step, More Needs To Be Done To Meet Fair Trade Standards   July 21 - Committee Approves Nominees For DHS IG, GSA IG, & TSA Administrator   July 20 - Feingold, Collins Provision To Watch Over Iraq Reconstruction Spending Included In Senate Foreign Ops Bill   July 19 - Senator Collins Applauds Maine Coast Guard Crew Involved In Major Cocaine Busts   July 18 - Senator Collins Announces $7.1 Million For Amtrak Security   July 14 - SENATOR COLLINS SPONSORS LEGISLATION TO ENSURE REASONABLE BORDER REQUIREMENTS FOR FREQUENT TRAVELERS TO CANADA   July 13 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN QUESTION INDUSTRY AND OTHER EXPERTS ON PRIORITIES FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO MAKE CHEMICAL FACILITIES MORE SECURE   July 13 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON DHS’ SECOND STAGE REVIEW   July 12 - SENATE APPROVES COLLINS-LIEBERMAN FIRST RESPONDER GRANT FORMULA, DOUBLES RISK-BASED HOMELAND SECURITY FUNDING   July 11 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN OFFER FIRST RESPONDER GRANT LEGISLATION AS AMENDMENT TO HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS BILL   July 10 - SENATORS COLLINS & LIEBERMAN RELEASE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE SAFEGUARDS IN FEMA’S DISASTER RELIEF PROGRAM   July 1 - COMMITTEE RELEASES WHITE HOUSE RESPONSE TO COLLINS-LIEBERMAN INTELLIGENCE REFORM OVERSIGHT LETTER
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510