June 15, 2005   SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR FEDERAL LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN SECURITY AT CHEMICAL FACILITIES Collins chairs hearing today in which DHS expresses support for federal regulation   Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) today chaired a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to examine what has been done to secure chemical facilities, what remains to be done to guard them against being used by terrorists as weapons, and whether federal legislation is needed to strengthen security at these sites. Administration officials from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testified at the hearing today. Most notably, the Administration for the first time testified publicly that the Department supports federal legislation to regulate security at the nation’s chemical facilities. “For the first time, the Administration is stating clearly before Congress that current laws are not adequate to the task of improving security of chemical plants. Federal legislation is needed,” said Senator Collins. “The clear statement from the Administration that it supports new legislation and will work with this Committee to draft a bill is a welcome and appreciated development. While I had hoped for more detail on what specific authority the Administration believes is needed, the acknowledgment that current laws are inadequate is a positive first step.” Today’s hearing was the second of a series of hearings that Senator Collins expects to hold to examine the issue. At the hearing, the DHS Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection, Robert Stephan, outlined “principles” that the Department believes are important for future legislation to address, including the recognition that different facilities present different levels of risk, that facility security should be based on reasonable, clear, and equitable performance standards, and that many companies have already made some progress to improve security. EPA has cataloged some 15,000 facilities in the United States that manufacture, use or store hazardous chemicals for productive, legitimate purposes in amounts that could cause extensive harm if turned against us as weapons. DHS, using a different methodology, has identified 3,400 facilities that could affect more than 1,000 people if attacked. Only a fraction of the nation’s chemical facilities are regulated for security by the federal government or subscribe to voluntary industry security standards. “These chemical facilities are not hidden. We know they exist, we know precisely where they are and what they contain. So do the terrorists,” said Senator Collins. “It is time to reduce the vulnerability of our nation’s chemical facilities to attack. It is time for us to work together with the Administration, the industry, environmental groups and other interested parties to draft a bipartisan bill.”   ###   Printable Version   « previous Press Release next Press Release »   1998 - 1999 - 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006 - 2007 June 2005 Press Releases   June 29 - IN RESPONSE TO COLLINS-LIEBERMAN COMMITTEE INVESTIGATION, STATE DEPARTMENT AND TERRORIST SCREENING CENTER ANNOUNCE AGREEMENT TO SHARE TERRORIST INFORMATION   June 27 - SENATOR COLLINS COMMENDS DHS REPORT TO COORDINATE HOMELAND SECURITY EFFORTS WITH CANADA & MEXICO   June 24 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON LINDA SPRINGER   June 23 - SENATOR COLLINS PRESSES FOR STRONGER TRADE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION FROM FOREIGN MANUFACTURERS   June 22 - COMMITTEE APPROVES COLLINS - FEINGOLD BILL TO SAVE TAXPAYERS $300 MILLION ANNUALLY BY ELIMINATING WASTEFUL SPENDING IN PURCHASE CARD PROGRAM   June 22 - COMMITTEE APPROVES SENATOR COLLINS’ BILL TO INCREASE SUPPORT FOR AMBULANCE, RESCUE & OTHER EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES   June 22 - COMMITTEE APPROVES COLLINS-CARPER POSTAL REFORM LEGISLATION   June 21 - SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FOR FIRST RESPONDERS   June 21 - SENATOR COLLINS CHAIRS HEARING ON JUVENILE DIABETES   June 17 - SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN ANNOUNCE RECEIPT OF THOUSANDS OF PAGES OF BRAC-RELATED DOCUMENTS, SECURE COMMITMENT FROM SECRETARY ENGLAND THAT ADDL REQUESTS WILL BE RESPONDED TO   June 16 - SENATOR COLLINS CALLS FOR CRACKDOWN ON GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS WHO CHEAT ON THEIR TAXES, POSE UNFAIR COMPEITITION   June 15 current Press Release   June 13 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RESPONDS FURTHER TO SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN’S SUBPOENA, DELIVERS ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS TO THE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE   June 12 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RELEASES MORE BRAC-RELATED DOCUMENTS FOLLOWING SENATORS COLLINS, LIEBERMAN ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENA LAST WEEK   June 10 - SENATOR COLLINS STATEMENT ON NCTC DIRECTOR NOMINATION   June 10 - SENATOR COLLINS’ STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT’S NOMINATIONS FOR PRIVACY & CIVIL LIBERTIES OVERSIGHT BOARD   June 8 - SENATOR COLLINS JOINS EFFORT TO CRACK DOWN ON SAUDI SUPPORT FOR TERRORISM   June 7 - SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN ISSUE SUBPOENA FOR BASE CLOSURE DOCUMENTS   June 2 - DoD RELEASED BRAC DATA INSUFFICIENT, ACCORDING TO SENATORS COLLINS AND LIEBERMAN
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 340 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510