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Rep. Gus Bilirakis Urges Swift Passage of Bill to Regulate Ammonium Nitrate |
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Congressman supports legislation to help protect the
United States
April 27, 2007
Washington
D.C. - Congressman
Gus M. Bilirakis (R-Palm
Harbor),
a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, yesterday supported crucial
legislation that would strengthen the safety and security of America's
ammonium nitrate industry. Congressman Bilirakis joined his colleagues on
the House Homeland Security Committee in the unanimous passage of the Secure
Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2007 (H.R. 1680).
"There currently is no coordinated effort to monitor and
regulate the sale and distribution of ammonium nitrate in the United States,"
said Bilirakis. "This bipartisan legislation would regulate the sale of
ammonium nitrate-based fertilizer through the Department of Homeland Security,
preventing bulk acquisition and use by terrorists."
When mixed with fuel oil, ammonium nitrate is a highly
explosive and destructive substance. It has been used in terrorist
bombings throughout the world. Just last year, after attempting to
acquire three tons of ammonium nitrate, 17 Canadians were arrested and charged
with plotting to attack targets with ammonium nitrate fertilizer-based bombs.
Two notable bombings involving ammonium nitrate on American soil were in Oklahoma City
in 1995 and at the World
Trade Center
in 1993.
H.R. 1680 would require that all sellers of ammonium nitrate
register with the Department of Homeland Security. It also would require
all purchasers of ammonium nitrate to provide personal information in order to
obtain the chemicals. Producers and sellers would maintain records of all
sales for at least two years. Sellers would have the right to refuse a
sale and would be mandated to report any unexplained loss or theft of ammonium
nitrate. H.R. 1680 will now move forward to the full House of
Representatives for a vote. Congressman Bilirakis is urging the Speaker to move
decisively in passing this legislation.
H.R. 1680 would require that all sellers of ammonium nitrate
register with the Department of Homeland Security. It also would require
all purchasers of ammonium nitrate to provide personal information in order to
obtain the chemicals. Producers and sellers would maintain records of all
sales for at least two years. Sellers would have the right to refuse a
sale and would be mandated to report any unexplained loss or theft of ammonium
nitrate. H.R. 1680 will now move forward to the full House of
Representatives for a vote. Congressman Bilirakis is urging the Speaker to move
decisively in passing this legislation.
"We recently honored the anniversary of those who lost their
lives in the 1995 Oklahoma
City bombing, where an ammonium
nitrate bomb killed people. "We "We recently honored the
anniversary of those who lost their lives in the 1995 Oklahoma
City bombing, where an ammonium nitrate bomb killed 168
people. We owe it to the American people to ensure that this kind of
attack does not happen again," said Bilirakis. "This legislation will
help safeguard the United
States from
another ammonium nitrate attack. I urge the Speaker to swiftly move this
critical legislation to the House floor for a full vote."
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