WASHINGTON, DC - The House Energy and Commerce Committee today approved a long-term extension for the program that protects our nation’s chemical facilities from terrorist threats.
H.R. 908, authored by Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Gene Green (D-TX), is a bill to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program. The bipartisan measure passed through committee with over two-thirds support by a vote of 33 to 16. The measure passed with the support of five democrats on the committee -Green (D-TX), Dingell (D-MI), Ross (D-AR), Matheson (D-UT), and Barrow (D-GA).
Extending the CFATS program is critical to our national security. CFATS ensures chemical plants throughout the U.S. have the information and technical guidance needed to safeguard their facilities from terrorist attacks. This legislation will extend the program for an additional seven years, providing long-term security standards and clarity for U.S. businesses.
“CFATS has proven to be effective in safeguarding our nation’s chemical facilities from terrorist threats. There is broad agreement in the regulated community and elsewhere that this program is working, and that it should be reauthorized with no significant changes," said Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI). “Today, the committee took another step to fulfill our responsibility to this House and to the American people to prevent terrorism, protect jobs, and grow the U.S. economy."
See Also
* H.R. 4596, the Small Business Broadband Deployment Act
