SOCMA Applauds House Energy & Commerce Committee Approval of 7-Year Chemical Security Rules Extension

Legislation that would extend chemical site security standards took a major step forward today, winning bipartisan support in the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) hailed the passage of H.R. 908, which was introduced by Representative Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Representative Gene Green (D-TX).

The committee approved an amendment offered by Representative John Shimkus (R-IL), which would extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) for an additional seven years, through 2018. The extension would allow both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and regulated facilities to implement the program through completion.
An amendment, also offered by Shimkus, to streamline duplicative identification and background checks for chemical facility employees was approved by the committee. SOCMA worked closely with the Energy and Commerce staff in crafting this amendment.

"Today's vote is an endorsement by Republicans and Democrats alike that the current chemical security standards are appropriately securing chemical facilities against attack," said Bill Allmond, SOCMA's vice president of government relations. "SOCMA members have spent an enormous amount of capital to implement these standards and need certainty that their efforts today will satisfy the government standards tomorrow.

"We expect Congress to continue the momentum provided by this bipartisan passage of H.R. 908 and swiftly pass long-term extension of the CFATS program."

A similar vote on H.R. 901, which would extend CFATS for six years, will be voted on by the House Homeland Security Committee on June 1. SOCMA expects H.R. 901 or H.R. 908 to come to a vote on the House floor this summer.
 
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