The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) announced its support for legislation (H.R. 901) introduced in the House of Representatives to extend the current chemical site security rules though 2018, ensuring that chemical plants nationwide continue to develop and deploy meaningful security enhancements. SOCMA is particularly encouraged that at least one bill (H.R. 908) includes a Democratic co-sponsor, like Senator Collins' bill (S. 473) introduced last week.

Introduced last week by Congressman Dan Lungren (R-CA), H.R. 901 would codify the authority for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act (CFATS) within the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and extend this authority for seven years, allowing sufficient time for the rules to be implemented before making premature revisions. The bill authorizes $90 million each year for this vital program.

SOCMA also welcomed the introduction last week of a bipartisan House bill, H.R. 908. The legislation, introduced by Representatives Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Gene Green (D-TX), would extend the CFATS program for seven years through December 2017.

"We're encouraged by Congress' swift attention to chemical security so early in the 112th Congress," said SOCMA vice president of government relations Bill Allmond. "SOCMA supports this effort and applauds the growing bipartisan approach to ensuring the continuance of the Homeland Security Department's comprehensive chemical security regulations for years to come. The fact that Democrats and Republicans in both Houses of Congress have come together to support the current rules clearly demonstrates their meaningfulness to protecting our sector of the nation's critical infrastructure."

For information about SOCMA's position on chemical security, including previous testimony, visit www.socma.com/ist.