Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Act Of 2009

Floor Speech

Chemical Facility Anti-terrorism Act Of 2009

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Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Chairman, I will be brief. I once again thank Chairman Bennie Thompson for offering this vital legislation, and I thank him for supporting this amendment.

As Vice Chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I commend the recognition of the potential risks associated with our chemical manufacturing and water treatment infrastructure. Securing these industries is vital not only to America's economic viability, it is essential to the human security of surrounding communities.

My amendment will strengthen the Office of Chemical Facility Security created by designating a specific point of contact for interagency coordination with the Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies. This amendment also requires the Secretary to proactively inform State Emergency Response Commissions and Local Emergency Planning Committees about activities related to the implementation of the act so that they may update their emergency planning and training procedures.

I know that Chairman Thompson would agree with the fact that many facilities that will be designated with significant risk through the implementation of this legislation lie in communities of significant economic need and vulnerability to chemical and contaminant exposure. For this reason, many of such areas are characterized as environmental justice communities. It is necessary that these communities be better empowered to strategically plan for potential chemical releases and security risks.

The fact is incidents like the 1984 methyl isocyanate released from a chemical facility in Bhopal, India continue to happen throughout the United States on a smaller scale. Until we enforce chemical release regulations and take aggressive steps to protect vulnerable environmental justice communities, they will be at even greater risk for acts of terror.

Also, the amendment designates a specific point of contact for interagency coordination to ensure greater transparency when it comes to our oversight responsibilities as Members of Congress. This adjustment will ensure that all agencies invoked by this legislation will cooperate as closely as possible.

I appreciate the opportunity to offer this amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support the amendment and the underlying legislation.

Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

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