Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Chemical Facility Anti- Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act. This bipartisan bill is supported by the full committee and relevant subcommittee chairs and ranking members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Homeland Security.

The Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti- Terrorism Standards, or CFATS, program is an important part of our Nation's counterterrorism efforts to secure high-risk chemical facilities.

The program was created in 2006 and it had its first long-term reauthorization in 2014. Unfortunately, without further congressional action, CFATS will terminate later this month.

The bill before us would grant a clean, 2-year extension of the program. I believe this will give the new Congress ample time to continue program oversight and make any reforms necessary for the next long-term extension.

For one, I strongly believe we should be looking at all aspects of risks at chemical facilities, not just terrorism. Chemical fires, explosions, and releases can have serious consequences, regardless of whether an incident was an accident, a natural disaster, or an act of terrorism. A holistic approach to chemical risks, which obviously includes security, should also account for workers and communities' safety and facilities' resilience.

Recent natural disasters have exposed previously unaccounted for vulnerabilities at some facilities. During Hurricane Harvey, we saw the potential for devastation, when a power outage and equipment failure led to a significant chemical fire at the Arkema facility in Crosby, Texas.

Ensuring that these critical sites are resilient to risks associated with climate change and extreme weather events will be critical for the long-term safety and security of not only the sites, but also surrounding communities.

I want to recognize the efforts of Jacqueline Cohen and other members of the Energy and Commerce Committee Democratic staff for their work on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 251, and I hope we can continue bipartisan efforts to improve the program as we work toward a long-term reauthorization in the 116th Congress.

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