Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities From Terrorist Attacks Act of 2023
Floor Speech
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Mr. PFLUGER. Madam Speaker, in 2006, Congress authorized the Department of Homeland Security to regulate security practices at chemical facilities to reduce the risk of terrorists triggering an intentional release or stealing chemicals for use in an attack elsewhere.
CFATS, as it is known, requires certain facilities, whose possession of chemicals above certain levels present high levels of security risk, to assess their vulnerabilities and implement security measures to minimize terrorism risks posed by these vulnerabilities.
On July 27, this Thursday, the statutory authority for the CFATS program is scheduled to sunset. As I said previously at a Homeland Security markup of this legislation, I will support this legislation to cleanly extend the program for an additional 2 years, but I am disappointed that it is such a short authorization period.
Companies of all sizes invest millions of dollars into CFATS compliance, and they deserve the certainty of knowing what the long- term standards for compliance will be as they look to reinvest money into technologies and infrastructure.
It is important to note that these facilities fall under a variety of sectors critical to our communities, including energy and utilities, food production, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, laboratories, and more.
I will support this legislation today to cleanly extend the program, but I hope that this body can work towards a long-term reauthorization in the future. It is clear that the threats that gave rise to CFATS persist today, and we must take these threats seriously.
In addition, it is also important to note that industry is asking for this authorization, which is unlike some of the other regulatory overreach that we see from the administration today. What we are talking about is industry asking to work with government.
Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4470.
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