Chemical Security Requirements Expire Due To Republicans' Government Shutdown
Today Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman released a memo to Democratic Committee members describing one dangerous consequence of the Republican shutdown of the government: the expiration of the Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Standards (CFATS) program. As the result of this expiration, there are no legally binding regulations in place to protect the nation’s chemical facilities from criminal and terrorist attacks. Authorization for the CFATS program lapsed on October 4, 2013.
“This reckless Republican shutdown has left high risk chemical facilities unregulated,” said Rep. Waxman. “They are no longer required to submit security plans to the Department of Homeland Security, no longer required to implement security plans, no longer inspected by Homeland Security experts, and now rely on voluntary efforts by industry. Congress should reopen the government and ensure that the American public is protected.”
The memorandum is available online here.
Memorandum from Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman, "Expiration of Chemical Security Requirements" (October 10, 2013).