ACS Urges Prompt Reauthorization of CFATS Program

August 30, 2023

Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell:

On behalf of the members of the American Chemical Society (ACS), I ask that the Senate move as quickly as possible to pass the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2023, H.R. 4470, a bill that would reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. As you both know, it is vitally important to promptly pass a reauthorization of CFATS as the program expired as of July 28 and no longer provides the protection the American public and valuable industrial infrastructure need.

The CFATS program is the singular federal program concentrating on enhancing security measures at covered chemical facilities and protecting them from potential acts of terrorism. H.R. 4470 ensures the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may continue to partner with industries to reduce risk and support best industry security practices. Without this close public-private collaboration, the public and vital industries are left more exposed to malicious attack.

H.R. 4470 passed the House with overwhelming support by a vote of 409-1. The Senate companion measure also enjoys bipartisan support on the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. ACS, one of the world’s largest scientific organizations, supports the reauthorization of the CFATS program along with chemical industry groups such as the American Chemistry Council and National Association of Chemical Distributors.

I strongly urge the Senate to promptly pass a reauthorization of the CFATS program.

Sincerely,

Albert G. Horvath
ACS CEO

cc:
The Honorable Gary Peters
The Honorable Rand Paul