ACS joins ACC In Request To Renew Anti-terrorism Program

April 30, 2024

The Honorable Gary Peters
724 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Senator Peters:
On behalf of the members of the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC), we thank you for your support of the Chemical Facility Ant-Terrorism Standard (CFATS) program and the work you have done trying to get the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act, H.R. 4470, through the Senate. We are writing today to ask that you submit a two-year reauthorization amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill. As you know, it is vitally important to promptly reauthorize the CFATS program as it expired on July 28, 2023, and no longer provides the protection the American public and valuable industrial infrastructure need.

CFATS is the only 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 and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) may continue to partner with industries to reduce the risk of physical or cyber terrorist attacks and support best industry security practices. The program creates a national standard for the industry. Without this close public-private collaboration, the public and industries vital to the American economy are left more exposed to malicious attacks.

H.R. 4470 passed the House with overwhelming support by a vote of 409-1. Our meetings with Senators tell us that there is bipartisan support for the reauthorization of the CFATS program on the Senate side as well. We strongly urge you to consider this option as there are fewer legislative vehicles to restart the CFATS program as the year progresses.

Sincerely,