ACD Press Release

Arlington, VA
July 2, 2020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Matthew McKinney
(703) 527-6223 x3074
mmckinney@nacd.com

NACD Praises Senate Passage of CFATS Program

Today, National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer issued the following statement welcoming the U.S. Senate’s passage of S. 4148 extending the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program for three years, which is set to expire on July 23, 2020.

“The CFATS program was created in 2007 to help prevent terrorist attacks on high-risk chemical facilities. Since it was launched, chemical distributors and regulators at DHS have worked hand-in-hand to implement the program to ensure chemical facilities across the country are hardened against potential acts of terrorism.”

“As a vital component of the United States’ national security strategy, CFATS has been reauthorized multiple times in overwhelming bipartisan fashion since its creation. With a limited number of legislative working days before the program lapses, we’re pleased to see the Senate take decisive action by unanimous consent to ensure CFATS is extended for another three years.”

“NACD applauds Senate leadership for making the continuation of CFATS a top priority, approving legislation that would extend the program for another three years. Reauthorizing CFATS would enable the chemical industry to continue making security investments for years to come. We thank Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) for sponsoring S. 4148, and Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Capito (R-WV), Lankford (R-OK), Inhofe (R-OK), and Carper (D-DE) for signing on as cosponsors. We now urge the U.S. House of Representatives to take immediate action to pass companion legislation extending CFATS and send it to President Trump for his signature.”

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NACD and its nearly 430 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party-verified management practice. For more information, visit www.NACD.com.