ARLINGTON, VA — National Association of Chemical Distributors President Eric R. Byer praised Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) for introducing legislation to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program on a multi-year basis. Without reauthorization, the program is set to expire in January 2019. In place since 2007, CFATS regulates high-risk chemical facilities to ensure they have established and implemented security measures to thwart potential bad actors.

“Since CFATS was first created, our industry has worked diligently with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure our nation’s chemical facilities are protected from nefarious actors. While the program has made our country more secure, we must continue CFATS without interruption by promoting a smooth reauthorization process before the program expires in 2019. Senate introduction of this legislation is a positive step toward this goal. However, there is more work to be done to have this important measure signed into law before the January deadline.

“We thank Senator Johnson for putting forward this legislation to extend the CFATS program for multiple years and make sure our nation’s chemical facilities continue to be safeguarded against those that aim to disrupt the security of our communities and our economy through acts of terrorism. NACD urges swift bipartisan Senate approval of this proposal and calls upon the House to introduce and approve their own CFATS reauthorization bill so that Congress can send a final version to President Trump before the expiration of this all-important program.”