The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) issued a statement supporting legislation to reauthorize the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. The program was created after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and ensures that facilities holding high-risk chemicals have security measures in place to reduce the risk of chemicals being stolen or weaponized by terrorists.

U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), and James Lankford (R-OK) introduced bipartisan legislation to extend the CFATS program, which is set to expire on July 27.

In the statement, SOCMA said, “The CFATS program has strengthened security for chemical facilities, successfully protecting them from diversion, attack, and other intentional harms. A five-year reauthorization of this program will continue to strengthen and enhance chemical security in the United States, while giving businesses needed regulatory certainty.

 “SOCMA strongly urges Congress to pass this legislation before the program expires on July 27, 2023.”

For additional information about SOCMA, visit www.socma.org.