Bill Text: NJ AR126 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges Congress to enact "Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014."*
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-10-27 - Reported from Assembly Comm. as a Substitute, 2nd Reading [AR126 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-AR126-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman ANNETTE QUIJANO
District 20 (Union)
SYNOPSIS
Urges Congress to enact "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution urging the Congress of the United States to enact the "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014."
Whereas, The manufacturing, use, storage, and distribution of chemicals must be secured from threats, including terrorism; and
Whereas, The impact of a terrorist attack on certain high risk chemical facilities is far reaching and an attack has the potential to cause a catastrophic number of deaths and injuries; and
Whereas, In addition, the theft of chemicals from these facilities could provide terrorists with a weapon for use in a later attack; and
Whereas, Ensuring chemical security is critical to the well-being and safety of the citizens of the United States; and
Whereas, The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program was established by the 2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act and has been extended on a year-to-year basis; and
Whereas, This program granted the Department of Homeland Security the authority to regulate high-risk chemical facilities in order to ensure that these facilities have security measures in place to reduce the risks associated with the chemicals; and
Whereas, The program uses a multi-tiered risk assessment process to identify and regulate high-risk chemical facilities by requiring them to meet and maintain performance-based security standards appropriate to the facilities and the risks they pose; and
Whereas, The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014 reauthorizes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program with certain changes, including authorizing the program for multiple years, thereby allowing the Department of Homeland Security to confidently implement the provisions of the program; and
Whereas, This act takes steps towards strengthening the security of chemical facilities and addressing the vulnerability of the chemical sector to terrorist attacks, both of which are necessary to protect the citizens of this country; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to enact the "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014."
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the presiding officers of the United States Senate and the House of Representatives and each member of the United States Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the United States Congress to enact the "Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014", which reauthorizes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program.
The manufacturing, use, storage, and distribution of chemicals must be secured from threats, including terrorism. The impact of a terrorist attack on certain chemical facilities is far reaching and an attack has the potential to cause a catastrophic number of deaths and injuries. In addition, the theft of chemicals from these facilities could provide terrorists with a weapon to use in a later attack. As a result, ensuring chemical security is critical to the well-being and safety of United States citizens.
The CFATS program was established by the 2007 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act and has been extended on a year-to-year basis. This program granted the Department of Homeland Security the authority to regulate high-risk chemical facilities in order to ensure that they have security measures in place to reduce the risks associated with these chemicals. The program uses a multi-tiered risk assessment process to identify and regulate high-risk chemical facilities by requiring them to meet and maintain performance-based security standards that are appropriate to the facilities and the risks they pose.
The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014 reauthorizes the CFATS program with certain changes, including authorizing the program for multiple years, thereby allowing the Department of Homeland Security to confidently implement the provisions of the program.
This act takes steps towards strengthening the security of chemical facilities and addressing the vulnerability of the chemical sector to terrorist attacks, both of which are necessary to protect the citizens of this country.
