Alliance for Chemical Distribution Pushes US House on CFATS Amendment

Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), formerly the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD), is urging the US House of Representatives to adopt the current CFATS Amendment as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Eric R. Byer, president and CEO for the ACD, released the following statement ahead of the US House Committee on Rules’ consideration of amendment #594. The amendment, supported by 22 bipartisan cosponsors, including members of the House Armed Services Committee, would restore the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program as part of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.

“The CFATS program has remained expired for far too long. At a time when the administration is now requiring chemical facilities to disclose sensitive chemical information to the public, it is absolutely critical that the CFATS program is restored to keep facilities secure and communities safe. The strong record of bipartisan support of the program in both chambers of Congress sends a clear message that reinstatement of CFATS is the will of Congress.

“We strongly encourage the US House Committee on Rules and Speaker Mike Johnson to include this amendment in the NDAA to ensure these facilities have the support and partnership of the government as they work to remain vigilant against ever-evolving threats.”

Last week, ACD sent a letter with other trade and union groups to US House leadership urging them to support Representative Laurel Lee’s (FL-15) amendment.

The letter, in part, stated: On behalf of the members of the Alliance for Chemical Distribution (ACD), the American Chemistry Council (ACC), the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) and North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), we support the necessary reauthorization of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program administered by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and request your support so that Rep. Laurel Lee’s amendment, which would reestablish the CFATS program, is made in order for consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

The letter also shared that CFATS is pertinent to the NDAA because it enables collaboration between chemical facilities and the Federal government to counter security threats. For example, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) outlined in the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment that, “Terrorists will maintain an interest in conducting attacks using chemical, biological, and radioactive materials against US persons, allies, and interests worldwide.”

With a 409-1 vote in the House on H.R. 4470, Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2023, it would have reauthorized the program for two years, yet the US. Senate has not voted on this bill.

The organizations, including several more which wrote Congress directly, are asking Congress to act as quickly as possible to restore this critical security program.