WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) reacts to the U.S. Senate's bipartisan approval of H.R. 4007, the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014. AFPM applauds this effort and urges lawmakers in the House to act expeditiously to send this measure to the President's desk.
AFPM President Charles T. Drevna said, "Today the Senate voted to put the nation's safety first and approve a measure to allow refiners and petrochemical manufacturers to enhance security measures at their facilities. By authorizing the program for four years, it will give these companies much needed stability and confidence to make sound, long-term investments. We applaud Sens. Coburn and Carper on forging bipartisan agreements necessary to move this important legislation forward."
Passing a multi-year authorization bill will enable the Department of Homeland Security to implement the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program more efficiently and provide businesses with the certainty it needs to ensure the long-term, sound facility security investments that need to be made are not made in vain.
H.R. 4007 provides a four year authorization to the CFATS program that streamlines the process and programs for vetting individuals against the Federal Terrorist Screening Database mandated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The legislation also improves Congressional oversight as well as assures improved coordination with state and local officials.
About AFPM
AFPM, the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers is a trade association representing high-tech American manufacturers of virtually the entire U.S. supply of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, other fuels and home heating oil, as well as the petrochemicals used as building blocks for thousands of vital products in daily life. AFPM members make modern life possible and keep America moving and growing as they meet the needs of our nation and local communities, strengthen economic and national security, and support 2 million American jobs.