ILTA Seeks Speedy Three-Year Reauthorization of CFATS in U.S. House

July 14, 2020

Dear Representative,

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) law is set to expire in little more than a week, on July 23, 2020. ILTA and our member companies support this critical anti-terrorism program.  We have been working to pass the longest possible reauthorization that can be enacted by both chambers of Congress and sent to the President’s desk. To that end, we ask that you and your colleagues immediately bring to the House floor the three-year reauthorization recently passed by the Senate. 

CFATS plays a critical role in maintaining our nation’s security and our members appreciate the diligence with which the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) administers this important program. ILTA member companies value the cooperative relationship - spanning multiple administrations - they have maintained with CISA.

Fundamentally, CFATS works because site operators and CISA collaborate to secure chemicals that could be exploited by terrorists. CFATS provides a demanding but flexible approach to ensuring chemical security by setting a consistent standard for all high-risk chemical facilities. This helps make both facilities and communities safer.

Long-term reauthorization of CFATS is necessary to provide regulatory stability and certainty so that companies operating critical chemical storage and production facilities can continue to make sound financial decisions and capital investments to better secure hazardous chemicals.

With only a few days remaining we ask that you support the three-year reauthorization and encourage the Speaker to bring legislation to the floor before the program expires.

Respectfully,

Kathryn Clay

President, ILTA

Founded in 1974, the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) represents more than 85 companies operating liquid terminals in all 50 states and in over 40 countries. Our members’ facilities provide critical links between all modes of surface transportation for liquid commodities, such as crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals, renewable fuels, fertilizer, vegetable oils and other food-grade materials that are central to the U.S. economy. Terminals provide essential logistics services that spur trade both within the United States and connect the U.S. economy with overseas markets. ILTA’s membership also includes more than 400 companies that supply equipment and services to the terminals industry.