WASHINGTON -- House Democrats on Friday pushed through a bill that would place new security requirements on facilities across the country that use or store dangerous chemicals after defeating a handful of GOP amendments (see GSN, Nov. 4).
The bill, approved 230-193, would renew and broaden the authority of the Homeland Security Department to require chemical facilities to use safer technologies and processes as one of several ways to enforce chemical security regulations.
On a related front, the bill also would codify the authority of the government to regulate security at public water treatment facilities.
Republicans were unsuccessful in amending the bill to strip out its most controversial provisions.
An amendment from Homeland Security Transportation Security Subcommittee ranking member Charles Dent (R-Pa.) striking language giving Homeland Security the authority to require faculties to use safer technologies and processes was defeated 236-193.
Another Dent amendment to simply extend the department's current chemical security regulations -- as opposed to broadening its powers -- was defeated 241-186.
Democrats also defeated, by a 236-189 vote, a motion to recommit the bill offered by Dent, who wanted language added ordering the department to consider what impact requiring facilities to use safer technologies would have on jobs in a local community.
An amendment from House Energy and Commerce ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) that would prevent state and local governments from enforcing stricter security standards than federal regulations was defeated, 262-165.
And an amendment from Homeland Security Intelligence Subcommittee ranking member Michael McCaul (R-Texas) to prevent citizens from being able to sue the Homeland Security Department for failing to enforce security requirements failed, 232-196.
Democrats adopted by voice vote one amendment to study the potential impact of requiring facilities to use safer technologies and another to help small facilities comply.
And Democrats accepted by voice vote an amendment from Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) that would prevent the use of earmarks in a new grant program established by the bill.
The ultimate fate of the bill is uncertain, as there is not yet companion legislation in the Senate. The FY10 Homeland Security Appropriations bill that President Obama signed into law last month simply reauthorized the department's current chemical security program until next October.