Bob McCarty Writes

Though the attention of most Americans has been diverted by coverage of health care reform, cap-and-trade legislation, and shootings at Fort Hood and in Orlando, at least one other dangerous piece of legislation is creeping its way around the nation’s capitol.  Thanks to a statement from the folks at the American Petroleum Institute, I’m able to share a tidbit about H.R. 2868, the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009 (a.k.a., the “Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009″) below:

“We join the agriculture, manufacturing, trucking, and other energy employers in opposing this bill.  We support a straightforward re-authorization of the current federal security standards which have been a success since they were enacted three years ago.

“If the bill passed by the House today became law, it would go beyond the current protection requirements and endanger jobs and increase the risk of our operations.  The bill would create a mandate for government-selected changes to our operations, which is not consistent with a risk-based approach.

“The Senate has the opportunity to get this right by passing a straightforward reauthorization of the current robust federal standards when it takes up the legislation.”

Again, it’s time to CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS in Washington, D.C., and demand they work to stop this bill in its tracks before the Senate can approve it.