Congressman Menendez Offers Amendment to Improve Training for Chemical Facility Inspectors

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, during the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Markup, Congressman Rob Menendez offered an amendment to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program. Congressman Menendez’s amendment would have improved training for chemical facility inspectors.

“Our district includes four chemical facilities that are regulated by CFATS, and ensuring the safety of their workers and the communities that surround them is of the utmost importance,” said Congressman Menendez. “My amendment would have instituted better and more frequent training for chemical facility inspectors, including more intensive cybersecurity training. I am disappointed that the Republicans on the Committee voted this amendment down, but this will not stop me from working to keep our communities safe from all threats.”

The amendment would have:

Directed the United States Department of Homeland Security to update CFATS chemical facility inspector training by requiring training content to be updated every three years;
Required classroom and on-the-job training regarding chemical hazards, chemical facility operations, chemical plant control systems, physical security, cybersecurity, and procedures for inspection; and
Required at a minimum annual refresher training for all inspectors, as well as continuing education and other professional development tools.

Congressman Menendez’s amendment – which was supported by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) – was voted down along party lines, during the Committee on Homeland Security’s Markup.

To view Congressman Menendez’s amendment, please click on the link below:

CFATS Training Amendment