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Friday, June 15, 2007

Senate Panel Pushes to Restore States' Rights on Chem Security

The Department of Homeland Security recently issued interim regulations on chemical plant security which prevent states from adopting standards stricter than those prescribed by DHS. Yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously passed the appropriations bill for DHS. The bill includes language which would restore the states' rights.

The efforts of the Appropriations Committee follow up on a failed attempt in May to address the issue during the Senate vote on the Iraq supplemental. That attempt was beaten back by the National Manufacturers Association.

As our friends at the OMB Watch Budget Blog pointed out earlier this week, President Bush threatened to veto the House DHS appropriations bill — $36.3 billion — for being "irresponsible and excessive." The president's request is $34.2 billion.

The Senate bill proposes funding of $37.6 billion which will likely draw a similar veto threat. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is unsure if he will bring the bill to the floor, according to BNA news service (subscription).

Regardless of what happens with all this appropriations wrangling, Congress needs to restore the rights of the states to promulgate chemical security standards as they see fit in order to protect the public.