HR 1861 · 108th Congress 2003–2005, ended

Chemical Security Act of 2003

Introduced Apr 29, 2003 Originated House Sponsor Frank Pallone, Jr. D-NJ

Fact sheet Spreadsheet

Latest action · May 20, 2003 Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedApr 29, 2003
  2. Passed HouseNot reached
  3. Passed SenateNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Chemical Security Act of 2003 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations to: (1) designate certain combinations of chemical sources and substances of concern as high priority categories based on the severity of the threat posed by an unauthorized release from the chemical sources; and (2) require each owner and operator of a high priority category chemical source to conduct an assessment of the vulnerability of the source to a terrorist attack or other unauthorized release, identify hazards that may result from an unauthorized release, and prepare a prevention, preparedness, and response plan.

Directs: (1) the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide owners and operators of chemical sources with relevant threat information; (2) each such owner and operator to certify that it has conducted such assessments, completed such plan, and reviewed the adequacy of the assessment or plan; and (3) the Administrator to develop protocols necessary to protect copies of such assessments and plans from unauthorized disclosure.

Directs the Administrator: (1) to establish a publicly available clearinghouse to compile and disseminate information on the use and availability of inherently safer technologies; (2) and the Secretary of Energy to establish and administer a Technology Transition Fund to provide grants to assist chemical facilities that demonstrate financial hardship in implementing inherently safer technologies; and (3) to make grants to provide for training of first responders and of employees at chemical sources in identifying opportunities to reduce the chemical source's vulnerability to a release of a substance of concern through the use of safer technologies or in emergency response procedures.

Sets forth provisions regarding Administrator: (1) certifications of source compliance with assessment and plan requirements; (2) provision of compliance assistance; (3) authorization to order compliance; and (4) actions to secure relief necessary to abate a terrorist threat.

Sets forth civil and criminal penalties for source violations.

Cosponsors 22

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Apr 29, 2003 to Jul 8, 2004; 4 are original cosponsors, there from the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-MAEdward J. MarkeyOriginalApr 29, 2003
D-NJRush HoltOriginalApr 29, 2003
D-TXSheila Jackson LeeOriginalApr 29, 2003
D-OHSherrod BrownOriginalApr 29, 2003
D-CAHilda L. SolisApr 30, 2003
D-NYMaurice D. HincheyApr 30, 2003
D-WAJim McDermottMay 1, 2003
D-NJSteven R. RothmanMay 15, 2003
D-NYJerrold NadlerJun 10, 2003
D-CAGeorge MillerJul 18, 2003
D-MAJohn F. TierneySep 30, 2003
D-RIPatrick J. KennedySep 30, 2003
D-NYEliot L. EngelOct 8, 2003
D-FLPeter DeutschOct 8, 2003
D-MSBennie G. ThompsonNov 21, 2003
D-CTRosa L. DeLauroNov 21, 2003
D-NYAnthony D. WeinerDec 8, 2003
D-MNBetty McCollumDec 8, 2003
D-NJDonald M. PayneMar 10, 2004
D-MAJames P. McGovernMay 13, 2004
D-AZRaúl M. GrijalvaJul 6, 2004
D-CALinda T. SánchezJul 8, 2004

Committees 1

Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.

ChamberCommitteeWhat it did
HouseEnergy and Commerce Committee
Referred Apr 29, 2003
Energy Subcommittee
Referred May 20, 2003

Actions 3

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. May 20, 2003Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.
  2. Apr 29, 2003Introduced in House
  3. Apr 29, 2003Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Research

What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.

Printed hearings 1

Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.

NumberHearingCommitteeHeld
Serial No. 108-123CONTROLLING BIOTERROR: ASSESSING OUR NATION'S DRINKING WATER SECURITY83 pagesEnergy and Commerce CommitteeSep 30, 2004

Titles 2

Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.

Official Title as Introduced
To help protect the public against the threat of chemical attacks.
Short Titles as Introduced
Chemical Security Act of 2003

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Environmental Protection.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Apr 29, 2003Introduced in House

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Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.