Harkin Statement on Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group Recommendations

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, today released the following statement in response to a report released by a federal, interagency Working Group tasked with making recommendations to improve chemical facility safety and security. The Working Group was formed as a result of an Executive Order from President Obama.

“As the West, Texas disaster reminded us, keeping our nation’s communities, workers, and first responders safe from the dangers associated with the handling and storage of hazardous chemicals should be a priority for all of us.  I want to commend the President and his Executive Working Group for examining the issues related to these important matters and taking substantive steps toward improving health and safety for everyone.  It is vitally important to ensure that such an unnecessary tragedy never occurs again, and I look forward to working with the appropriate agencies, especially the Department of Labor, on the policy recommendations contained in the report.”

A copy of the report can be seen here.

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