Washington, DC: Today, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), a senior member of the House Homeland Security Committee, released the following statement on the new chemical security regulations that are being proposed by the Department of Homeland Security:

"With the advent of a Democratic Congress less than a week away, the Bush Administration and the chemical industry are demonstrating a new-found urgency in addressing chemical security that was missing before the election.  The urgency now, however, seems to be to adopt last-minute regulations that give the appearance of tightening security without actually closing dangerous loopholes.  Instead of forcing the chemical industry to adhere to strict standards and begin moving away from the most deadly chemicals to safer alternatives, the Department of Homeland Security is giving them carte blanche.   The industry previously had been given a special exemption from post-9-11 security upgrades; these new regulations continue to give them a pass.  I believe that when the Congress reconvenes in January, the new Democratic majority will be looking to close the wide-open security loopholes at our nation's 15,000 chemical facilities."

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