American Chemistry Council Congratulates Bush, Congress on Passage of Homeland Security Act 11/20/2002
From: Kate McGloon of American Chemistry Council, 703-741-5812 e-mail: Kate(underscore)[email protected] -- ACC Reaffirms Commitment to American Way of Life ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 20 -- The American Chemistry Council (ACC) today welcomed legislation to create the new Department of Homeland Security (S. 5005, The Homeland Security Act of 2002). ACC President and CEO Greg Lebedev commended President Bush's leadership and said that the President and Congress "deserve a standing ovation for advancing the security of our communities and the critical elements of our infrastructure which keep our country running." Lebedev emphasized that security has always been of paramount importance for the business of chemistry. "We recognize that chemistry is a critical national resource without which we wouldn't have clean water to drink, medicine for our kids, or all of the different kinds of food we have to eat at our grocery stores. People depend on us and we have long been committed to making sure that our products are always available." He continued, "Partnering with the government is key to this commitment to protect this critical infrastructure, and the tragic events of September 11th have only strengthened our resolve." Lebedev said that the members of the American Chemistry Council look forward to working with the 108th Congress as it considers additional site security legislation. "While ACC member companies are governed by the comprehensive Responsible Care(r) Code and already maintain rigorous security practices, it's in everyone's best interest for industry and government to continue to work together on this vital issue." The ACC, Lebedev noted, has a long history of working with government agencies. "We are dedicated to continuous improvement of our facilities," said Lebedev. "Which is why, before and after 9/11, we have been partnering with federal, state and local authorities to protect our facilities, our employees, and our neighbors." Lebedev pointed to a security ordinance recently enacted by the City of Baltimore, Maryland as an example of the kind of public-private collaboration ACC supports. The precedent-setting ordinance provides a framework, similar to ACC's Responsible Care Security Code, for preventing and responding to incidents at industrial sites and facilitates coordination of information and resources among first responders, municipal authorities, and industry experts. Lebedev concluded, "We will continue to work with the administration, Congress, state and local officials, law enforcement and first responders, and our neighbors to aggressively protect America's critical chemical infrastructure. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people's lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $450 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation's economy. It is the nation's largest exporter, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies invest more in research and development than any other business sector. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation's critical infrastructure. For more information, contact Kate McGloon at 703-741-5812. E- mail: Kate(underscore)[email protected] ACC #8575 |