Chemical Plant Priorities

Philip J. Crowley, senior fellow and director of national defense and homeland security at the Center for American Progress, will testify Wednesday before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on the imperatives of employing inherently safer technologies and processes to make our society and economy less vulnerable to terrorism.

The Center has done extensive research in this critical arena and has presented specific policy suggestions to make America's infrastructure, including chemical facilities, more secure. Specifically, the Center has detailed how the adoption of inherently safer practices — in tandem with physical security measures at plants around the country — can reduce the risk of terrorism to millions of Americans.

Crowley, a former Air Force officer and National Security Council staff member, will share with committee members the results of the Center's recent national chemical facility survey. The data show that a range of chemical facilities have successfully and economically switched to less acutely hazardous practices, but that change is not occurring fast enough.

Crowley will highlight a strategic double standard when it comes to homeland security. The military, with support from Congress, constantly explores how to invest in new technologies to make us stronger around the world. But the Department of Homeland Security has yet to recognize the value to employing new technologies to make us more secure here at home.

Read Philip Crowley's testimony to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee:

• Statement of Philip Crowley to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (PDF)

For further information on the Center's research and analysis in this arena, please see the following link:

• Preventing Toxic Terrorism