House Passes Meehan Homeland Security Bills

WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives today passed two Homeland Security bills authored by Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07). The bills passed with the unanimous support of both Republicans and Democrats.

H.R. 4007, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act, strengthens the security of thousands of chemical facilities across the country.

“This bipartisan bill is simple. It makes Americans safer by improving security standards atthousands of chemical facilities across our nation,” said Congressman Meehan. “The explosion in West, Texas last year demonstrated how catastrophic an attack on one of these facilities would be. It is vitally important that we ensure our first responders have adequate knowledge of where these facilities are located. This bill does that. It is supported by Republicans, Democrats and the Secretary of Homeland Security. It’s an example of bipartisanship all too rare in Washington today. I’m grateful to Rep. Gene Green, Ranking Member Thompson, and Chairman McCaul for their hard work and team effort to support this common-sense legislation.”

At a hearing earlier this year, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson expressed his support for Meehan’s bill. “I’ve read this bill, I think it’s a good bill, our critical infrastructure folks think it’s a good bill, and I support it,” Johnson said.

H.R. 3488, the Preclearance Authorization Act of 2014, sets conditions by which the Transportation Security Administration opens customs pre-clearance facilities at overseas airports. Customs pre-clearance sites enable travelers coming to the United States to clear American customs at their point of departure, avoiding lines at domestic customs facilities. The legislation comes after the TSA established a pre-clearance facility in Abu Dhabi, an airport with no direct service to the United States by domestic carriers.

“US taxpayer dollars shouldn’t benefit foreign, state-owned airlines over domestic carriers,” said Meehan. “This bipartisan legislation will ensure that the Department of Homeland Security will consider American jobs before making decisions about future customs pre-clearance facilities. I’d like to especially thank Reps. Peter DeFazio and Candice Miller for their tireless dedication to the thousands of American jobs supported by our airline industry.”

Both bills were adopted by voice vote today.