Jon S. Corzine: “In addition to this GAO assessment, they recommended the Department of Homeland Security and EPA, working together…”

“In addition to this GAO assessment, they recommended the Department of Homeland Security and EPA, working together, develop a strategy, including a legislative proposal, to address the threats of attacks on chemical plants. I listed the highlights of their report which has a recommendation that there is a need for legislation in this area. There is a need now to protect the American people against chemical plant risks. The GAO report was released on March 18 of this year. To continue with the acknowledgment that this is real, only a month earlier, the Department of Homeland Security, when it raised the Nation's alert to code orange, sounded the alarm about the threat facing chemical facilities. In its bulletin it sent out to State and local officials, the Department stated: Al-Qaida operatives also may attempt to launch conventional attacks against U.S. nuclear/chemical-industrial infrastructure to cause contamination, disruption, and terror. Based on information, nuclear powerplants and industrial chemical plants remain viable targets. That is from the Department of Homeland Security to all State and local officials: 'Chemical plants remain viable targets,' and we have not done anything. It is time to recognize that there is broad recognition by the administration and by those who study this issue that it is time to act.”