Endangered Safety Agency Gets Support from Senators, Industry

Senators and chemical industry officials were in unanimous agreement during a hearing that the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is endangered and that its mission to investigate industrial chemical accidents should continue.

“It’s in everyone’s interest to keep the board functioning,” said Sen. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Republicans and Democrats at the hearing supported Barasso’s stand. Witnesses from the American Chemistry Council, the United Steelworkers, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers also weighed in on the importance of the independent agency.

Chris Jahn, president of the American Chemistry Council, told ...