Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the rule for H.R. 2868, the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act, and in strong support of the underlying bill.  This bill will help secure our chemical infrastructure from attack or sabotage, and I want to thank Chairman Thompson for focusing particular attention on cyber threats to this sector. 

Securing our critical infrastructure from cyber attack cannot be an afterthought.  The vulnerabilities to control systems and network infrastructure are numerous and, if ignored, could have consequences just as severe as a physical attack.  This bill will require increased cybersecurity training, improved reporting of cyber attacks, and a Chemical Facility Security Director who is knowledgeable on cyber issues, greatly increasing the opportunity to address and prevent cyber attacks before any damage occurs.

I urge for your support for this critical piece of legislation.