I am very pleased that we are considering the Chemical Security Act of 2003. As you know, I have been anxious to address this important issue during this Congress, and I certainly hope that we can continue our good progress to date as this bill moves to the Senate floor. Last Congress, this Committee unanimously passed chemical security legislation sponsored by Senator Corzine and several members of this Committee. We promised to work with members who sought changes, and we have done so. Although he is no longer serving on this Committee, I want to commend Senator Corzine for his continued interest in this issue - it is certainly an important issue to his state, and to us all. After the progress we had made in negotiations last year, I must admit that I was concerned about S. 994 - the bill we are considering today - when it was first introduced by our Chairman. It was quite a different bill than that previously passed by the Committee. Today I am pleased to see that many of these differences have been hammered out. That being said, the bill still needs work. In particular, I would like to see greater accountability to ensure compliance with the essential protective measures in this bill. It seems fundamental to me that the Department of Homeland Security must not only receive security assessments and plans, but must also review them and provide some indication to the chemical plant that its plan is adequate. I understand that we must be careful not to allow sensitive information to fall into the wrong hands. However, it seems fundamental to me that citizens should know whether the plants in their community have complied with the law. While I understand the desire to promote good security programs instituted by responsible trade associations, I am concerned that this bill goes so far as to allow participants in these programs to self-regulate without adequate government oversight, or an opportunity for public participation or judicial review. I am not aware of any law that deems voluntary programs to substitute for regulatory programs, so I believe the provisions in this bill need refinement to be workable and less confusing to the regulated public. And, I am very concerned about provisions that subject federal employees to criminal penalties but do not subject a plant employee who may knowingly provide information to a terrorist to the same penalties. Mr. Chairman, these are serious concerns, but I do have confidence that we can work through them. In the past few days, our staffs have made progress. I stand ready to work with you as this bill moves to the Senate floor.