Minnesota Legislature
HF 1573
as introduced - 85th Legislature (2007 - 2008) Posted on 12/15/2009 12:00am
KEY: stricken = removed, old language.
underscored = added, new language.
Current Version - as introduced
1.1A resolution
1.2memorializing the Congress to block rules published by the Department of Homeland
1.3Security that would preempt state authority to strengthen security at plants housing
1.4hazardous chemicals.
1.5WHEREAS, several hundred sites in Minnesota store, handle, and transport hazardous
1.6chemicals, exposure to which can pose significant risks to health; and
1.7WHEREAS, many of these facilities are located in densely populated areas, placing their
1.8neighbors at risk from exposure to these chemicals; and
1.9WHEREAS, the possibility of terrorist attacks on these facilities has increased dramatically
1.10since September 11, 2001, posing a serious threat to public health, safety, and welfare; national
1.11security; and the environment; and
1.12WHEREAS, there are significant opportunities to implement actions designed to prevent
1.13attacks against these sites and reduce the potential harm that would result from such attacks; and
1.14WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has failed to enact legislation to require
1.15increased security measures to be taken at these facilities in order to significantly prevent or
1.16reduce such threats; and
1.17WHEREAS, the federal Department of Homeland Security published in the Federal
1.18Register, on December 28, 2006, interim final rules that give the Department authority to preempt
1.19state or local laws designed to strengthen security at these facilities, without having in place
1.20effective federal requirements to do so; and
2.1WHEREAS, implementation of those federal rules would prevent Minnesota and other
2.2states from taking steps to protect their citizens from the effects of attacks against these sites;
2.3NOW, THEREFORE,
2.4BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that Congress should act
2.5quickly to prevent the implementation of the Department of Homeland's Security's interim final
2.6rules published in the Federal Register, on December 28, 2006, and should enact comprehensive
2.7legislation that requires these facilities to make themselves more secure from attack.
2.8BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota
2.9is directed to transmit copies of this memorial to the President and Secretary of the United
2.10States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the chair
2.11of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the chair of the
2.12Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality of the Senate
2.13Committee on Environment and Public Works, the chair of the House Committee on Homeland
2.14Security, the chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials of the House
2.15Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.
1.2memorializing the Congress to block rules published by the Department of Homeland
1.3Security that would preempt state authority to strengthen security at plants housing
1.4hazardous chemicals.
1.5WHEREAS, several hundred sites in Minnesota store, handle, and transport hazardous
1.6chemicals, exposure to which can pose significant risks to health; and
1.7WHEREAS, many of these facilities are located in densely populated areas, placing their
1.8neighbors at risk from exposure to these chemicals; and
1.9WHEREAS, the possibility of terrorist attacks on these facilities has increased dramatically
1.10since September 11, 2001, posing a serious threat to public health, safety, and welfare; national
1.11security; and the environment; and
1.12WHEREAS, there are significant opportunities to implement actions designed to prevent
1.13attacks against these sites and reduce the potential harm that would result from such attacks; and
1.14WHEREAS, the Congress of the United States has failed to enact legislation to require
1.15increased security measures to be taken at these facilities in order to significantly prevent or
1.16reduce such threats; and
1.17WHEREAS, the federal Department of Homeland Security published in the Federal
1.18Register, on December 28, 2006, interim final rules that give the Department authority to preempt
1.19state or local laws designed to strengthen security at these facilities, without having in place
1.20effective federal requirements to do so; and
2.1WHEREAS, implementation of those federal rules would prevent Minnesota and other
2.2states from taking steps to protect their citizens from the effects of attacks against these sites;
2.3NOW, THEREFORE,
2.4BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that Congress should act
2.5quickly to prevent the implementation of the Department of Homeland's Security's interim final
2.6rules published in the Federal Register, on December 28, 2006, and should enact comprehensive
2.7legislation that requires these facilities to make themselves more secure from attack.
2.8BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota
2.9is directed to transmit copies of this memorial to the President and Secretary of the United
2.10States Senate, the Speaker and Clerk of the United States House of Representatives, the chair
2.11of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the chair of the
2.12Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security and Water Quality of the Senate
2.13Committee on Environment and Public Works, the chair of the House Committee on Homeland
2.14Security, the chair of the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials of the House
2.15Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Minnesota's Senators and Representatives in Congress.