Reader Comment 05-02-11 Who Changed?

Earlier today Anonymous posted a question to yesterday’s blog on new CFATS legislation. Anonymous wrote: “Am curious who that one Member is that has apparently changed their tune since passage... as you mention in paragraph 3.” Sorry, I should have provided a link. This was addressed in an earlier blog about an article in the Houston Chronicle from April 5th. Here is a quote from that article:

“But [Rep.] Gene Green [D,TX], who voted for the enhanced regulations in November, said he's now wondering whether it's wise to expand the legislation at this point. “‘If they've only inspected that few nationwide, then we need to know if CFATS is working or not before we overlay another level of regulation,’ he said. ‘But we need to have inspections and make sure they are complying with the law.’”

A companion article to that piece announced that Rep. Jackson-Lee (D,TX) who chairs the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection of the House Homeland Security Committee promised to hold hearings on the slow pace of CFATS inspections. I haven’t heard anything about these hearings actually being scheduled. Now, hearings sometimes take time to set up; matching schedules and such. Other times, the committee staff will find out appropriate information and hearings will be found not to be necessary. No word on which is the case here.