[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S12943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                WASTEWATER TREATMENT WORKS SECURITY ACT

  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Wastewater 
Treatment Works Security Act of 2005. I am proud to be an original 
cosponsor of this bill.
  When Timothy McVeigh drove a rental vehicle up to a Federal building 
in Oklahoma City, Americans began to look at trucks in a completely new 
way. So we learned to screen vehicles to safeguard against such a 
tragedy ever happening again.
  On September 11, 2001, a thing as ordinary as an airplane became an 
instrument of destruction and terror, robbing innocent people of the 
rest of their lives. As a result, we have gotten pretty good at 
screening people and their luggage at airports, and at keeping planes 
out of protected air space.
  While these changes are necessary and prudent, there is another part 
of the equation to consider: the act of terror not yet committed. We 
must look at the threats our security experts have identified and 
address these potential threats.
  One such threat is a possible attack on our Nation's wastewater 
treatment plants. Traditionally, wastewater treatment plants have 
stored chemicals that, if used properly, clean the water of harmful 
organisms. When most of these plants were built, we did not design them 
to ward against use as potential weapons of mayhem and destruction. 
Appropriately, we were only concerned about the environment, safety, 
and preventing accidents.
  Since September 11, as security concerns have been identified in this 
sector, many of these facilities have taken steps on their own to 
switch to safer alternative treatments or to further secure chemicals 
and the facilities against deliberate acts of terrorism. But, such 
changes are expensive. Many of these facilities need assistance to 
upgrade security at the facility and to switch to these safer 
alternative forms of treatment.
  The Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act of 2005 puts in place 
requirements to assess facilities' vulnerability and provides much 
needed financial assistance to upgrade security and to switch to safer 
forms of chemical treatment. My only regret is that the bill does not 
pick up more of the cost of the assessments and upgrades. I believe the 
Federal Government needs to take on a larger share of funding these 
types of homeland security improvements.
  This is a much needed bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

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