CFATS identifies and regulates high-risk facilities with greater than threshold amounts of certain hazardous chemicals to ensure the facilities have security measures in place. The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS’s) Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency manages the program, which Congress created in 2007.

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) applauded the action, saying, "We would like to thank Chairman Johnson and Ranking Member Peters as well as Senators Capito, Carper, Inhofe and Lankford for their hard work in putting together bipartisan legislation that will provide a multi-year extension and much needed stability to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program. The past few months have demonstrated how vital the chemical industry is to the health and stability of our nation, and why this critical security program is needed to help protect the dedicated men and women who work at chemical facilities across the country. Both the House and Senate have made significant progress over the past few months to help support the fight against terrorism, and the passage of this bill by the Senate is a major step toward saving CFATS. We urge Congress to continue to work together and send a bill to the president for his signature as soon as possible.”