Across the U.S., thousands of industrial facilities use and store hazardous chemicals in quantities such that a release would put large numbers of Americans at risk of serious injury or death. The risk is widespread—according to the U.S. EPA more than 100 facilities put more than a million people at risk of injury or death in the event of an accident or terrorist attack.

The House Committee rejected an amendment by Rep. Markey (Mass.) to require the highest risk chemical plants to replace dangerous chemicals and processes with safer alternatives when feasible and cost-effective.

On June 15, the Senate Homeland Security Committee approved legislation that similarly ignores inherently safer technologies. In a recent editorial, the New York Times described the Senate bill as “Worse than Nothing.”

“Chemical security can’t be fixed by adding more guards or building more fences,” said TexPIRG Toxics and Environmental Health Advocate Alex Fidis. “The most effective way to address the problem is to reduce the use of these extremely hazardous chemicals. Congress should pass legislation that requires that.”