As chemical distributors, so much of the important work we do in getting Americans the products they rely on every day happens behind the scenes in warehouses, blending facilities, and other onsite locations. While chemical distributors are all perfectly aware of the hard work that goes into ensuring these facilities are run efficiently and safely in accordance with NACD Responsible Distribution®, key stakeholders like our federal representatives often don’t fully “get it” until they see our operations first-hand.
It’s not the first time a decision to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program has gone down to the wire – and it may not be the last – but at least the latest agreement is some positive news amid a cloud of uncertainty during the current COVID crisis.
Earlier this year, Congress narrowly avoided allowing the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program to sunset by passing a short-term 15-month extension of the program’s expiration date. Given the circumstances, the passage of the last-minute extension was a major legislative success. Nevertheless, in order to pass a multi-year reauthorization and avoid a similar situation come April 2020, it is imperative Congress commit to working together in a timely manner to ensure the security of the nation.
Last month, I had the opportunity to attend Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business Duke Management Program on behalf of NACD. The program, sponsored by Datacor, Inc. for NACD participants and held over a 4-day period in Durham, NC, focused on explaining the science of management by use of real-world examples and interactive activities. Taughhttp://www.datacor.comt by Fuqua professors, the Duke Management Program specifically concentrated on managing people and performance, choice, conflict, power, and systems.