Congressman DeSaulnier Statement on Trump Administration Proposal to Eliminate Chemical Safety Board

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressman Mark DeSaulnier issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration's proposal to eliminate the Chemical Safety Board and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the independent agency responsible for investigating chemical disasters, including fatal fires and explosions.

"It is unconscionable that in his drive to amass more and more power, the President would dismantle an agency whose sole purpose is safety. Unfortunately, our community knows all too well what happens when safety is overlooked at oil refineries: death, injuries, unbreathable air, and more. Having spent my career fighting to regulate nearby refineries, I know the vital role the CSB plays in probing the root causes of chemical incidents and in issuing recommendations that have helped keep workers and communities safer. I will do everything possible in Congress to fight this dangerous executive overreach and protect the Chemical Safety Board."

Congressman DeSaulnier is a senior member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. During his tenure on the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, he played a pivotal role in the Industrial Safety Ordinance and the Refinery Flare Rule for local refineries and chemical facilities following a deadly explosion at the Tosco refinery in 1997. When President Trump previously tried to eliminate the CSB in 2018 and Congressional Republicans proposed to reduce its funding, Congressman DeSaulnier successfully authored an amendment that passed into law to ensure it was fully funded.