Washington, D.C. October 7, 2021. - Dr. Katherine A. Lemos, Chairperson and CEO of the U.S Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board testified before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the Committee on Energy and Commerce which held a hybrid hearing that included both in-person and remote attendance on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. Full committee Chairman, Frank Pallone (NJ), set the tone and said, “In my view, getting the CSB back to functioning at the highest level is the first step. The goal of today’s hearing is to help get CSB back on track, and I hope that we can all come together to revitalize this critical agency.”
Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (CO) also noted “…this is the role the CSB plays when it comes to industrial incidents. The CSB improves the safety of American workers, communities, and the environment by investigating the root causes of these tragic events and making recommendations to prevent them in the future.”
Dr. Lemos provided opening remarks that focused on the agency’s strategic goals: to advocate for safety, to prevent the recurrence of significant chemical incidents, and to maintain an engaged and high-performing workforce.
The hearing focused on questions from Members regarding the ongoing mission, governance, investigation backlogs, hiring for critical staff positions, and other challenges.
Throughout the hearing, Dr. Lemos provided details regarding the significant progress made towards these goals since she assumed her role last year.
May 20, 2021, Congressional Letter to CSB
June 10, 2021, CSB Response to Congressional Letter
Testimony from September 29, 2021, Hearing
Video of September 29, 2021 Congressional Hearing