House votes on chemical bill set for Friday

The House on Thursday approved the rule for floor consideration of legislation that would place new security requirements on facilities across the country that use or store dangerous chemicals, but a Democratic leadership aide said votes on amendments and final passage would be put off to Friday.

The House voted 233-182 to approve the rule, opening the way for general debate on the bill Thursday. The bill would reauthorize and expand the Homeland Security Department's ability to regulate security at chemical facilities and codify the government's authority to regulate security at public water treatment facilities.

Amendments include Republican efforts to strip controversial provisions from the bill, including one that would allow federal agencies to require chemical facilities and water treatment plants to use safer technologies and processes.