Press Releases

The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Ranking Member Sam Graves (R-MO) and Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Ranking Member Rick Crawford (R-AR) today released the following statement regarding the Senate passage of the PIPES Act: 

“In the United States, 2.7 million miles of gas and hazardous liquid pipelines safely provide the energy used daily by American businesses, consumers, and manufacturers. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) oversees the operational safety of this extensive transportation system.  We commend the Senate for taking steps to reauthorize these vital federal safety programs through passage of the PIPES Act by unanimous consent. This bipartisan agreement incorporates key stakeholder input to strengthen federal pipeline safety programs through innovative research and technology programs, grants for first responders, and modernized LNG safety regulations, among other provisions. We call on our Democratic colleagues to swiftly pass this legislation in the House to reauthorize these much-needed pipeline safety programs.”

Background: On November 19, 2019, T&I Republicans introduced commonsense legislation (H.R. 5175) to reauthorize PHMSA and improve federal pipeline safety programs. On November 23, 2019, the majority passed a highly partisan pipeline bill that failed to address the most pressing needs in pipeline safety.