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Washington, D.C. – Opening remarks, as prepared, of Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Subcommittee Chairman Daniel Webster (R-FL) from today’s hearing, entitled “Promoting and Improving Safety and Efficient Pipeline Infrastructure”:

When it comes to energy resources, the United States has been twice blessed. First, we are blessed with a natural endowment of mineral resources of various types and composition. Second, we are blessed with the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit of American business that developed the technology and capabilities to safely and efficiently access, develop, and transport these previously unavailable resources to markets and consumers.

The economic and security benefits of this bounty have been substantial. Overall, the domestic oil and gas sector supports more than 10 million jobs and generates nearly $1.8 trillion in economic activity. The average industry wage is 65 percent greater than the United States average wage in other employment sectors. These jobs are spread across multiple industries including manufacturing, construction, transportation, and warehousing.

Our committee has an interest in ensuring this energy bounty is safely transported across the energy supply chain. Today’s hearing will examine the need to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), including providing it with new direction and authority over emerging energy sources.

Last Congress, the Committee passed H.R. 6494, the Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety (PIPES) Act of 2023. It was reported out of Committee on a bipartisan basis. In drafting this bill, the Committee solicited input from a wide range of parties and received about 90 priorities from Members and over 100 requests from pipeline safety stakeholders.

In our country, roughly 3.3 million miles of onshore pipelines safely and efficiently carry natural gas, crude, hydrogen, hazardous liquids, and other energy sources vital for our nation’s energy independence. It is of the utmost importance for Congress to ensure PHMSA is focused on its core mission of advancing the safe transportation of these resources.

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