Several efforts on Capitol Hill have occurred to complete legislation reauthorizing the Pipeline Safety Office within the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), including hearings by the committees with jurisdiction over the agency and discussion drafts released. However, more is still to come. Subcommittees in the Senate Commerce Committee, as well as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, are expected to publish bills, and then, all these stakeholders will engage in getting one bill to pass Congress and sent to the President. With a reauthorization due date of September 30 and August recess, there are a few working days left, so APGA staff will be working hard with congressional stakeholders on a bill. If legislation is not passed, PHMSA has other funding sources, so the agency will continue to operate. However, Congress would like to pass a bipartisan bill to reauthorize the Office of Pipeline Safety in a timely manner.
There is also significant movement to amend Section 433 of the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007. Recall that Representatives Carter (R-Ga.) and Veasey (D-Texas), as well as Senators Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Manchin (D-W.Va.) have introduced legislation. A few activities will likely occur that progress this between now and the August recess.
As well, APGA staff is hopeful an alternate to legislation introduced by Senators Portman (R-Ohio) and Shaheen (D-N.H.), which has significant changes to building standards, will be introduced by Representatives Schrader (D-Ore.) and Flores (R-Texas). This bill will be similar to language that was in legislation from then-Congresswoman Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Congressman Schrader (D-Ore.) in previous congresses. Any progress on this will be provided to APGA members as it arises.
For questions on this article, please contact Stuart Saulters of APGA staff by phone at 202-464-2742 or by email at
ssaulters@apga.org.