[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 167 (Tuesday, November 10, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7916-S7917]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mrs. FISCHER (for herself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Daines, and Mr. 
        Peters):
  S. 2276. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to provide 
enhanced safety in pipeline transportation, and for other purposes; to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I rise today along with my colleagues 
Senators Fischer, Booker, and Peters to introduce the Securing 
America's Future Energy: Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and 
Enhancing Safety, SAFE PIPES, Act, reauthorizing the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Material Safety Administration, PHMSA. Safe and secure 
pipeline infrastructure is critical to our nation, and is especially 
important to Montanans--for economic opportunity and environmental 
protection.
  We had a great bipartisan group of Senators working on this 
legislation. I

[[Page S7917]]

would like to thank Senator Fischer for traveling to Billings, Montana 
to chair the first in a series of hearings on pipeline safety and 
coordinating efforts to write this important legislation. Additionally, 
I thank Senators Booker and Peters for their work drafting this 
legislation.
  In Montana, we have some of the country's most pristine wild spaces 
along with an abundance on natural resources. Montana produces 
approximately 30 million barrels of crude oil, 63 billion cubic feet of 
natural gas, and 42 million short tons of coal annually. We export 60 
percent of this energy. The oil and gas industries support the 
employment of over 43,000 Montanans. Likewise, Montana's unspoiled 
mountains and streams is the main motivator for many visiting Montana. 
The tourism industry supports the employment of over 53,000 Montanans.
  It is needless to say, but it is imperative that both jobs are 
protected. This legislation does just that, by improving pipeline 
inspection report turnaround times, increasing focus on pipeline river 
crossings, helping fill vacant inspector positions, facilitating 
communications between PHMSA and State agencies, and enabling PHMSA to 
conduct safety research with industry experts.
  I look forward to continue my work, along with my colleagues, on 
enhancing pipeline safety, protecting our economic and environmental 
resources, and shepherding this legislation across the finish line.

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