[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 30 (Thursday, February 25, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1031-S1032]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SAFE PIPES ACT

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I wish to take a moment to speak today 
on a bipartisan pipeline safety bill that will soon be considered by 
the full Senate.
  Last December, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously passed 
legislation to strengthen pipeline safety across our Nation. I have 
been working with my colleagues, Senator Booker, the Presiding Officer 
Senator Daines, and Senator Peters, on this bill for nearly 9 months, 
and we are proud of this bipartisan legislation.
  Over the past several months, we have held several hearings, 
including one in the Presiding Officer's home State, in Billings, MO, 
last September. Not far from Billings, in January of 2015, the Poplar 
Pipeline spilled nearly 30,000 gallons of crude oil into the State's 
precious Yellowstone River. This incident reinforced the need for a 
robust update to our laws regarding both the pipeline system and the 
government agency charged with keeping it safe.
  Pipeline infrastructure transports vital energy resources to homes, 
businesses, schools, and commercial centers across the United States. 
According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration, or PHMSA, more than 2.5 million miles of pipelines 
traverse this country. Our bill, the SAFE PIPES Act, would increase 
congressional oversight over pipeline safety programs at PHMSA. It 
would also provide greater flexibility and resources to State pipeline 
safety officials. Further, the bill would require PHMSA to reprioritize 
congressional directives and conduct an assessment of the pipeline 
integrity management program.

[[Page S1032]]

  Pipeline safety affects citizens in each and every one of our States. 
In my home State of Nebraska, we experienced this just a couple months 
ago. In January, a ruptured natural gas pipeline exploded in the Old 
Market area of downtown Omaha. The disaster destroyed a historic 
building, and it did injure several people. The SAFE PIPES Act would 
encourage the use of advanced technology for pipeline mapping and help 
avoid accidents like this moving forward.
  In California, the massive Aliso Canyon underground natural gas 
storage facility leak posed a serious public health threat and 
displaced hundreds of families from their homes. The SAFE PIPES Act 
would direct PHMSA to create crucial minimum standards for underground 
natural gas storage facilities. It would also establish an Aliso Canyon 
working group to ensure that similar incidents are avoided in the 
future. I appreciate the strong support provided by the California 
Senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, who helped draft the 
working group provisions there. They also serve as cosponsors of our 
SAFE PIPES Act.
  The Senate must pass this robust, bipartisan legislation. We all have 
a responsibility to prioritize not only the efficient permitting and 
construction of energy infrastructure but also the safety and the 
security of our Nation's extensive pipeline network.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. DAINES. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Fischer). Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

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