[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 22118]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 22118]]

                            PIPELINE SAFETY

  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I deeply regret that the House of 
Representatives failed yesterday to favorably approve S. 2438, the 
Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2000. That measure was taken up 
under suspension of the rules in the House, and therefore, needed two-
thirds of the members present and voting to support its passage. The 
final vote was 232 to 158.
  As my colleagues know, the Senate has worked long and hard to produce 
comprehensive pipeline safety legislation. As a result of our 
bipartisan efforts, we unanimously approved S. 2438 nearly four weeks 
ago. That measure includes the best provisions from four separate 
proposals pending in the Senate, including legislation introduced by 
Senators Murray and Gorton, the measure introduced by Senator Hollings 
on behalf of the Administration, the bill introduced by Senator 
Bingaman, and the bill I introduced along with Senators Murray and 
Gorton. While the final bill may not be the preference of every member, 
it is a fair and balanced compromise piece of legislation and, to quote 
Secretary Slater, ``is critical to make much-needed improvements to the 
pipeline safety program. It provides for stronger enforcement, 
mandatory testing of all pipelines, community right-to-know 
information, and additional resources.''
  There is one and only one reason the Senate bill fell 28 votes short, 
preventing it from being on its way to the President at this moment: 
Partisan Politics.
  I can understand the hesitation on the part of some to approve a 
measure that doesn't include every single provision they envision as 
necessary to address pipeline safety improvements. But the Senate-
passed bill is a good bill and would go a long way in promoting safety 
improvements. Senator Murray said it best on the floor of the Senate 
just two weeks ago: ``Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.'' 
But instead of heeding that advise, the House has neither approved its 
own version of a pipeline safety bill nor has it approved the Senate's 
unanimously-passed bill. And now time is simply running out.
  I do not relish voicing criticism toward the House opponents of S. 
2438. But because of their actions, we will most likely fail to make 
any advancement in pipeline safety this year. And if we are ultimately 
prevented from enacting pipeline safety legislation in these remaining 
few days of the session, these and the other members working with them 
will be even less pleased by the criticisms I will be directing their 
way if even one more life is lost because of our inaction. Be assured, 
I will be back on this floor reminding everyone of our missed 
opportunity to address identified pipeline safety shortcomings due to 
the actions of these few members. They will be held accountable.
  Mr. Inslee from the State of Washington testified before the Senate 
Commerce Committee in May on the need to pass comprehensive 
legislation, noting that the ``opportunity to pass comprehensive, 
meaningful legislation may not come again until there is another 
tragedy''. Sadly, since the time Mr. Inslee made those comments, two 
other accidents have occurred--claiming a total of 13 more lives. How 
many more lives are going to be lost before Congress finally passes 
pipeline safety legislation?
  It is my understanding Mr. Inslee has urged the Administration, 
members of his House delegation, and leadership on the House side, not 
to support the Senate bill. It is also my understanding that he has 
ignored advice from his own Senate colleague, Senator Murray, on this 
matter. In doing so, he is dooming the months of effort that a member 
of his own party, a Senator from his own home state, has put into 
crafting a bill that will undoubtably improve pipeline safety. His 
actions may have killed the only chance that pipeline safety 
legislation will pass this year. And in doing so, he is ensuring that 
even more lives may be lost--and that the unacceptable status quo will 
remain.
  I support passage of the strongest safety bill possible, and I know 
the House members I have mentioned are fully aware of this fact. The 
strongest bill possible at this time is the bill we approved in the 
Senate three weeks ago. Mr. Inslee's and others' claims that their 
efforts are driven by a desire for a stronger bill sound well and good. 
But the reality is those efforts only preclude any advancement in 
pipeline safety from occurring. The actions of these members not only 
ignore the substantial steps we've made to reach a fair, balanced pro-
safety bill, but also could jeopardize the likelihood we'll make any 
progress on pipeline safety for many years to come.
  I urge those members obstructing action on pipeline safety 
legislation to think carefully about the consequences of their 
obstructionist actions. Each day that passes without enactment of 
comprehensive pipeline safety legislation places public safety at risk.

                          ____________________