House Democrats Thwart Effort to Speed Through Inadequate Pipeline Bill

WASHINGTON—Democrats in the House of Representatives Tuesday turned back an effort by the Republican leadership to move a weak pipeline safety bill under expedited consideration.

By a vote of 232-158, the House failed to muster the needed two-thirds majority to suspend the rules and pass S. 2438, Pipeline Safety Improvement Act. Bills brought up under suspension are not subject to amendment on the floor and debate is limited to 40 minutes. The procedure is generally reserved for the consideration of noncontroversial legislation such as naming federal courthouses.

Opposition to the bill was led by Rep. James Oberstar, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and Rep. John D. Dingell, Ranking Democratic Member of the House Commerce Committee and dean of the House.

During debate on the House floor, Oberstar said that the bill, which was passed by the Senate on September 7, relies on the Office of Pipeline Safety (OPS) to implement its provisions, even though OPS has failed to implement 22 previous such mandates.

“The Office of Pipeline Safety has failed to comply with 22 directives from Congress to adopt regulations and undertake the necessary studies and regulatory action,” Oberstar said. “This will be requirement 23 on the Office of Pipeline Safety to adopt regulations. They haven’t done it 22 other times, what makes anyone think they’re going to do it now?”

Dingell called the bill an “embarrassment” and said it does nothing to add to the safety of the American people or assure the safe operation of pipelines. Dingell told his House colleagues that the Senate bill contains little that cannot be done under existing law and under authority already given OPS.

“It is time that we did something meaningful in the area of pipeline safety,” Dingell said. “The results of inaction by the Office of Pipeline Safety, a very weak agency, and by this Congress, are that there are more than 15 people dead in the last 18 months, including seven children under the age of 10.”

Oberstar and Dingell have introduced a stronger alternative pipeline safety bill (HR 5361, the Pipeline Safety Act of 2000). The Oberstar-Dingell legislation includes more stringent requirements for pipeline inspections and maintenance, training for pipeline operations personnel and public information in areas near hazardous liquid and natural gas pipelines.

The two senior House Democrats criticized the Republican House leadership for dragging its feet on this issue, then claiming that quick consideration of the Senate bill late in the Congressional session was the best the House could do.

Oberstar pointed out that the Senate passed its bill a month ago giving the House plenty of time in which to act.

“We could have a bill on the floor. We could have a conference with the Senate,” Oberstar said, “…and we could do better.”

Contact: Jim Berard, 202-225-6260

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