retary issues an order providing an effective date 
for the testing program. 
‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—A State shall be eligible to 
withdraw from a testing program if an owner or op-
erator conducting such testing program in such State 
has an incident involving a death, a personal injury 
necessitating in-patient hospitalization, or a report-
able accident (within the meaning of sections 195.50 
and 191.3 of title 49, Code of Federal Regulations), 
and the testing program is determined to be the cause 
or a contributing factor to such incident. 
‘‘(4) EFFECT.—If a State has not submitted a 
notice requesting an exemption under paragraph (1), 
the State shall not enforce any law (including regula-
tions) that is inconsistent with a testing program in 
effect in the State under this section. 
‘‘(k) PROGRAM REVIEW PROCESS AND PUBLIC NO-
TICE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall publish 
in the Federal Register a notice of each testing pro-
gram under subsection (a), including the order to be 
considered, and provide an opportunity for public 
comment for not less than 60 days. 
‘‘(2) COMMUNICATION WITH STATES.— 
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—As part of carrying out 
the process described in paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall individually notify, at the time de-
scribed in paragraph (1), the relevant authorities 
in the States such testing programs would be 
conducted in. 
‘‘(B) NOTIFICATION CONTENTS.—The notifi-
cation described in subparagraph (A) shall in-
clude a specific list of the laws or regulations 
that the State would not be allowed to enforce 
pursuant to subsection (j)(4) should such testing 
program go into effect, and the ability of the 
State to request an exemption from the program. 
‘‘(3) RESPONSE
FROM
SECRETARY.—Not later 
than the date on which the Secretary issues an order 
providing an effective date of a testing program no-
ticed under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall re-
spond to each comment submitted under that para-
graph. 
‘‘(l) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—At the conclusion of each 
testing program, the Secretary shall make publicly avail-
able on the website of the Department of Transportation 
a report containing— 
‘‘(1) the findings and conclusions of the Sec-
retary with respect to the testing program; and 
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‘‘(2) any recommendations of the Secretary with 
respect to the testing program, including any rec-
ommendations for amendments to laws (including 
regulations) and the establishment of standards, 
that— 
‘‘(A) would enhance the safe operation of 
interstate gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facili-
ties; and 
‘‘(B) are technically, operationally, and eco-
nomically feasible. 
‘‘(m) STANDARDS.—If a report under subsection (l) in-
dicates that it is practicable to establish technically, oper-
ationally, and economically feasible standards for the use 
of a safety-enhancing technology and any corresponding 
operational practices tested by the testing program de-
scribed in the report, the Secretary, as soon as practicable 
after submission of the report, may promulgate regulations 
consistent with chapter 5 of title 5 (commonly known as 
the ‘Administrative Procedures Act’) that— 
‘‘(1) allow operators of interstate gas or haz-
ardous liquid pipeline facilities to use the relevant 
technology or practice to the extent practicable; and 
‘‘(2) establish technically, operationally, and eco-
nomically feasible standards for the capability and 
deployment of the technology or practice.’’. 
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(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections for 
chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is further 
amended by adding at the end: 
‘‘60145. Pipeline safety enhancement programs.’’. 
SEC. 24. WORKFORCE. 
(a) STAFFING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor-
tation shall increase the number of full-time equiva-
lent employees (as compared to the number of posi-
tions on the date of enactment of this Act) by— 
(A) 8 full-time employees with subject mat-
ter expertise in pipeline safety, pipeline facili-
ties, and pipeline systems to finalize outstanding 
rulemakings and fulfill mandates for the Office 
of Pipeline Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration; and 
(B) 3 full-time attorneys, with environ-
mental expertise, in the Office of Chief Counsel 
of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety 
Administration. 
(2) PIPELINE
INSPECTION
AND
ENFORCEMENT 
PERSONNEL.—The Secretary shall ensure that the 
number of positions for pipeline inspection and en-
forcement personnel in the Office of Pipeline Safety of 
the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Admin-
istration does not fall below the following: 
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(A) 222 for fiscal year 2020. 
(B) 233 for fiscal year 2021. 
(C) 245 for fiscal year 2022. 
(D) 258 for fiscal year 2023. 
(E) 272 for fiscal year 2024. 
(b) RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AUTHORITIES.— 
The Secretary shall request authority from the Office of Per-
sonnel Management to use incentives, as necessary, to re-
cruit and retain a qualified workforce, including for inspec-
tion and enforcement personnel and subject matter experts 
dedicated to rulemaking activities in the Office of Pipeline 
Safety of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Ad-
ministration— 
(1) special pay rates permitted under section 
5305 of title 5, United States Code; and 
(2) repayment of student loans accompanied by 
a continued service agreement, permitted under sec-
tion 5379 of title 5, United States Code. 
SEC. 25. HIRING REPORT. 
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter through calendar year 
2023, the Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Ma-
terials Safety Administration shall submit to Congress a 
report on the efforts of the Administration to hire women, 
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