I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7073 
To improve public-private partnerships and increase Federal research, develop-
ment, and demonstration related to the evolution of next generation 
pipeline systems, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 22, 2024 
Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself, Ms. CARAVEO, Mr. LUCAS, and Mr. 
OBERNOLTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To improve public-private partnerships and increase Federal 
research, development, and demonstration related to the 
evolution of next generation pipeline systems, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Generation Pipe-
lines Research and Development Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education (as 
such term is defined in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a))), including historically Black colleges 
and universities (within the meaning of the 
term ‘‘part B institution’’ in section 322 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061)), Tribal colleges and universities (as such 
term is defined in section 316 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c)), and 
minority serving institutions (including the enti-
ties described in any of paragraphs (1) through 
(7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))); 
(B) a nonprofit research organization; 
(C) a National Laboratory (as such term is 
defined in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801)); 
(D) a private commercial entity; 
(E) a partnership or consortium of two or 
more entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
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through (D) that leverages existing Department 
efforts; or 
(F) any other entity the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(4) TECHNICAL STANDARDS.—The term ‘‘tech-
nical standard’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 12(d)(5) of the National Technology Trans-
fer and Advancement Act of 1995 (15 U.S.C. 272 
note). 
SEC. 3. COORDINATION. 
In carrying out this Act— 
(1) the Secretary shall avoid unnecessary dupli-
cation and achieve shared mission goals by coordi-
nating with the Administrator of the Pipeline and 
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration of the 
Department of Transportation and across all rel-
evant program offices at the Department of Energy, 
including— 
(A) the Office of Science; 
(B) the Office of Fossil Energy and Car-
bon Management; 
(C) the Office of Energy Efficiency and 
Renewable Energy; 
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(D) the Office of Cybersecurity, Energy 
Security, and Emergency Response; 
(E) the Advanced Research Projects Agen-
cy–Energy; 
(F) the Office of Clean Energy Dem-
onstrations; and 
(G) any other cross-cutting program office 
determined appropriate; 
(2) the Secretary of Transportation shall ensure 
participation of and coordination with the Secretary 
of Energy of— 
(A) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials 
Safety Administration of the Department of 
Transportation; and 
(B) any other program office of the De-
partment of Transportation determined appro-
priate; and 
(3) the Secretary shall coordinate with the Di-
rector of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, the Secretary of the Interior, and the 
heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as appro-
priate. 
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SEC. 4. ADVANCED PIPELINE MATERIALS AND TECH-
NOLOGIES DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle E of title III of division 
D of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (Public 
Law 117–58) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new section: 
‘‘SEC. 40344. ADVANCED PIPELINE MATERIALS AND TECH-
NOLOGIES DEMONSTRATION INITIATIVE. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT
OF INITIATIVE.—The Sec-
retary shall establish a demonstration initiative (in this 
section referred to as the ‘Initiative’) under which the Sec-
retary, through a competitive merit review process, shall 
award financial assistance to eligible entities to carry out 
demonstration projects on low- to mid-technology readi-
ness level subjects to achieve deployment of technologies 
that— 
‘‘(1) are applicable to pipelines and associated 
infrastructure, including liquefied natural gas facili-
ties and underground and above ground gas and liq-
uid fuel storage facilities; and 
‘‘(2) involve the development of next generation 
pipeline systems, components, and related tech-
nologies. 
‘‘(b) DEMONSTRATION PROJECT FOCUS AREAS.—In 
carrying out the Initiative, the Secretary shall select dem-
onstration projects that best advance research undertaken 
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by the Department and the Department of Transportation 
and incorporate a range of technology focus areas, which 
may include the following: 
‘‘(1) Advanced leak detection and mitigation 
tools and technologies. 
‘‘(2) Novel materials, including alloy and non-
metallic materials, to improve integrity for new and 
existing pipelines, such as pipeline coatings, sleeves, 
and liners, and corrosion resistant materials, includ-
ing maximum and minimum flow rates and immu-
nity to electrical discharge processes. 
‘‘(3) Technologies and methods for retrofitting 
existing pipelines, resolving material compatibility 
issues, and minimizing leakage, such as field protec-
tive coatings and material treatment. 
‘‘(4) Advanced manufacturing approaches for 
producing, fitting, and coupling pipelines, including 
the fabrication of higher performance pipeline mate-
rials and new extrusion technologies or methods to 
join ultra-high strength and corrosion resistant ma-
terials at a scale for distribution. 
‘‘(5) Advanced sensor technologies and proc-
esses that enable real-time or in situ monitoring of 
pipeline assets to assess and mitigate leaks, both in-
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ternal and external to the pipeline, which may in-
clude the following: 
‘‘(A) Wireless sensors, such as surface 
acoustic wave sensors. 
‘‘(B) Advanced and cost-effective electro-
chemical sensors. 
‘‘(C) Distributed fiber optic sensors. 
‘‘(D) Autonomous sensor systems, includ-
ing uncrewed aircraft. 
‘‘(E) Optical methods. 
‘‘(F) 
Multi-use 
platforms 
for 
diverse 
sources. 
‘‘(G) Hybrid data-analysis platforms. 
‘‘(6) Advanced computational, data analytics, 
and machine learning models to achieve the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) Multiscale modeling, characterization, 
and optimization of transmission and distribu-
tion systems and components to aid in planning 
for optimized and resilient infrastructure. 
‘‘(B) Correlation between sensor and emis-
sions data at all operational points and across 
a variety of scales to assure system integrity 
spanning large areas. 
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‘‘(C) Accurate material lifecycle predictions 
and simulation platforms to forecast pipeline 
health. 
‘‘(D) Secure real time autonomous moni-
toring and repair capabilities. 
‘‘(E) Mapping and monitoring of struc-
tural health parameters, such as corrosion. 
‘‘(7) Self-healing and self-repair functionalities, 
including by chemical treatment methods. 
‘‘(8) Autonomous robotic and patch tech-
nologies for inspection and repair. 
‘‘(9) Dynamic compressor technologies, includ-
ing retrofit kits for existing compressor systems. 
‘‘(10) Strategies and technologies for integrated 
cybersecurity 
considerations 
and 
countering 
cyberattacks. 
‘‘(11) Technologies and methods to reduce po-
tential environmental impacts, including at the at-
mospheric and subsurface level, associated with pipe-
lines, liquefied natural gas facilities, and gas and liq-
uid fuel storage facilities, such as equipment failure. 
‘‘(12) Tools to evaluate geographical pipeline 
data for the feasibility of repurposing existing infra-
structure for safe and effective transport and use of 
alternative fuels, blends, and carbon dioxide. 
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‘‘(13) Tools and technologies applicable to im-
proving the safety, operation, and efficiency of lique-
fied natural gas facilities and gas and liquid fuel 
storage facilities. 
‘‘(c) SELECTION REQUIREMENTS.—In selecting eligi-
ble entities for demonstration projects under the Initiative, 
the Secretary shall, to the maximum extent practicable, 
take the following actions: 
‘‘(1) Encourage regional diversity among eligi-
ble entities, including participation by such entities 
located in rural States. 
‘‘(2) Prioritize technological diversity among eli-
gible entities. 
‘‘(3) Prioritize a diverse mix of energy, sub-
stances, fuel sources, and byproducts, including the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Gas and liquid hydrocarbons, includ-
ing natural gas, renewable natural gas, meth-
ane, ethane, and liquefied natural gas. 
‘‘(B) Carbon dioxide. 
‘‘(C) Hydrogen. 
‘‘(D) Biofuels. 
‘‘(E) Water. 
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