Safer Pipelines Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-3432
Sponsor: Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1]
Introduced: 2019-06-24 in the House
Policy area: Transportation and Public Works
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Business records
Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Crimes against property
Department of Transportation
Emergency planning and evacuation
First responders and emergency personnel
Geography and mapping
Government information and archives
Government trust funds
Hazardous wastes and toxic substances
Intergovernmental relations
Minority employment
Oil and gas
Pipelines
Transportation programs funding
Transportation safety and security
User charges and fees
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: 

Safer Pipelines Act of 2019

 
This bill addresses pipeline safety with respect to natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines.
 
Among other things, the bill
 
 
reauthorizes appropriations through FY2023 for pipeline safety activities;
 
prioritizes assessment methods for transmission pipelines that can provide a greater level of safety than direct assessment, including the use of internal inspection devices or pressure testing;
 
makes it mandatory for each operator of a transmission pipeline facility in a high consequence area to install automatic or remote shutoff valves;
 
directs owners and operators of gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facilities to make critical operational information available to surrounding communities and first responders;
 
increases civil penalties for violations and revises the criminal penalty standard from &quot;knowingly and willfully&quot; to &quot;knowingly or recklessly&quot;; and
 
requires the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to submit an annual report to Congress detailing its efforts to hire women, minorities, and veterans as inspectors since January 1, 2012.
 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2019-11-20
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2019-11-20
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2019-06-26
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2019-06-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-06-24
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2019-06-16
text: Hearings Held by the Subcommittee on Energy Prior to Introduction and Referral.