Congressman Johnson Advocates for Pipeline Security Act to Protect National Infrastructure

The Critical Role of Pipelines

• 🇺🇸 The United States pipeline network spans over 2.7 million miles, generating over $57 billion in yearly revenue and supporting hundreds of thousands of American jobs.
• 💡 These networks are a critical part of our energy supply chain, essential for distributing oil, natural gas, and hazardous liquids.

Lessons from the Colonial Pipeline Attack

• ⚠️ The 2021 Colonial Pipeline cyber attack highlighted the system's fragility, causing widespread fuel shortages, long gas lines, and price spikes.
• 🚨 This incident served as a wake-up call to strengthen defenses against increasingly sophisticated threats.
• 📉 Failure to protect pipelines risks not only national security but also supply chain disruptions with a ripple effect throughout communities.

The Pipeline Security Act (HR5062)

• 📜 Introduced by Rep. Julie Johnson, the bill aims to strengthen the TSA's statutory authority over pipeline security.
• 🏛️ For over two decades, TSA's pipeline security office has lacked codification into law, a gap this bill seeks to fill.
• 🎯 The legislation empowers TSA to issue security guidelines, conduct risk assessments, and regularly inspect at-risk facilities.

Enhancing TSA's Capabilities

• 🧠 The bill mandates TSA to develop a workforce strategy focusing on hiring employees with both pipeline and cyber security expertise.
• 🤝 It also requires TSA to increase security-related engagement with pipeline stakeholders.
• 🔍 The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will review TSA's efforts to ensure effectiveness.

Bipartisan Support and Committee Action

• 👍 The Pipeline Security Act has garnered bipartisan co-sponsorship, including from Representatives Jimenez and Garcia.
• ✅ The House Homeland Security Committee markup meeting concluded with the bill being favorably reported, with 22 votes in favor and zero against.
• 🔒 Codifying TSA's authority provides consistency, stability, and accountability in protecting critical infrastructure.