Rep. Pallone Criticizes Trump Administration's Pipeline Safety Policies

Pipeline Safety Reauthorization Delays

• 📌 It has been 661 days since the last pipeline safety reauthorization expired, highlighting a significant delay in addressing critical safety measures.
• ⚠️ Pipeline safety risks remain as prevalent as ever, despite the lack of recent regulatory action.

Decline in Enforcement Actions

• 📉 Enforcement actions against pipeline operators by the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration (FIMSA) have fallen off a cliff since President Trump took office.
• 💔 The Trump administration is accused of prioritizing profits for favorite industries over the safety of the American people.
• 😥 Nearly all of FIMSA's top staff have left, with dozens of employees forced out or paid to leave, leading to a significant bleed of vital talent.

Regulatory Rollbacks and Non-Compliance

• 🚫 The Trump administration clawed back a final rule on leak detection for gas pipelines just before its publication and did the same with a proposed rule on carbon dioxide pipeline safety.
• 📜 FIMSA has ignored basic transparency requirements, such as publishing monthly updates on its progress in finalizing rules and regulations as required by law.
• ⚖️ This indicates a clear lack of interest from the Trump administration in following the law regarding pipeline safety.

Concerns Regarding Republican Proposals

• ⚠️ Committee Republicans in the last Congress proposed a partisan bill that cut FIMSA's funding by nearly 20% and included unrelated "poison pill" provisions.
• 🤝 It is urged that Republicans focus on safety and not try to gut bipartisan programs or repeat the previous Congress's playbook.
• 💰 The Inflation Reduction Act's clean energy and energy affordability programs were reportedly cut by Republicans, potentially leading to higher power bills for families and undermining reliability.

Bipartisan Importance of Pipeline Safety

• 💥 Rep. Pallone shares a personal concern stemming from a major pipeline explosion incident in his district years ago.
• 🤝 He emphasizes that pipeline safety has always been bipartisan in the past and should remain so, as it is a matter of public concern.