Pipeline Safety Bill Edges Closer To House Floor

The House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously passed a bill aimed at implementing stronger safety standards for the future of pipeline construction.

In a 51-0 vote, the Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act of 2011 sailed through the committee and is one step closer to being considered on the House floor.

The legislation, co-sponsored by Committee Chair Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.), includes measures that would mandate that all new pipelines be fashioned with manual and automatic shut-off valves, including the potential for retrofitting existing pipelines as a preventative measure.

“The bill expands the integrity management program while phasing out class location requirements, thereby putting a stronger safety standard in place while taking steps to remove redundant regulations,” Dingell said during his prepared remarks. “I believe we should work to send this bill to the President’s desk and urge all members to support this bill.”

Before the bill heads to the floor of the House, it must be consolidated with a version passed by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill out of the Transportation and Infrastructure excludes a majority of the safety protections standards being sought by House Democrats, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The Senate Commerce Committee also passed its own version of the bill but is currently stalled in the upper chamber.

The Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act is expected to be considered by the House within the next month, sources indicate.

Bipartisan House Passes Intel Bill On Eve Of 9/11 Anniversary

In a 384-14 vote, the House voted nearly unanimously Friday to pass legislation that keeps federal entities vital in the America’s national security efforts funded through FY2012 . 

Given that the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attack on America is just two days awe, the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY2012, originally introduced by Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Mich.), ensures agencies like the CIA, FBI, DEA, along with the Departments of State, Defense, Energy and Justice, among others, have the capabilities to operate and continue to keep the country protected from terror threats. 

“This bill makes smart choices that will help eliminate wasteful spending while still ensuring that our intelligence community personnel have all the tools they need to keep America safe,” Deomcratic Whip Steny Hoyer said in a statement. “As we approach the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and confront new threats to the homeland, we are reminded of the challenges we face and honor the brave men and women in the intelligence community who work around the clock to protect us.”

Aside from authorizing agencies vital to the nation’s national security, the bill would require officials to provide Congress with detailed information about the mission that ultimately ended in the death of Osama bin Laden.