To voters along with firsthand accounts from political reporters updated poll numbers, fundraising data, and campaign ads. Watch cspans 2024 campaign trail friday night at 7 30 p. M. Eastern on cspan, online, cspan. Org, or download as a podcast on cspan now, our free mobile apps, or wherever you get your podcast. Cspan, your unfiltered view of politics. Next, officials from the transportation department, the american gas association, and the American Petroleum institute testifying on legislation to ensure the safe handling of pipelines and other Hazardous Materials, the house transportation and infrastructure subcommittee hearing is two hours. . [inaudible conversations] the subcommittee on railroads, pipelines, and Hazardous Materials will come to order. I asked members consent the chairman of the authorized to declare recess at any time during todays hearing. Objections ordered. I i asked mens consent the members not on the subcommittee be permitted to sit with the subcommittee at todays hearing and ask questions. Without objection, so ordered. As reminder that members want to insert document into the record please email it. Before we discuss todays hearing i would like to take a moment to remember our colleague, congressman donald payne, jr. , who passed away a few weeks ago. It was a privilege to work with donald as my counterpart on the subcommittee. It was clear to all who knew him how strong his commitment to Public Service was and to his constituents. Im grateful for the opportunity to work alongside donald especially with his leadership in putting together our bipartisan Pipeline Safety legislation. He will be deeply missed here on the committee, under what to send my condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and staff as they deal with this great loss. I will now recognize myself for the purpose of an Opening Statement for five minutes. Todays hearing will examine the need to reauthorize the pipeline and Hazardous MaterialsSafety Administration, including providing it new direction and authority over emerging Energy Sources. This past fall, myself, chairman graves, Ranking Member larsen, and Ranking Member payne introduced h. R. 6494, the promoting innovation in pipeline efficiency and safety act of 2023. Or the pipes active 2023. Last december, the committee passed h. R. 6494 out of committee on a bipartisan basis. In crafting this bill, the committee solicited input from a wide range of parties, and in turn received about 90 priorities from members and over 100 requests from Pipeline Safety stakeholders. I am grateful for the support from members of this committee in putting together this important piece of Bipartisan Legislation. In our country, roughly 3. 3 million miles of onshore pipelines safely and efficiently carry natural gas, crude, hydrogen, hazardous liquids, and other Energy Sources vital for our Nations Energy independence, making it of utmost importance for congress to ensure phmsa is focused on its core mission of advancing the safe transportation of these resources. The pipes act of 2023 reauthorizes phmsa for four years and provides the necessary resources and direction for the agency to fulfill its Pipeline Safety oversight responsibilities in an efficient and effective manner. The bill contains several provisions to accomplish this, including an authorization for additional Pipeline Safety technical experts to complete outstanding congressional mandates. Over the past 20 years more than 1,400 excavation damage incidents have occurred. Therefore, h. R. 6494 includes measures to strengthen state programs to reduce the number of excavation damage incidents, promoting the publics safety. The pipes act of 2023 will also support phmsas efforts to oversee the safe transportation of new and emerging fuels by directing phmsa to update regulations for the safe transportation of Carbon Dioxide and to study the use of hydrogenblending in natural gas. These and other provisions in the pipes act of 2023 will ensure the safety and reliability of the u. S. Pipeline network and the transportation of our Critical Energy resources. It is more important than ever that phmsa receive a regular reauthorization from congress to provide both the agency and regulated community much needed i want to think a witness of here today and sharing their perspectives on Pipeline Safety reauthorization and what it means for phmsa, the industry and the communities where the transportation of our Energy Products take place. I will also note that my colleagues on the house energy and Commerce Committee have also passed Pipeline Safety reauthorization legislation through committee based on their jurisdiction. Despite such action in the house, we have yet to see any movement in the senate from leader schumer and his majority. As the house has shown, it is possible to legislate in a bipartisan manner in the name of Pipeline Safety. I call on the senate to follow suit, and hope to work with them in the near future. I will yield back and now recognize Ranking Member wilson for five minutes for an Opening Statement. Thank you, chair nehls, for holding this hearing today. And thank you, Ranking Member larsen, for your faith in me. It is with a heavy heart that i take on the role of Ranking Member of the subcommittee. Congressman donald payne, jr. Was not just a colleague but a cherished friend whose legacy and dedicated to honoring and advancing. His exemplary leadership on the Railroad Subcommittee sets a standard of excellence that i am committed to upholding and building upon. For many years we were soldiers in the army to uplift black men and boys, whether that be Trayvon Martin or fighting for Health Disparities along black men and alloys. He fought the good fight, to bring back our girls from africa. I sat next to him in committee for years, and we were table mates every year at the Congressional Black Caucus gala, and we shared many memories with me. He was so proud to be the father of triplets, and to let me know that he married a florida girl. I will miss him, and im committed to honoring his legacy and continuing his work on this committee. As we all know, part of his mission was to ensure the safety of all people, and he had a goal of never wanting to miss a vote, regardless of his health. And speaking everyday on the floor to on his constituents, he loved his constituents. He was a man for all seasons, and we will miss him dearly. Before coming to congress i was a school principal, and nothing is more important to me than the safety and education of our children. I do not want to see amy pipeline incidents, but im particularly concern when they occur at or near a school. At least two recent incidents in the last year happened at or near schools. One was near an Elementary School in conway washington and another was that a school in the mississippi delta in marigold mississippi. Yes, believe it or not, just last month in marigold is a pipeline explosion at hays cooper center, a prek through eighth grade school. Although no children were injured, two School Staff Members were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. I want to know how pipeline operators work with communities and schools to prevent such incidents. Whether working with the impacted schools for additional tutoring or Student Support for those childrens loss instruction time . What about their Mental Health . How does having to evacuate impact students with regard to the pipes 2023 bill, i support the bill because it has essential provisions that mr. Payne championed, and i associate myself with his work on these efforts. Among them the bill includes increase funding for the pipeline and Hazardous MaterialSafety Administration to support the office of Pipeline Safety for its critical safety mission. I am proud that this bipartisan Pipeline Safety bill strongly focuses on Pipeline Safety. This bill also makes changes to the Competitive Academic Agreement Program to provide funding for Academic Research and development of Pipeline Safety workforce of the future. The changes will help most historically black colleges and universities and other minority serving institutions participate in the program. These are positive changes, and i urge congress to adopt them. Lastly, i want to say to meir kagan of west reading who is leading her city to the aftermath of this deadliest pipeline explosion, the country expressed in 2023, thank you for watching today. Im so sorry for your loss. Seven people died after showing up for work to make chocolate. Ten people injured and understand in your volunteer firefighting capacity he also showed up to help with the immediate Emergency Response. We hear you, we see you and we will never forget. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses today, and i yield back my time. Gentlelady yields. I now recognize reiki member of the full committee mr. Larsen for five minutes for an Opening Statement. Thank you chair nehls for calling this hearing on Pipeline Safety, and for your kind words about our colleague and friend, representative donald payne, jr. And we continue to mourn the day after his death two weeks ago. He was a leader on the pipes act of 2023 that our Committee Voted Unanimously to dance in december. Strongly supported ensuring fincen state Pipeline Safety programs have the funding to need to do the work. Don also helped lay the groundwork for strong real funding the bipartisan infrastructure law because of his work we will see replacements of century old rail bridges and tunnels on the northeast quarter. He was a friend and advocate for rail workers supporting their bid for sick leave, high wages and improved working conditions. His efforts helped support and stork agreement that would strengthen safety and quality of life for essential rail workers. Dons work to ventral safety legislation especially in wake of the derailment in east palestinian will remain an important part of his lexie that Congress Must continue to realize. On june 10, 1999, an olympic pipeline exploded in pulling him washington a disciplined the lives of 210 your voice and an 18 year old young man. The explosion also released 237,000 gallons of gasoline into 37,000 gallons of gasoline into a creek that flowed through false creek in bellingham. This explosion. My commitment steadfast or 20th the highest level Pipeline Safety. For my entire tenure in congress i thought to reduce the risk of pipeline incidents, promote transparency Pipeline Safety information for local communities and increase accountability for pipeline operators. According to fins that aid in the past 20 20 years there he been 12,722 pipeline incidents claiming 278 lives and causing 11. 4 billion in Property Damage. While dollars in Property Damage. While we work on the heights to 123 build a pipeline industry continues to experience deadly accidents causing damage to the environment. According to the Pipeline Safety trust, 2023 was the deadliest year for pipelines in two decades. On march 24, 2023, a ugi pipeline explosion in west reading, pennsylvania, killed seven people, injured 11, displaced three families from a neighboring Apartment Building and evacuated many more from the area. In november 23 as well, third coast of her sexual list 1. 1 million gallons of crude oil from an underwater pipeline into a quote and usually sensitive area unquote, and the gulf of mexico about 20 miles venice louisiana. More recently in january 24, 2 owns less than a mile in jackson the city exploded three days apart from at most Energy Pipeline leaks. For some excellent old and one for kelly and one in three. Resulting fire from the second explosion spread to neighboring home. These incidents happened after that most identified leaks in the area but failed to repair them. Putting safety first means greater oversight and get a bullet for activities pipeline operators. It means Greater Transparency for local committees and the public. Pipes 120 republish as this by creating an office of Public Engagement, and i do championed by the washington say colleague representative strickland. Requires them some review operated Emergency Management response plans. Improving safety means preventing incidents. Femmes of and missed a pop and safety programs need the resources and staff to inspect pipelines, conduct investigations when incidents occur, and take appropriate enforcement actions. Pipes 2023 does this by increasing the authorization for both himself and state pipe and safety organizations. Please our bill includes 56 million for state Pipeline Safety programs over four years. I appreciate each of her witnesses painted today to talk about pipes act of 2023. I want to welcome fins a deputy administrator Tristan Brown to visit my district and bill caram of the Pipeline Safety trust organization was greater in response to the tragedy and is headquartered in my district. I also want to thank them so in the response to convoy washington Pipeline Leak that happened last year. Cleanup continues but nears the end for that. In addition to safety initiativ initiative. The first ever Natural Gas Distribution infrastructure state in Modernization Grant Program, and since the fasteners 588 million or 167 projects from the 1 billion made available to municipalities and committee owned utilities to repair or replace Natural Gas Pipelines and help reduce incidents and approved safety. Pipelines play a Critical Role in the nations infrastructure in the daily lives of americans. We urge encourage you to me the national Pipeline Safety delivers energy across the country. I look for todays discussion. With that yield back. Mr. Larsen yields. Thank you, sir. I would like to welcome our witnesses and thank them for being here today. We fled like to take a moment to explain our lighting system tour witnesses. There are three lights in front of you. Green go, yellow, but time and read his completion marks after reports please. I would ask the witnesses full statement included in the record. Without objection, so ordered. I also ask unanimous consent the records of todays hearing remain open until such time as a witnesses have provided answers to any question that may be submitted to them in writing. Without objection, so ordered. I ask unanimous consent the record remain open for 15 days for any additional comments and information submitted by members of witnesses to be included in the record of todays hearing. Without objection, so ordered. As written testimony has been a part of the record, the subcommittee ask you limit your oral argument to five minutes. Mr. Brown, i appreciate you handing me the book, the 2024 Emergency Response guideline, 2 million of these going to First Responders. Well done but have an issue. And before i recognize you for fiveminute test when i would like to take a moment of personal privilege, without objection, so ordered. The committee notified you on april 152024, 21 days ago, that todays hearing was taking place. You also have been asked for feedback on the pipes act far longer than that, and we on a bipartisan basis have asked for this on paper seven so thats 90 days go, three months. Yet you were unable to provide your written testimony to this committee in a timely fashion and and i and all members of the subcommittee denying as the ability to quickly review testimony. Your agency is also unable to share feedback on the bill until last night after 10 p. M. I find it completely, completely unacceptable and inexcusable. Now, due to your delight on both fronts many members may have questions following the hearing as well, i want to make sure it expects a full answer. We want a full answer from you to all members questions today. I would also like you to emit to responding to al