The subcommittee on railroads pipelines and Hazardous Materials will come to order. Without objection so ordered. I also ask unanimous consent that the members not on the subcommittee be permitted to sit with the sub committed, without objection, so ordered. If members want to insert a document into the record please email it to documentsti mail. House. Com. I would like to remember our colleague congressman payne jr. Who passed away. It was privilege to work with donald on counterpart in is 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 have worked alongside donald especially with leadership putting together our bipartisan bipartisanline safety legislation. He will be deeply missed on the committee and i want to send condolences and prayers to family, friends, and staff as they deal with this great loss. I will recognize myself for the purpose of an Opening Statement for five minutes. Todays hear we will examine the need to reauthorize the pipeline and Hazardous Materials or fimsa including authority over emerging energy sources. This past fall myself chairman gray, Ranking Member larson and Ranking Member payne introduced hr6494 that promoted safety act in 2023 or the act of 2023. Last december the committee passed hr6494 out of committee on a bipartisan basis. In crafting this bill the committee solicited input from a widerange of parties and in turn received 90 priorities, 90 of them from members and over a hundred requests from Pipeline Safety stakeholders. Im grateful for the support from members of this committee in putting together this important piece of Bipartisan Legislation. Do you know the bill contains several provisions to accomplish this including at authorization for additional Pipeline Safety technical experts to complete outstanding congressional mandates. Over the past 20 years, more than 1400 excavation damage incidents have occurred. Hr 6494 includes measures to strengthen state programs, to reduce the number of excavation damage prevention incidents, promoting the Public Safety. The pipes active 2023 will also support efforts to oversee the safe transportation of new and emerging by directing to update regulations for the safe transportation of Carbon Dioxide of the study the use of Hydrogen Blending and natural gas. These and other provisions in the pipes active 2023 will ensure the safety and reliability of the United States a Pipeline Network in the transportation of our Critical Energy resources. It is more important than ever to receive a regular reauthorization from congress. This will provide the agency and regulated community muchneeded certainty and federal Pipeline Safety policy and also provide legislative direction to addressing pressing areas of concern and Pipeline Safety. I want to thank our witnesses for being here today and sharing their perspective on Pipeline Safety and what it means the industry and the communities where the transportation of our Energy Products take place. I will also note my colleagues on the house energy and Commerce Committee have also passed Pipeline Safety authorization 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 showed its possible to legislate in a bipartisan manner in the name of Pipeline Safety. I call on the senate to follow suit and i 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. Thank you Ranking Member larsen for your faith in me it is with a heavy heart that i take on the role of a Ranking Member of the subcommittee. Congressman donald payne junior was not just a colleague but a cherished friend whose legacy i am 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 among black men and boys. 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 he shared many memories with me. He was so proud to be the father of triplets and to let me know he married a florida girl. I will miss him and i am committed to honoring his legacy and continuing his work on this committee. As we all know, part of this mission was to ensure the safety of all people. He had a goal of never wanting to miss a boat regardless of his health. And speaking every day on the floor to honor 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 nothing is more important the meath and the safety and education of our children. I do not want to see any pipeline incidents but i am particularly concerned 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 Elementary School in conway, washington and another was at a school in the mississippi delta and marigold, mississippi. Yes, believe it or not just last month and marigold theres a pipe glide explosion Hayes Cooper Center prek through eighth grade school. Although the children were injured to School Staff Members were injured and taken to the hospital for treatment i want to know how pipeline operators work with communities in schools to prevent such incident. Are they working with the impacted schools for additional tutoring or Student Support for this childrens loss instruction time . What about their Mental Health . Is having to evacuate impact Student Learning with regard to the pipes 2023 bill, i supported the bill because it has essential provisions that mr. Payne champ cute and i associate myself with his work on these efforts. Among them the bill includes increased funding for pipeline and Hazardous MaterialsSafety Administration to support the office of Pipeline Safety for its critical i am proud 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 develop the 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 Network Congress to adopt him. Lastly i want to say to the mayor who is leading our city through the aftermath of this deadliest by plant explosion. The country experience it in 2023. Thank you for watching today im so sorry for your loss. People died after showing up for work to make chocolate. Ten people were injured and i understand your volunteer firefighting capacity you 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 i yield back my time there quickly gentle lady yields. I dont recognize Ranking Member of the full committee mr. Larson for five minutes in for an Opening Statement reflects thank you chair nehls for calling this hearing on Pipeline Safety and for your kind words about our colleague and friend represented to don payne junior we continue to mourn today after his death three weeks ago he was the leader of the pipes active 2023 or Committee Voted Unanimously to advance in december the strongly support ensuring Pipeline Safety programs have the funding they need to do their work. Also helped lay the groundwork for strong rail funding in the bipartisan infrastructure law because at dawns work you see replacement of centuryold rail bridges and tunnels on the northeast corridor including projects. He was a friend and advocate for real workers supporting their bid for it cyclic, higher wages and improve working conditions. His efforts help support historic agreement that was strengthen the safety and quality of life for central rail workers. Dawns work to gives rail safety legislation especially in the wake of the derailment in east palestinian or made an important part of his legacy that Congress Must continue to realize. June 10 , and elevate pipeline explosion in washington amid district claim the lives of 210yearold boys in an 18yearold young man. The explosion also asserted 37000 gallons of gasoline into a creek that flowed through in billingham. This explosion time spurred my commitment which has been the highest level Pipeline Safety. My entire tenure in congress fought to reduce the risk of pipe line incidents, promote transparency Pipeline Safety information for open communities and increase accountability for pipeline operators. According to data in the past 20 years there have been 12722 pie plate incidents claiming 278 lives and causing 11. 4 billion and Property Damage. What will work on the pipes 2023 bill the pipeline industry continues to experience deadly accidents causing damage the environment. According to the Pipeline Safety trust, at 2023 was the deadliest year for pipelines in two decades. March 24, 2023 a pipe went pipelineexplosion a west readin, pennsylvania killed seven people, injured 11 displays threes families from a neighboring Apartment Building and evacuated many more from the area. November 23 as well third coast of the structure is 1. 1 million gallons of crude oil from underwater pipeline into a quote unusually sensitive area. The gulf of mexico about 20 miles south of venice, louisiana. More recent generally 24 two homes less than a mile for each other in jackson, mississippi exploded three days apart from at most Energy Pipeline leaks. For some exposed results in one fatality one injury. Resulting fire from the second explosion spread to neighboring home. These incidents happened after identified leaks in the pie plate in the area but failed to repair them. Putting safety first means good oversight and accountability for activities about pipeline operators means Greater Transparency for local communities in a public. Pipes 2023 accomplishes this by creating office of Public Engagement idea championed by might Washington State colleague. Requires review operator Emergency Management response plans. Improving safety means preventing incidents produced safety programs need the resources and staff to inspect pipelines, conduct investigations when incidents occur they can appropriate enforcement actions. Pipes 2023 does this by increasing authorizations for for organizations and place our bill includes 56 million for state Pipeline Safety programs over four years. I appreciate each of our witnesses being here today to talk about the pipes active 2023. Went to welcome deputy minister brown who visited my district to tour the olympic pipeline site in billingham and bill of the Pipeline Safety trust organizations create a response about tragedy in my district in billingham. I also do thank them on the response or call might washington Pipeline Leak that happened last year cleanup continues bit nears the end for that addition to safety and should be ale. The first ever Natural Gas Distribution infrastructure safety Modernization Grant Program. As it is 5 30 88 million one or 67 projects from the 1 billion made available to be supposing committee on utilities to repair or replace Natural Gas Pipelines help reduce incidents and improve safety. Pipelines play a Critical Role the nations of the structure. On the daily lives of americans. We are today too much National Pipeline safely delivers energy across the country. Look for to the discussion without a yield back. Especially garson yields. Thank you sir welcome our witnesses and thank them for being here today brief elected take a moment to explain our system to our witnesses through lights in front of you i was the gringo, youll be running out assignment read conclusion remarks please. Asking of us consent the witnesses. It included in the record without objections ordered. As asking of us consent the record of todays hearing remain open until such time as our witnesses have provided answers to any questions that may be submitted to them in writing. Without objections ordered. I also ask unanimous consent the record remain open for 15 days for any additional comments information committed by members or witnesses to be included in the record of todays hearing. Without objections ordered. Osha written testimonies member part of the wreck of the subcommittee asks you limit your oral arguments for five minutes. Mr. Brown i appreciate handmade the book 2024 Emergency Response fivepoint to mangoes and First Responders well done but have an issue before recognize you for a fiveminute testament but the to take about a personal privilege without objections ordered. The committee notified your april 15 of 2024th, 21 days ago todays hearing was taking place. We also been asked for feedback on the pipes act are longer than that. When we come on a bipartisan basis re asked for the straggly seventh thats is 90 days ago, three months yet you are unable to provide your written testimony to this committee in a timely fashion tonight all the members of the subcommittee the ability to adequately review your testimony. Your agency is also unable to share feedback on the bill until last night after 10 00 p. M. I find it completely, completely unacceptable and inexcusable. Now, duty or delay on both fronts many members may have questions from the committee as well i what to make sure it expects a full answer. What a full answer from you to all members questions today. Out also a queue to commit to respond to all members questions for the record. To give me a reasonable expectation here can you commit to providing an answer what to ask, three weeks . And give you number . As you may know both the ta and the testament goes through tointeragency review process whh does take time. I will commit to working as fast. To ask for three weeks come on give me an idea. Okay were not here we go. Ill look forward to response as we are on the subcommittee are interested in what you have to share. You kanawha with the time, i look forward to a productive hearing, i hope we can have a productive hearing. With that you are recognized for five minutes. Go ahead sir. Thank you, mr. Chairman. Thinking Ranking Member wilson. Ranking member larsen, mc subcommittee for the invitation to discuss the Pipeline Safety as the work in the and the reauthorization legislation that you put together. I want to start by echoing the sentiments and condolences to the payne families those who are colleagues, those who are friends to the payne office and Staff Members who i know role as saturn is i was to learn of his passing. As a testament to his legacy he worked across the isle this past year to help advance legislation to improve Pipeline Safety. And to keep his constituents and all americans safe from Hazardous Materials, transportation. As i testified last to refer the subcommittee safety is and remains the top priority of the