Congressman Bob Latta, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy, opened a hearing in Washington, D.C., to discuss legislation authorizing the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline safety program. The hearing featured testimony from Paul Roberti, Administrator of PHMSA.
Latta welcomed Roberti and stated, “Your perspective will inform our legislative effort and update us on the Administration’s priorities for maintaining the safety of America’s pipeline infrastructure and enabling the safe expansion of it.”
He noted that PHMSA is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation and is responsible for developing and enforcing federal safety regulations for pipelines and hazardous materials transport. According to Latta, PHMSA collaborates with industry operators to ensure safe delivery of energy resources such as natural gas, crude oil, propane, jet fuel, gasoline, and other petroleum products.
States play a significant role in PHMSA’s pipeline safety program by inspecting and overseeing more than 85 percent of infrastructure under PHMSA's authority. Latta said states act as “boots on the ground” for over 3.3 million miles of liquid and gas pipelines.
“Pipelines continue to be the safest and most efficient mode of transport for the energy American families and our economy depend on,” Latta said.
He highlighted that reliable natural gas makes up nearly half of the country’s power generation mix, with more than half of American families depending on it for heating, cooking, and other needs. He emphasized that robust pipeline infrastructure is essential for safe energy delivery.
The discussion draft before the subcommittee would reauthorize PHMSA for five years. It includes provisions aimed at improving agency efficiency and safety by removing duplicative regulations, clarifying cost-benefit analysis priorities toward safety rather than anti-energy agendas, reducing regulatory red tape around special permits, strengthening penalties for violations affecting operations, establishing voluntary information sharing among operators to promote best practices, and ensuring state damage prevention programs adopt measures to reduce incidents.
Latta remarked that U.S. energy demand is rising after decades of relative stability: “The United States’ energy system is at a turning point. We’re witnessing unprecedented energy demand not seen in decades, and demand is only expected to increase over the next several years.”
He expressed concern about policy debates impacting pipeline expansion: “For too long, sound pipeline safety policy has been hijacked by the environmental left, intent on stymying pipeline expansion and limiting its massive benefits to the nation.”
Latta concluded his remarks by calling for bipartisan cooperation: “I hope to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to advance legislation that provides for durable and focused safety oversight appropriate to pipeline infrastructure.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee oversees legislation related to energy issues such as those discussed at this hearing. The committee also addresses matters concerning health care, environmental protection, telecommunications, consumer issues, according to its official website. The committee has influenced policy in areas like energy innovation, broadband deployment, pharmaceutical pricing,and traces its origins back to 1795 when it began as the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures.
