Making progress for our nation’s infrastructure industry

OPINION:

I am honored to serve as Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials in the 118th Congress.

Thus far, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee has passed a reauthorization for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a bill to reauthorize the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline programs for the next four years, and a bill to reauthorize our nation’s Coast Guard. The committee is also well on its way to working through the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).

My subcommittee spent the first part of this Congress working on the Promoting Innovation in Pipeline Efficiency and Safety Act (PIPES) Act of 2023. This bill passed out of the committee in an overwhelming bipartisan manner and will benefit the country and the great state of Texas. PHMSA is responsible for developing and implementing the safe transportation of energy and other hazardous materials that are essential to the daily lives of Americans.

The bill reauthorizes PHMSA’s pipeline safety programs for the next four years and streamlines the regulatory framework for energy transportation in our infrastructure. Through previous reauthorizations, Congress has mandated several rulemakings that PHMSA has failed to promulgate in the requisite time frame, which includes essential rulemakings for the oil and gas industry, such as the leak detection and repair rule.

Failing to honor these congressional mandates creates uncertainty for businesses that are forced to play guesswork on how to operate. The Biden administration has a duty to help businesses understand the rules they are operating under so they can mitigate costs and comply with the law. The PIPES Act of 2023 addresses this lack of accountability and requires government bureaucrats to publish a status update on completing outstanding congressional mandates every 30 days.

The bill also paves the way for the adoption of carbon capture and hydrogen infrastructure, which will be crucial to the future of the oil and gas industry. These innovative technologies will pave the way for the future of these industries for the next 50 years. I also secured language in the bill that will reduce pipeline excavation damage incidents and added criminal penalties for bad actors who intentionally damage pipeline operations or related construction. These are all significant reforms that will ensure the miles of pipelines in America safely transport the energy we all use for our modern way of life.

In tandem, my subcommittee has also held hearings regarding oversight of Amtrak and rail safety. I have been working in a bipartisan manner with fellow committee members to address the root causes of the East Palestine, Ohio derailment in Feb. 2023 and I have also visited sites around the country with my Democratic counterparts to hear directly from the good men and women who work in our nation’s rail industry.

Whenever a major incident occurs, it is essential that policymakers understand the ripple effects of any legislation that they may attempt to pass. I am pleased with our rail network’s overall safety record and stakeholders’ continuing efforts to deploy state-of-the-art technology and policies that reduce safety incidents. Contrary to what the media may report, railroad accidents and injuries are down 27% from 2000-2023, collisions are down 62%, and hazmat incidents are down 75%. These are simple facts that illustrate great strides in rail safety.

In January, my subcommittee held a hearing on grade crossings and railroad safety. The subcommittee heard from industry experts and left me convinced that one of the most important things governments can do to reduce the number of deaths in railroading is to facilitate the elimination of as many grade crossings as possible. Grade crossings are where our rail and highway systems meet and, subsequently, where most deaths occur. I believe separating these systems would save thousands of lives and incur many other benefits.

For this reason, I have said on record that I strongly support increasing federal monies for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. While I am a strong fiscal conservative and have the voting record to back it up, I believe closing as many crossings as possible will not only save lives but also reduce congestion in our rail network, benefiting both freight and passengers.

I look forward to the opportunity to introduce some of the legislation I have been working on after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) final report is released.

Rep. Troy E. Nehls, R-Texas, represents the 22nd Congressional District of Texas. He serves as the Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials.