Statement: PST Cannot Support House Energy and Commerce Pipeline Safety Bill that Contains Harmful Provisions 

July 20, 2026  

Bellingham, WA – Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released an updated version of the Pipeline Safety Authorization Act of 2026. While a new bill is needed to reauthorize the federal pipeline safety regulator, Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), House Energy and Commerce’s current attempt should be improved. 

In reaction to the updated Pipeline Safety Authorization Act, Pipeline Safety Trust issued the following statement:

The Pipeline Safety Trust is pleased to see that the updated Pipeline Safety Authorization Act released this morning by the House Energy and Commerce Committee makes important improvements over the problematic previous version initially proposed. We thank the Committee members and staff for their hard work developing this bill.

However, PST remains concerned about multiple harmful provisions, including a provision gutting PHMSA’s ability to protect the public in the special permit process and another expanding the cost-benefit requirement that already keeps needed safety rules off the books. While PST cannot support a bill with these provisions included, we hope that the bill can continue to be strengthened and these provisions be removed as the reauthorization process continues.

For More Information Contact:  Kenneth Clarkson , Communications Director –