Lois Capps: “I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 702. Not only does this bill incentivize…”

“I thank my colleague for yielding. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 702. Not only does this bill incentivize more oil development while ignoring its impact on our climate, it also essentially guarantees billions more in profits for oil companies while doing virtually nothing to help consumers. There are many more important issues that we should be spending our time on to actually help American families, like raising the minimum wage and making college more affordable, but instead we are passing a bill to help oil companies make more money. Additionally, section 3 of the bill prohibits any Federal official from taking any action that could potentially restrict the export of oil. This broad language could seriously undermine critical health and safety responsibilities of the Federal Government. For example, under current law, the Secretary of Transportation has the authority to shut down a crude oil pipeline if it poses a threat to life, property, or the environment. But what if an oil pipeline leading to an export terminal were in imminent danger of rupturing? Would the Secretary still have the authority to shut down that line, or would that action be considered a restriction on exporting crude oil under this bill? Mr. Chairman, these are not hypothetical questions. This authority was recently used in my district to shut down line 901 of the Plains All American Pipeline when it ruptured last May.…”