Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am proud to introduce the Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act of 2010 today along with my colleague, Senator Feinstein. On September 9, 2010, San Bruno, California suffered a terrible tragedy when a natural gas transmission pipeline unexpectedly exploded beneath a busy residential neighborhood. The catastrophic explosion and the resulting fire was a horrific event, creating a massive fireball that many described as the largest earthquake they had ever felt. The tragedy killed four people, injured 66, and destroyed nearly three dozen homes. Preliminary estimates put the cost of the damage and recovery at $65 million. This tragic incident should not have happened. Californians and all Americans must feel confident that their communities are safe and that the regulatory agencies responsible for ensuring the safety of natural gas pipelines are doing everything possible to guarantee their safety. That is why we are introducing this legislation today. Our bill is based on the Department of Transportation's, DOT, proposal for improving pipeline safety and includes additional provisions to address concerns raised by the San Bruno blast. The Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act of 2010 will increase the number of Federal inspectors and require the Department of Transportation to certify an inspection method for gas lines that cannot use ``smart pig'' technology.…”