Ed Whitfield: “When we had hearings on this bill, the natural gas pipeline industry estimated that by the year 2035 an estimated $8…”

“When we had hearings on this bill, the natural gas pipeline industry estimated that by the year 2035 an estimated $8 billion each year would need to be spent to keep pace with the anticipated need for more pipeline infrastructure. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) is absolutely correct in that Congress can't make these decisions. Private companies have to make the decision if they are going to invest the dollars to build these pipelines, but they have talked to us--the FERC Commissioners have talked to us--about the fact that some of these agencies are just delaying for no apparent reason. As I said earlier, when the application is filed at FERC, the other agencies receive those applications, and they have the same amount of time to work on it. This legislation simply sets some guidelines for these Federal agencies so that, when FERC completes its chore--and it is the quarterback in the decision of approving these pipelines--these agencies must also step up to the plate. This legislation is not radical in any way. It is certainly not rushing the process. It is not doing that. Pursuant to the 2005 Energy Policy Act, it is simply making it a more efficient, speedy process while, at the same time, protecting the environment and the best interests of the American people. I reserve the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the gentleman from New Jersey have additional speakers?”