Frank Lautenberg

We made significant progress in 2006 when we passed the Pipeline Inspection, Protection, Enforcement, and Safety Act, known as the PIPES Act.

Please require companies to upgrade their pipelines in populated areas to accommodate this in-line inspection technology.

My heart and prayers goes out to all the families and all the members of the community of San Bruno.

Every family deserves to be protected from drunk drivers, and every state should have this law.

Thank you for your focus on safety of our Nation's natural gas infrastructure.

We urge the Senate to include similar provisions in its reauthorization bill.

Inspectors must establish an aggressive oversight program that thoroughly examines each operator's decisionmaking process.

Yet, there's more work to do, which is why I've introduced legislation to build on the improvements in the PIPES Act.

Please mandate a complete review of the effectiveness of the industry-written, PHMSA-adopted program for public awareness.

You know, when we look back, it always raises questions on what might have been done, what would effects have been if the equipment was equipped with an automatic or remote-control shut-off valve.

Please, require remote valves in law for high-consequence areas this time.

Senators Lautenberg and Tom Udall have introduced the Drunk Driving Repeat Offender Prevention Act, or DDROP.

Are you satisfied with the examination of the tragedy in San Bruno has been reviewed quickly, and appropriately done?

I want to say that we'll keep the record open and expect prompt responses to questions that will be submitted to you in writing.

Well, we deeply appreciate your commentary, the closeness--the proximity to where you live, apparently, and the fact that you and Senator Boxer were immediately on the site.

It was Federal leadership that resulted in every single State passing a minimum-21 drinking age, because of Senator Lautenberg's efforts

The overall alcohol-related traffic fatality rate has been reduced by half, and NHTSA estimates that 27,052 lives have been saved as a result.

Thank you for raising a concern about the material from which this oil is going to be extracted--tar sand.

The cut-off valves--they're kind of basic things.

This was a 30-inch pipeline operating at well over 300 psi.

So, last week I joined with my colleague, a distinguished member of this subcommittee, Senator Boxer, to introduce the Strengthening Pipeline Safety and Enforcement Act.

The absence of these things is what I believe presents us with the prospect of the kind of damage that occurred here and in other places--in my State, New Jersey.

By and large, pipelines are a safe form of transportation. But, as we've seen, when accidents do occur, the consequences can be catastrophic.

We are pleased to support Senator Udall's legislation, S. 3039, which would aid the funding of this crucial research.

Two years ago, we took a major step forward, and I used passenger rail as a companion with my law to reauthorize Amtrak.