Political Quotes

“I surely hope that the bill before us is a good one, and there is reason for hope, since it is inconceivable that our current pipeline safety regulation could get much worse. When it comes to pipeline safety, "oversight" has usually meant "overlook." When it comes to the Office of Pipeline Safety, it has found itself in alliance with groups such as the Longhorn Pipeline that have posed such dangers to my community in Central Texas, and how South Austinites have rightly shouted that they have everything to lose and nothing to be gained by being forced to be a Longhorn partner because of the tragic intrusion on our community by Longhorn Pipeline. The City of Austin has a lot resting on the protections offered by this bill. With an understanding of our experience with Longhorn Pipeline and the lack of protection from the Office of Pipeline Safety, the city submitted testimony expressing its concern about current Federal statutes that restrict municipalities in protecting their citizens from pipeline dangers. It is essential that the Office of Pipeline Safety and other Federal agencies give thorough consideration to the issues faced by those exposed to hazardous pipelines. Hopefully, that will be accomplished by the modest steps in this bill.”