Jay Inslee: “in June 1999, a gasoline pipeline ruptured in Bellingham, Washington, and the ensuing fireball killed three young men.…”

“in June 1999, a gasoline pipeline ruptured in Bellingham, Washington, and the ensuing fireball killed three young men. Following that tragedy, the House of Representatives did nothing. Several months ago, a fuel pipeline ruptured by the Patuxent River in Maryland, spilling over 100,000 gallons of fuel, creating an environmental disaster. And following that disaster, the U.S. House of Representatives did nothing. Several weeks ago in New Mexico, in Madam Speaker's own State, entire families were incinerated in a terrible tragedy due to a ruptured natural gas pipeline. And to date, despite many of our best efforts, the U.S. House of Representatives has done nothing. This Chamber, despite this continuing toll of human loss and environmental loss, has not moved one bill through committee, has not moved one bill to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote despite many of our bipartisan efforts to accomplish a meaningful bill this year. Madam Speaker, I rise today to call on the House leadership to bring forward to this Chamber a meaningful, comprehensive, pipeline safety bill with real teeth.”