"Thank you, Chair Nehls, for calling this hearing on pipeline safety and for your kind words about our colleague and friend, Representative Donald M. Payne, Jr."
"Don was a leader on the PIPES Act of 2023 that our Committee voted unanimously to advance in December."
"He strongly supported ensuring PHMSA and the state pipeline safety programs have the funding they need to do their work."
"What it will mean is that some projects that were slated to get funding otherwise will be delayed."
"The Disaster Relief Fund is expected to run out sometime this August."
"Hazard mitigation offers a solution."
"Every $1 invested in hazard mitigation results in $13 saved."
"I strongly support the additional investments the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law made in these programs."
"We were in a situation of Immediate Needs Funding last year as well, where payments had to be slowed."
"That is why I support increasing the set-aside for the BRIC program, from 6 to 15 percent."
"Submissions for the Record by Hon. Rick Larsen:"