Department of Transportation Releases Legislative Proposal Promoting Pipeline Safety, Innovation

Joining states across the country, the Trump Administration is seeking to promote pipeline safety while cracking down on violent and illegally disruptive protests of pipeline construction projects that have become increasingly common in recent years.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao, through the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, released a legislative proposal that “prioritizes safety, promotes innovation, and encourages reliable energy infrastructure in the United States.”

“The Department looks forward to working with Congress to pass a robust pipeline safety reauthorization bill that will strengthen the safety of critical energy transportation infrastructure,” Secretary Chao said in a news release

FACT CHECK: Texas Legislation Protects Infrastructure, Workers

CLAIM: The Society of Native Nations claims that legislation designed to protect critical infrastructure projects and workers is a “fear tactic” that “protect(s) the dirty fossil fuel industry.”

RATING: False

FACT CHECK

As with other laws and legislation across the country, the bill passed this week by the legislature in Texas – and expected to be signed into law – is clear in its language and those behaviors it seeks to discourage:

DAMAGING OR DESTROYING CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITY.  (a)  A person commits an offense if, without the effective consent of the owner, the person enters or remains on or in