Cassidy, Capito, Heitkamp Introduce Bill to Modernize Pipeline Approvals

Press Release

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) joined Senators Shelley Moore-Capito (R-WV) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) to introduce legislation to streamline and modernize the pipeline approval process.

America's oil and natural gas production is increasing, yet there is a shortage of pipelines to support moving these natural resources to areas of high demand. The current permitting process for pipelines often takes months or years. The slow and uncertain regulatory approval process delays construction, which delays manufacturing projects and hurts families and businesses that rely on affordable energy.

"Domestic energy production is accelerating, but the approval process to build the infrastructure to move this energy is stuck in neutral," said Sen. Cassidy. "Streamlining the approval process saves taxpayer money and ensures Americans have access to reliable energy to fuel their cars, heat their homes and run their businesses."

"West Virginia's Marcellus Region has the largest shale gas reserves in the United States. This rapid rise in production in the Marcellus Region has been great for our economy but has outpaced our pipeline's capacity," said Sen. Capito. "This bill increases pipeline capacity, allowing the U.S. to fully take advantage of its vast natural gas reserves and limit any overload on existing pipelines."

"A key piece of developing and implementing a multifaceted, bipartisan energy strategy includes building out our energy infrastructure to meet our energy transportation needs," said Sen. Heitkamp. "It just makes sense that oil and gas pipeline applications should be addressed in a timely manner so we can more efficiently site and construct additional pipelines while paving the way for North American energy independence and security. This bill is the type of commonsense energy policy that I've been talking about since I came to the Senate -- and was an issue I was glad to work on with Senator Capito."

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