Republicans on May 18 proposed legislation that would expedite the completion of the under-construction Mountain Valley Pipeline, a natural gas system that spans approximately 303 miles from northwestern West Virginia to southern Virginia.
“Ensuring that the natural resources beneath the feet of my constituents in Pennsylvania are able to reach Americans across the country is critical to returning our nation to energy dominance,” said bill sponsor U.S. Rep. John Joyce (R-PA). “Congress must clear the way to complete the Mountain Valley Pipeline and allow natural gas to flow to those who need it in the southern United States.”
Rep. Joyce introduced the Mountain Valley Pipeline Completion Act, H.R. 3500, alongside five original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Carol Miller (R-WV), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), and Mike Kelly (R-PA).
“The construction of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline equates to more good-paying jobs, lower energy costs, and increased energy independence for Pennsylvania and the entire region,” Rep. Reschenthaler said. “I thank Rep. John Joyce for his diligence in ensuring this project — which is already 94 percent completed — can be seen through to the finish line for our shared states’ benefit.
“It’s past time to cut the liberal red tape and complete the Mountain Valley Pipeline once and for all,” added Rep. Reschenthaler.
Specifically, H.R. 3500 would declare that the timely completion of construction and operation of the Mountain Valley Pipeline is required in the national interest and will serve demonstrated natural gas demand in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast regions, according to the text of the bill.
H.R. 3500 also would help increase the reliability of natural gas supplies and the availability of natural gas at reasonable prices, allow natural gas producers to access additional markets for their product, and reduce carbon emissions and facilitate the energy transition.
Under H.R. 3500, Congress also would ratify and approve all authorizations, permits, verifications, extensions, biological opinions, incidental take statements, and any other approvals or orders issued pursuant to federal law related to the Mountain Valley Pipeline in an effort to hasten its completion.
Within months of the completion, the pipeline would provide up to two billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from the Marcellus and Utica shale formations to consumers in North Carolina and South Carolina, according to a bill summary provided by the lawmakers.
Additionally, the pipeline will create new job opportunities and sustain roughly 5,800 jobs and $5.9 billion in economic activity in West Virginia and Virginia, while also bringing revenue to West Virginia.
“What’s one thing Presidents Obama, Trump, and Biden agree on? They all wanted the Mountain Valley Pipeline completed,” said Rep. Miller, the lead original cosponsor of H.R. 3500. “The Mountain Valley Pipeline Completion Act will finish this necessary project that has been held up by the radical, left-wing courts and will implement a needed check on our judicial system.”
The American people are depending on domestic energy production so energy prices will finally go down,” the congresswoman added. “I look forward to the Mountain Valley Pipeline Completion Act passing into law shortly to unleash American energy,” she said.