U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) on March 14 joined his Republican colleagues to propose legislation that would modify a provision related to criminal penalties for damaging or destroying pipeline facilities.
“About 90 percent of America’s transportation sector is reliant on oil, and pipeline disruptions pose a major threat to America’s energy security,” Sen. Young said. “Our legislation takes much-needed steps to better protect our critical infrastructure and deter attacks on America’s pipelines.”
The senator cosponsored the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act, S. 1017, alongside bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy (R-MT) and six other original cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Deb Fischer (R-NE).
According to their statement, current federal law applies criminal penalties for “knowingly and willfully damaging or destroying” pipelines, but lacks specificity.
If enacted, S. 1017 would clarify criminal penalties for “damaging and destroying” pipelines by covering “vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” pipelines to hold any lawbreakers accountable, the statement says.
The bill has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.