What This Bill Does
This bill creates a new criminal penalty for people who intentionally and deliberately cause defects in or disrupt the operation of pipeline facilities. The bill amends federal law to add this penalty to existing pipeline safety rules.
Who It Affects
People who knowingly and willfully cause defects in pipeline parts or disrupt pipeline operations.
Key Provisions
• A person who knowingly and willfully causes or threatens to cause a defect in a pipe, pump, or valve used in a pipeline facility that would harm the integrity or safe operation of that facility can be fined and imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both (Sec. 2)
• A person who knowingly and willfully disrupts the operation of any pipeline facility can be fined and imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both (Sec. 2)
• The law does not limit rights protected by the First Amendment to the Constitution (Sec. 2)
What Changes
Federal law will now include a criminal penalty for intentionally causing defects in pipeline equipment or intentionally disrupting pipeline operations, with punishments of fines and up to 10 years in prison.
Important Definitions
The bill does not define "defect," "disrupting," "pipeline infrastructure," or "pipeline facility" in the provided text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1484
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a penalty for causing
a defect in pipeline infrastructure, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 9, 2023
Mr. BOST (for himself, Mr. CRAWFORD, and Mr. NEHLS) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Com-
merce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to establish a penalty
for causing a defect in pipeline infrastructure, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pipeline Sabotage and
4
Accident Prevention Act’’.
5
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:49 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB
2
•HR 1484 IH
SEC. 2. PENALTY FOR CAUSING A DEFECT IN OR DIS-
1
RUPTING OPERATION OF PIPELINE INFRA-
2
STRUCTURE.
3
Section 60123 of title 49, United States Code, is
4
amended by adding at the end the following:
5
‘‘(e) PENALTY FOR CAUSING A DEFECT IN OR DIS-
6
RUPTING OPERATION OF PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE.—
7
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—A person knowingly and
8
willfully—
9
‘‘(A) causing, or threatening to cause, a
10
defect in a pipe, pump, or valve intended to be
11
used or used in any pipeline facility described
12
in subsection (b) that would affect the integrity
13
or safe operation of any such facility shall be
14
fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more
15
than 10 years, or both; or
16
‘‘(B) disrupting the operation of any such
17
facility shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned
18
for not more than 10 years, or both.
19
‘‘(2) RULE OF STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.—
20
Nothing in this subsection abridges the exercise of
21
rights guaranteed under the First Amendment to
22
the Constitution of the United States.’’.
23
Æ
VerDate Sep 11 2014
23:49 Mar 21, 2023
Jkt 039200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H1484.IH
H1484
pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB