Pipelines run throughout this country and have been very loosely regulated for a number of years. The system of regulating pipelines quite simply does not work. As the gentleman from Washington (Mr. INSLEE) mentioned, there are a variety of different ideas for how to change that. But I rise today to make it clear to my colleagues how important it is that those changes are made, first of all; and, second of all, how important the issue of hydrostatic testing is doing that, the idea of testing the pipes to see if they can withstand the pressure that they have to withstand in order to protect our communities. It is of critical importance. 

I applaud the efforts of the gentleman from Washington (Mr. INSLEE) to bring this issue up in the transportation bill and any other place that we can do it. This is a threat to our entire country. As I said, in the State of Washington, several children tragically died as a result of this. 

It is also an environmental hazard that has struck many different parts of our country. We need to do something to improve pipeline safety in this country. This amendment is a great first step, and I look forward to working with the gentleman from Washington (Mr. INSLEE) and the rest of the body to hopefully give us a sound pipeline safety policy in this country that will protect all of our citizens.