Last month Rep Weber (R,TX) introduced HR 2613, the Next Generation Pipelines Research and Development Act. The bill would require the Department of Energy to establish a new grant program to “carry out demonstration projects on low- to mid-technology readiness level subjects to achieve deployment of technologies”. It would also require DOE and DOT to conduct a joint R&D program to carry out basic research projects. Finally, the bill would require DOE to establish the National Pipeline Modernization Center. The bill would authorize $50-million, $30-million and $15-million through 2030 for the three new programs.
This bill is essentially the same as HR 7073 that was introduced by Webber in January of 2024. The Science, Space, and Technology Committee considered the bill in a March 20th, 2024 business meeting. The Committee amended and then approved the bill by a vote of 36 to 0. On September 24th, 2024, the House considered the bill under the suspension of the rules process and passed it by a vote of 373 to 41. No action was taken by the Senate in the 118th Congress.
Committee Markup
The House Science, Space, and Technology Committee held a business meeting on April 29th, 2025, that considered six bills, including HR 2613. The Committee ordered the bill reported favorably without amendment by a voice vote.
Moving Forward
Once the Committee report is published (or reported without
written report) the bill will be available to be considered by the full House.
With the bipartisan support the bill has received in the past, I would expect
the leadership to bring this bill to the floor under the suspension of the
rules process. That process would allow for limited debate, no floor amendments,
and would require a supermajority for passage.
For more details about the provisions of this bill, see my
article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/hr-2613-introduced-next-gen-pipelines
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