Review - S 2971 Introduced – Gas Transportation Definition

Earlier this month Sen Sheehy (R,WY) introduced S 2971, the Plant Safety Authorities Coordination Act of 2025. This bill would modify the current definition of the term ‘transporting gas’ in 49 USC 60101. The bill would remove from the definition ‘in-plant piping systems'. No new spending is authorized.

Moving Forward

Sheehy is a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee to which this bill was assigned for consideration. This means that there may be sufficient influence to see the bill considered in committee. I expect that there would be some level of bipartisan support for this bill, though there may be some environmental opposition. This bill is not politically important enough to be considered by the Senate under regular order, and the environmental opposition would almost certainly stop consideration under the Senate’s unanimous consent process.

                        

For more details about the provisions of this bill, including a commentary on the lack of apparent need, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/s-2971-introduced-gas-transportation - subscription required.

Review - Bills Introduced – 10-3-25

Yesterday with the Senate in Washington (still trying to pass a spending bill) and the House meeting in proforma session (on the spending sidelines), there were 33 bills introduced. Two of those bills may receive additional coverage in this blog:

HR 5688 To amend title 49, United States Code, with respect to requirements for States issuing commercial driver's licenses to non-domiciled individuals, and for other purposes. Rouzer, David [Rep.-R-NC-7]

S 2971 A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to exclude from the definition of "transporting gas" certain movement of gas within, or in the vicinity of, a plant, and for other purposes. Sheehy, Tim [Sen.-R-MT] 

Space Geek Legislation

I would like to mention one bill under my limited Space Geek coverage in this blog:

H Res 785 Expressing support for designation of the week of October 4, 2025, through October 10, 2025, as "World Space Week".

 

For more information on these bills, including legislative history for similar bills in the 118^th Congress, as well as a mention in passing about 9 bills dealing with the government shutdown, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/bills-introduced-10-3-25 - subscription required.