[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2979 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2979
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary information-
sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and
information in a nonpunitive context in order to improve the safety of
pipeline facilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 7, 2025
Mr. Moran (for himself and Ms. Duckworth) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary information-
sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and
information in a nonpunitive context in order to improve the safety of
pipeline facilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``PHMSA Voluntary Information Sharing
Act''.
SEC. 2. PIPELINE SAFETY VOLUNTARY INFORMATION-SHARING SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Chapter 601 of title 49, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 60144. Voluntary information-sharing system
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration.
``(2) Governing board.--The term `Governing Board' means
the governing board established under subsection (d)(1).
``(3) Issue analysis team.--The term `Issue Analysis Team'
means an Issue Analysis Team established under subsection
(g)(1).
``(4) Program manager.--The term `Program Manager' means
the Program Manager described in subsection (e).
``(5) Third-party data manager.--The term `Third-Party Data
Manager' means the Third-Party Data Manager appointed under
subsection (f)(1).
``(6) VIS.--The term `VIS' means the voluntary information-
sharing system established under subsection (b)(1).
``(b) Establishment.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this section, the Secretary shall establish a
confidential and nonpunitive voluntary information-sharing
system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and
information in order to improve the safety of gas transmission
pipelines, gas distribution pipelines, liquefied natural gas
facilities, underground natural gas storage facilities, and
hazardous liquid pipelines.
``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall be implemented and
managed in accordance with the report entitled `Pipeline Safety
Voluntary Information-Sharing System Recommendation Report'
prepared under section 10 of the PIPES Act of 2016 (49 U.S.C.
60108 note; Public Law 114-183) by the Voluntary Information
Sharing System Working Group convened under that section.
``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the VIS shall be to serve as
a comprehensive and integrated system--
``(A) to gather, evaluate, and quantify critical
pipeline safety data and information; and
``(B) to share recommended remediation measures and
lessons learned across the pipeline industry in an
efficient and confidential manner.
``(c) Governance.--The VIS shall be governed, in accordance with
this section, by the Governing Board, with support from--
``(1) the Program Manager;
``(2) the Third-Party Data Manager; and
``(3) 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams.
``(d) Governing Board.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this section, the Administrator, after
consulting with public and private pipeline safety
stakeholders, shall establish a governing board for the VIS.
``(2) Composition.--
``(A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be
composed of 15 members who shall represent a balanced
cross-section of pipeline safety stakeholders, in
accordance with subparagraphs (B) and (C).
``(B) Representation.--The Governing Board shall be
composed of the following members:
``(i) 5 individuals selected from relevant
pipeline safety departments, agencies, or
instrumentalities of the Federal Government or
State or territorial governments, 1 of whom
shall be the Administrator (or a designee of
the Administrator).
``(ii) 5 individuals selected from the gas
or hazardous liquid industries, such as
individuals representing or otherwise
associated with--
``(I) operators;
``(II) trade associations;
``(III) inspection technology,
coating, or cathodic protection
vendors;
``(IV) standards development
organizations;
``(V) research and development
consortia; or
``(VI) pipeline inspection
organizations.
``(iii) 5 individuals selected from general
public safety advocacy organizations with
relevant pipeline safety expertise, including--
``(I) pipeline safety and
environmental public interest groups;
``(II) public institutions of
higher education with pipeline safety
expertise; and
``(III) nonprofit employee labor
organizations.
``(C) Requirements.--
``(i) Pipeline industry.--At least 1 member
of the Governing Board appointed under
subparagraph (B)(ii) shall be a representative
of the pipeline industry.
``(ii) Pipeline safety public interest
groups.--At least 1 member of the Governing
Board appointed under subparagraph (B)(iii)
shall be a representative of a pipeline safety
public interest group.
``(3) Terms.--
``(A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), each member of the Governing Board
shall be appointed for a term of 3 years.
``(B) Initial members.--In appointing the initial
members of the Governing Board, the Administrator shall
appoint members to terms of 1, 2, or 3 years to ensure
that each year thereafter--
``(i) the terms of 5 members will expire;
and
``(ii) the term of not less than 1 and not
more than 2 members described in each of
clauses (i) through (iii) of paragraph (2)(B)
will expire.
``(C) Reappointment.--A member or former member of
the Governing Board appointed under clause (i) or (ii)
of paragraph (2)(B) may be reappointed, but may only
serve for a total of 3 terms.
``(4) Co-chairs.--
``(A) In general.--The Governing Board shall be co-
chaired by--
``(i) the Administrator (or a designee of
the Administrator);
``(ii) a representative of the pipeline
industry appointed under paragraph (2)(B)(ii),
who shall be appointed co-chair by the
Administrator, with the advice and consent of
the Governing Board; and
``(iii) a representative of a pipeline
safety public interest group, who shall be
appointed co-chair by the Administrator, with
the advice and consent of the Governing Board.
``(B) Responsibilities of co-chairs.--The co-chairs
shall be jointly responsible for organizing and
conducting meetings of the Governing Board.
``(5) Authority.--The Governing Board shall have
authority--
``(A) to govern and provide strategic oversight of
the VIS;
``(B) to develop governance documents, including a
charter for the Governing Board that shall--
``(i) be made available to the public; and
``(ii) describe--
``(I) the scope of the authority of
the Governing Board; and
``(II) the objectives of the
Governing Board;
``(C) to select and appoint the Third-Party Data
Manager in accordance with subsection (f);
``(D) to approve the criteria and procedures
governing how the Third-Party Data Manager will receive
and accept pipeline safety data and information;
``(E) to establish, and appoint members of, Issue
Analysis Teams in accordance with subsection (g);
``(F) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
identify issues and topics to be analyzed by the Issue
Analysis Teams;
``(G) to collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
specify the type of pipeline safety data and
information necessary for the Issue Analysis Teams to
analyze the issues and topics identified under
subparagraph (F);
``(H) to determine the information to be
disseminated by the VIS;
``(I) to determine the reports to be disseminated
by the VIS;
``(J) to issue, not less frequently than annually,
publicly available reports on--
``(i) VIS processes;
``(ii) the membership of the Governing
Board;
``(iii) issues and topics being
investigated and analyzed by Issue Analysis
Teams or the Governing Board;
``(iv) pipeline safety data and information
that the VIS has requested for submission to
the VIS; and
``(v) safety trends identified by the
Administrator, Issue Analysis Teams, or the
Governing Board; and
``(K) to perform such other functions that the
Governing Board determines are--
``(i) necessary or appropriate; and
``(ii) consistent with the purpose of the
VIS described in subsection (b)(3).
``(6) Decisionmaking.--
``(A) In general.--Decisions and approvals of the
Governing Board shall be made by a super-majority of
the members, as described in subparagraph (B).
``(B) Supermajority described.--A supermajority
referred to in subparagraph (A) shall consist of not
fewer than--
``(i) \2/3\ of the total members of the
Governing Board; and
``(ii) 1 additional member of the Governing
Board.
``(e) Program Manager.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator (or a designee of the
Administrator) shall serve as the Program Manager for the VIS.
``(2) Responsibilities.--The Program Manager shall provide
the day-to-day program management and administrative support
for the VIS, including oversight of the Third-Party Data
Manager.
``(f) Third-Party Data Manager.--
``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall appoint a
Third-Party Data Manager to provide data management and data
oversight services for the VIS.
``(2) Qualifications.--The Third-Party Data Manager shall
have expertise in data protection, aggregation, and analytics.
``(3) Responsibilities.--In carrying out the services
described in paragraph (1), the Third-Party Data Manager
shall--
``(A) receive and secure pipeline safety data and
information submitted to the VIS;
``(B) accept pipeline safety data and information
submitted to the VIS that meets the criteria and
procedures approved by the Governing Board under
subsection (d)(5)(D);
``(C) de-identify, store, and manage pipeline
safety data and information that is accepted by the
VIS;
``(D) collaborate with Issue Analysis Teams to
analyze and aggregate pipeline safety data and
information that is accepted by the VIS;
``(E) prepare reports as requested by the Governing
Board regarding the type of pipeline safety data and
information that is managed by the VIS; and
``(F) make recommendations to the Governing Board
regarding the management of pipeline safety data and
information by the VIS, as appropriate.
``(g) Issue Analysis Teams.--
``(1) In general.--The Governing Board shall establish, and
appoint the members of, 1 or more Issue Analysis Teams as the
Governing Board determines to be appropriate and relevant to
the pipeline safety work of the VIS.
``(2) Qualifications.--An Issue Analysis Team established
under paragraph (1) shall--
``(A) subject to subparagraph (B), consist of
pipeline safety technical and subject matter experts;
and
``(B) may include, as appropriate, representatives
from public safety advocacy organizations described in
subsection (d)(2)(B)(iii).
``(3) Responsibilities.--An Issue Analysis Team shall--
``(A) work with the Third-Party Data Manager to
aggregate and analyze pipeline safety data and
information submitted to the VIS relating to the issues
and topics analyzed by the Issue Analysis Team; and
``(B) submit internal reports and recommendations
to the Governing Board on those issues and topics.
``(h) Application of FACA.--Chapter 10 of title 5 (commonly
referred to as the `Federal Advisory Committee Act') shall not apply
to--
``(1) the VIS;
``(2) the Governing Board; or
``(3) any Issue Analysis Team.
``(i) Participation in the VIS.--
``(1) In general.--The submission of data and information
to the VIS by any person shall be voluntary, with no person
compelled to participate in, or to submit data or information
to any person for inclusion in, the VIS.
``(2) Requirement.--The VIS shall not accept data or
information relating to an operator if the operator has not
authorized the submission of that data or information for
inclusion in the VIS.
``(3) Encouraging information sharing.--The Governing Board
shall encourage the voluntary sharing of pipeline safety data
and information among--
``(A) operators of gas transmission, gas
distribution, and hazardous liquid pipelines;
``(B) employees of those operators;
``(C) labor unions representing those employees;
``(D) contractors of the operators described in
subparagraph (A);
``(E) in-line inspection service providers;
``(F) non-destructive evaluation experts;
``(G) the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration; and
``(H) representatives of--
``(i) State pipeline safety agencies;
``(ii) relevant Tribal agencies;
``(iii) pipeline safety public interest
groups;
``(iv) manufacturers of gas transmission,
gas distribution, and hazardous liquid pipeline
infrastructure and equipment; and
``(v) relevant research and academic
institutions.
``(4) Limitation on inclusion of data and information in
the vis.--Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the
Third-Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under
subsection (f)(3)(B) shall be related to the issues and topics
identified by the Governing Board for analysis by an Issue
Analysis Team under subsection (d)(5)(F).
``(5) Types of data and information included in the vis.--
Pipeline safety data and information accepted by the Third-
Party Data Manager for inclusion in the VIS under subsection
(f)(3)(B) may include--
``(A) pipeline integrity risk analysis information;
``(B) lessons learned from accidents and near
misses;
``(C) process improvements;
``(D) technology deployment practices;
``(E) information obtained through VIS pipeline
safety surveys of pipeline operator employees, subject
to the condition that such surveys are voluntarily
agreed to by the pipeline operator;
``(F) pipeline safety data and information which