Reps. James L. Oberstar (D-MN), John D. Dingell (D-MI) and DavidR. Obey (D-WI) sent letters to President Clinton and HouseDemocratic Minority Leader Richard A. Gephardt last week urgingrejection of an effort to include the Senate’s pipeline safety bill(S. 2438) as a rider to an appropriations bill or other “must-pass”legislation.

On Oct. 10, the House considered the bill, but it failed by asubstantial margin with almost three-fourth of House Democrats presentvoting against the measure (see Daily GPI, Oct. 12).

“Members opposing the bill believe it would do little to improvepipeline safety because, under the Senate bill, most safetyimprovements would be left to the discretion of the Department ofTransportation,” the Congressmen said in their letters.”Furthermore, opponents of the Senate bill believe that passage ofthe S. 2438 would make it extremely difficult to pass the necessarystronger pipeline safety legislation next year.”

The Congressmen noted that the Senate bill is opposed byenvironmental groups and the families who lost loved ones in recentpipeline safety accidents. The House Democrats said they are”willing to work out a compromise in which the Senate bill would bestrengthened.” But given the time remaining, that is unlikely. “Webelieve that the willingness of supporters of the Senate bill toagree to a compromise will be greatly enhanced if you make it clearthat you will oppose efforts to add S. 2438… as a rider to anappropriations bill or other ‘must-pass’ legislation,” they said.

“We’ve been told we have their support,” a Dingell press aidesaid on Friday. “The White House and leadership are on board.” Hesaid the latest word on the 106th congressional session is that itis expected to end Oct. 26, “but I don’t believe it for a second.Nothing is getting done. Appropriations people don’t see anyprogress being made.”

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