Ted Cruz Blasts 'Radicals' At Pipeline Regulator PHMSA Who 'Oppose The Existence Of Pipelines'

Forbes Breaking News

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke about regulators at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.

Transcript

00:00So a couple of final questions, and we're going to wrap up.

00:03Mr. Morrison, in your view, what is NHTSA's role in the development of autonomous vehicles?

00:09I think NHTSA needs to play a leadership role, uses convening authority to set guidance

00:14so that industry can follow and lead the pathway to enhanced mobility.

00:19Also needs to, once the technology is ready, and once there's a better understanding of

00:23technology, eventually lead to the regulation of that technology.

00:26Mr. Roberti, what would you describe as the core mission of PHMSA?

00:32And I'm going to give the answer.

00:37In my view, the core mission of PHMSA is to ensure safety for pipelines in America.

00:44There have been radicals at that agency who have viewed the mission of PHMSA as using safety

00:50as a tool to either stop or delay pipelines because they oppose the existence of pipelines.

00:55I think that is emphatically not the purpose of the agency.

00:59But what is your view as to the core mission?

01:03As safety appears in the Pipeline Safety Act, the core mission of PHMSA is safety, and to

01:09instill confidence in the American people that these pipeline systems are safe, and I commit

01:15to doing that.

01:23Mr. Bars, Mr. Morrison, Mr. Roberti, my final question is required of all nominees.

01:28If confirmed, do you pledge to work collaboratively with this committee to provide thorough and

01:33timely responses to the committee's requests and to appear before the committee when requested?

01:39Yes, sir.

01:40Yes, sir.

01:41Yes.

01:44I have 49 letters of support from various organizations for Mr. Bars, Mr. Morrison's, and Mr. Roberti's

01:51nominations.

01:52I ask unanimous consent that they be inserted in the hearing record without objection, so

01:57ordered.

01:58Senators will have until the close of business on Friday, July 18th to submit questions for

02:04the record.

02:04The nominees will have until the close of business on Monday, July 21st to respond to those questions.

02:10That concludes today's hearing.

02:12The committee stands adjourned.

02:13The committee stands adjourned.

Category

Transcript

Recommended