Thompson Legislation to Enhance Rail and Refinery Security Passes House

Press Release

Legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) to enhance rail and refinery security passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of H.R. 4681, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. Thompson's legislation requires the Department of Homeland Security Office of Intelligence and Analysis (DHS I&A) to conduct an intelligence assessment of the security of domestic oil refineries and related rail infrastructure, and to make any recommendations it deems appropriate to protect surrounding communities or the infrastructure itself from potential harm.

"Public safety is the number one priority when we're transporting and holding crude oil and other cargo through and in our communities," said Thompson. "This legislation will let us know if threats exist and how we can fix them."

Thompson's legislation requires the DHS I&A to conduct an intelligence assessment of the security of domestic oil refineries and related rail transportation infrastructure. After the assessment is conducted, DHS I&A must submit the results of its assessment to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, along with any recommendations it has to improve the security of domestic oil refineries and related rail transportation infrastructure to protect the communities surrounding such refineries or such infrastructure from potential harm.

Improved reporting will help officials better assess the types of threats our nation's oil refineries and rail yards face, so that such threats can be mitigated.

Many trains transporting crude oil from the Bakken Shale formation of North Dakota run through Thompson's congressional district. The crude oil from this region is regarded as highly flammable and this legislation will help make sure it is transported safely.

H.R. 4681 passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 345-59. It now goes to the Senate for their consideration.

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