[House Report 113-272]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
113th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 113-272
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PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 1900) TO PROVIDE FOR THE
TIMELY CONSIDERATION OF ALL LICENSES, PERMITS, AND APPROVALS REQUIRED
UNDER FEDERAL LAW WITH RESPECT TO THE SITING, CONSTRUCTION, EXPANSION,
OR OPERATION OF ANY NATURAL GAS PIPELINE PROJECTS, AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES
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November 19, 2013.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be
printed
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Mr. Burgess, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H. Res. 420]
The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration
House Resolution 420, by a vote of 8 to 4, report the same to
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be
adopted.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION
The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1900, the
Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act, under a structured
rule. The resolution provides one hour of general debate
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking
minority member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The
resolution waives all points of order against consideration of
the bill. The resolution makes in order as original text for
purpose of amendment an amendment in the nature of a substitute
consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 113-25 and
provides that it shall be considered as read. The resolution
waives all points of order against that amendment in the nature
of a substitute. The resolution makes in order only those
further amendments printed in this report. Each such amendment
may be offered only in the order printed in this report, may be
offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified
in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent
and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall
not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the
House or in the Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives
all points of order against the amendments printed in this
report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or
without instructions.
Section 2 of the resolution provides that on any
legislative day during the period from November 22, 2013,
through November 29, 2013: the Journal of the proceedings of
the previous day shall be considered as approved; and the Chair
may at any time declare the House adjourned to meet at a date
and time to be announced by the Chair in declaring the
adjournment.
Section 3 of the resolution provides that the Speaker may
appoint Members to perform the duties of the Chair for the
duration of the period addressed by section 2 of the
resolution.
EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
consideration of the bill, the Committee is not aware of any
points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
the amendment in the nature of a substitute made in order as
original text, the Committee is not aware of any points of
order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.
Although the resolution waives all points of order against
the amendments printed in this report, the Committee is not
aware of any points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in
nature.
COMMITTEE VOTES
The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion
to report, together with the names of those voting for and
against, are printed below:
Rules Committee record vote No. 90
Motion by Mr. McGovern to report an open rule. Defeated: 4-
8.
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Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote
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Ms. Foxx........................................ Nay Ms. Slaughter.................... Yea
Mr. Bishop of Utah.............................. Nay Mr. McGovern..................... Yea
Mr. Cole........................................ Nay Mr. Hastings of Florida.......... Yea
Mr. Woodall..................................... Nay Mr. Polis........................ Yea
Mr. Nugent...................................... Nay
Mr. Webster..................................... Nay
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen................................ ............
Mr. Burgess..................................... Nay
Mr. Sessions, Chairman.......................... Nay
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Rules Committee record vote No. 91
Motion by Ms. Foxx to report the rule. Adopted: 8-4.
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Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote
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Ms. Foxx........................................ Yea Ms. Slaughter.................... Nay
Mr. Bishop of Utah.............................. Yea Mr. McGovern..................... Nay
Mr. Cole........................................ Yea Mr. Hastings of Florida.......... Nay
Mr. Woodall..................................... Yea Mr. Polis........................ Nay
Mr. Nugent...................................... Yea
Mr. Webster..................................... Yea
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen................................ ............
Mr. Burgess..................................... Yea
Mr. Sessions, Chairman.......................... Yea
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SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER
1. Tonko (NY): Requires the application for a natural gas
pipeline to include information to ensure that methane
emissions will be minimized before the application can be
considered for approval. (10 minutes)
2. Castor (FL): Strikes the provision that requires FERC to
automatically issue other agencies' permits if the deadline is
missed. (10 minutes)
3. Speier (CA): Would toll the time limits until FERC has
considered and responded to state or local objections or
concerns about the pipeline project. (10 minutes)
4. Jackson Lee (TX): Delays the implementation of the bill,
if enacted, so long as sequestration is in effect. (10 minutes)
5. Dingell (MI): SUBSTITUTE Replaces the bill with a
requirement that GAO complete a study on what, if any, delays
are expected by FERC or other federal, state, or local
permitting authorities in issuing permits regarding the siting,
construction, expansion, or operation of any natural gas
pipeline project. (10 minutes)
TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER
1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Tonko of New York or
His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes
In the quoted subsection (i)(1), insert ``For purposes of the
deadline established in this paragraph, an application shall
not be considered complete unless the application includes
sufficient information to demonstrate that the pipeline project
will utilize available designs, systems, and practices to
minimize methane emissions to the extent practicable.'' after
``by regulation.''.
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2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Castor of Florida or
Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes
Strike paragraph (4) (and redesignate accordingly).
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3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Speier of California or
Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes
At the end of the bill, after paragraph (5), insert the
following new paragraph:
``(6) This subsection shall not apply to a project
unless the Commission has considered and responded to
applicable State and local objections or concerns about
approval of the project.''.
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4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Jackson Lee of Texas or
Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes
At the end of the bill, add the following new section:
SEC. 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Act shall not take effect until such time as there is no
Presidential order issued under section 254 of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 in effect.
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5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Dingell of Michigan or
His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. GAO STUDY.
Not later than May 1, 2014, the Comptroller General shall
transmit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report that--
(1) assesses the extent to which the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission is expected to experience delays
in issuing certificates of public convenience and
necessity for the siting, construction, expansion, or
operation of any natural gas pipeline project;
(2) assesses the extent to which other Federal,
State, or local permitting authorities are expected to
experience delays in issuing permits required under
Federal law in connection with the siting,
construction, expansion, or operation of any natural
gas pipeline project for which a certificate of public
convenience and necessity is required; and
(3) examines the effect of anticipated Congressional
appropriations or other resources on the ability of the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other Federal
agencies to review applications for certificates and
permits described in paragraphs (1) and (2) in a timely
manner.