14 May Statement on House Transportation & Infrastructure Member Priorities Hearing
Statement on House Transportation & Infrastructure Member Priorities Hearing
Damage prevention leaders applaud support for PHMSA funding, NTSB recommendations
Washington, D.C. (May 14, 2025)– Today, the U.S. House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee held its “Member Day” hearing to hear from members of the House of Representatives on transportation and infrastructure priorities in their districts and across America.
Damage Prevention Action Center (DPAC) Executive Director Sarah K. Magruder Lyle issued the following statement on the hearing. DPAC is the advocacy organization for stakeholders involved in protecting underground infrastructure, including oil and gas, construction, equipment manufacturing, utility engineering, and other companies.
“We appreciate the time and thoughts that congressional leaders have put into America’s infrastructure priorities. We’re encouraged that members are supporting funding for PHMSA’s critical work keeping communities safe and connected. As our nation’s infrastructure continues to grow, along with the utility infrastructure that supports it, we ask members to make protecting our critical buried utilities and pipelines a priority. That includes reintroducing and passing the PIPES Act of 2023, which received strong bipartisan support in previously passing the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee.”
Background: Nearly 200,000 times each year – once every three minutes, on average – buried utility infrastructure is damaged by digging across America. This damage to underground power, water, internet, natural gas, and other utility lines costs the U.S. more than $30 billion annually while causing disruptions, injuries and fatalities.
Nearly 20 DPAC leaders from across the country spent several days on Capitol Hill this week meeting with members of Congress, their staffs, and Trump Administration agency leaders to discuss solutions to this damage.
On Thursday, the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Freight, Pipelines, and Safety will convene a subcommittee hearing on the safety of America’s pipelines and underground infrastructure, to include pipeline safety regulations, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) operations, underground infrastructure safety technologies and processes, and the state of the hazardous liquids and natural gas industry.
DPAC: The Damage Prevention Action Center advocates for public policies and industry practices that protect our Nation’s critical underground utility infrastructure and those who work and live near these important assets. DPAC focuses on educating policymakers at the federal, state, and local levels on the importance of updating and enacting laws and regulations to meet the needs of today by implementing effective damage prevention policies, as well as understanding the significant economic, environmental, safety and social impacts of dig-ins on communities.
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