Senator Ted Budd | Senator Ted Budd Official photo
Senator Ted Budd | Senator Ted Budd Official photo
U.S. Senators Ted Budd and Tim Sheehy have introduced the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act, aimed at safeguarding American energy infrastructure from attacks by radical environmentalists. The proposed legislation seeks to extend existing criminal penalties to include actions that disrupt the operation or construction of oil and gas pipelines.
"America’s energy independence is fundamental to our national security. Radical eco-terrorists must be deterred from disrupting oil and gas pipelines," stated Senator Budd, emphasizing his commitment alongside Senator Sheehy to penalize those who vandalize or tamper with U.S. pipelines.
Senator Sheehy remarked, "Americans depend on affordable, accessible, reliable energy in nearly every facet of their lives, so holding eco-terrorist thugs who attack and try to prevent the flow of energy in our nation accountable is pure common sense." He added that the legislation aims to send a clear message against unlawful attempts to halt American energy initiatives.
The bill has garnered support from other senators including Ted Cruz, Dan Sullivan, Shelly Moore Capito, Marsha Blackburn, Todd Young, and Deb Fischer.
Current federal law permits charges against individuals who damage operating pipelines but does not explicitly cover those disrupting pipeline operations or construction. The new act intends to address this gap by ensuring accountability for such activities. A 2018 case saw charges dropped against activists in Minnesota due to legal ambiguities regarding what constitutes "damage" when emergency shut-off valves are used without causing physical harm.
This legislative effort aims to provide a deterrent against assaults on vital American energy infrastructure.
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