Paul Meets With NTSB to Discuss Pipeline Hold

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is continuing his block on a bill that would update safety regulations on natural gas pipelines. Paul met with members of the National Transportation Safety Board about the matter today.The legislation was introduced in response to an explosion at a gas pipeline in San Bruno, California last year that killed eight people. The measure has bipartisan support and passed through committee unanimously, but Paul has placed a procedural hold on the bill, which means it can’t be fast-tracked and needs 60 votes to overcome the hurdle.California’s two senators have called on Paul to lift his hold, stressing the importance of the legislation to prevent other communities from suffering pipeline explosions.In a statement, Paul stressed the need for sufficient debate on the bill. He said that the legislation was written before the board issued recommendations to prevent another disaster similar to San Bruno. Specifically, he wants a clause removed from the bill that exempts older pipelines from the regulation.