Sponsors (2)
The bill aims to improve pipeline safety by enabling confidential sharing and analysis of operator data and funding a VIS program, but it does so at the cost of reduced public access, constrained enforcement uses of the data, potential gaps from voluntary participation, and a risk of industry influence.
Operators and contractors can share nonpublic safety data confidentially with PHMSA, allowing the agency to aggregate insights, identify trends, and encourage remediation that may reduce pipeline incidents and improve worker and community safety.
Requires annual public reports on VIS activities, giving communities and policymakers regular, summarized information about pipeline safety trends and VIS operations.
Authorizes dedicated funding (up to $5 million per year, FY2024–2027) and directs exploration of sustainable funding sources to support VIS operations and data analysis capacity.
Confidentiality provisions and FOIA exemptions, plus limits on using VIS data in enforcement or litigation, reduce public access and external oversight and may shield operators from accountability.
Voluntary participation and operator consent requirements risk incomplete participation, producing gaps in the VIS dataset that could undermine PHMSA’s ability to detect systemic risks and prevent incidents.
Authorizing fees and public–private funding opens the possibility of industry influence over VIS priorities or governance if safeguards are inadequate.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a confidential, nonpunitive PHMSA Voluntary Information-Sharing System for pipeline safety and a 15-member Governing Board to run it, with VIS to be established within 1 year.
Official title: Amend title 49, United States Code, to require the Secretary of Transportation to establish a confidential, voluntary information-sharing system to encourage the sharing of pipeline safety data and information in a nonpunitive context in order to improve the safety of pipeline facilities, and for other purposes.
Introduced October 7, 2025 by Jerry Moran · Last progress October 7, 2025
Creates a confidential, nonpunitive Voluntary Information-Sharing System (VIS) run by PHMSA to collect, analyze, and share critical pipeline safety data and recommended remediation measures for gas and hazardous liquid pipelines, LNG facilities, and underground gas storage. The bill requires PHMSA to stand up VIS within one year and to create a 15-member Governing Board within 180 days to manage VIS, with defined roles for program staff, third-party data managers, and issue analysis teams.