110+ Groups Urge Congress to Omit Protest Criminalization from Pipeline Safety Bill

More than 110 national, state, and local organizations sent a letter to Congressional leaders, urging them to reject language that would criminalize protest in the upcoming reauthorization of the Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) pipeline safety programs. The letter arrives as lawmakers prepare to negotiate the final text of the bill. The groups argue that criminalizing protest would undermine civil rights and could hinder public participation in pipeline safety oversight. They call for a bill that protects the right to protest while maintaining robust safety standards. The letter is part of a broader debate over how to balance environmental protection, public safety, and democratic engagement in pipeline regulation. Congress now faces a decision on whether to include or remove the proposed criminalization clause.