Senators Young, Sheehy introduce bill to protect American energy from eco-terrorists

U.S. Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.) reintroduced the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act to protect American energy from eco-terrorists.

Current federal law applies criminal penalties for “knowingly and willfully damaging or destroying” pipelines, but eco-terrorists and other radical environmental activists exploit the law’s lack of specificity. The Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act would close the legal loophole for eco-terrorists to hold them accountable.

“About ninety percent of America’s transportation sector is reliant on oil, and pipeline disruptions pose a major threat to America’s energy security. Our legislation takes much-needed steps to better protect our critical infrastructure and deter attacks on America’s pipelines,” said Senator Young.

Americans rely 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. This legislation makes clear we will not tolerate radical environmentalists trying to unlawfully stop us in our mission to unleash American energy, lower costs, and protect our nation,” said Senator Sheehy.

In addition to Senators Young and Sheehy, U.S. Senators Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) also introduced the legislation.

Senator Young was an original cosponsor of the Safe and Secure Transportation of American Energy Act in the 118th Congress.

Background

In 2016, climate activists turned emergency shut-off valves on pipelines in Minnesota, forcing the operators to turn off the pipelines to prevent damage. The activists admitted to their attack, but a judge ruled that the prosecution failed to prove damage from valve-turning. Eco-terrorist attacks like this are increasing as radical environmental activists and extremist climate change propaganda rise in influence and become more expansive in tactics and messaging.

The bill would clarify criminal penalties for “damaging and destroying” pipelines by covering “vandalizing, tampering with, disrupting the operation or construction of, or preventing the operation or construction of” pipelines.

This simple clarification would hold eco-terrorists accountable. It would also provide an important deterrent by sending a strong signal that brazen assaults on critical American energy infrastructure will not be tolerated.

The full text of the legislation can be found here.