Congresswoman Jackson Lee calls for tighter pipeline security
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee
But as soon as she opens her mouth you recognize that looks can be deceiving. Rep. Jackson Lee, an attorney who once worked as counsel for an oil and gas company before entering Congress, who currently sits as chairman of the House Homeland Security subcommittee on transportation security and infrastructure protection, clearly knows what she’s talking about.
I caught up with her at a meeting in the U.S. Capitol organized last Thursday for a large trade delegation from Alberta, Canada that had come to Washington to talk about cross-border transportation policies and the rapid development of that Canadian province’s energy sector.
She told the assembled group that she favored increased cooperation between the U.S. energy industry -- largely centered in her hometown of Houston –- and its Canadian counterpart, as a means to enhance North American energy "independence" from Middle Eastern oil suppliers and strengthen America’s national security posture. She wowed many in the audience with her obvious expertise in their field.
When she cited the need to protect miles and miles of oil and gas pipelines from possible terrorist attacks, I realized I ought to introduce myself.
After delivering her public remarks, Rep. Jackson Lee stood at the edge of the crowd and told me that pipelines travel across populated areas, rural areas and completely unpopulated areas, that they’re often unattended and are largely unregulated.
She said is was important that the energy industry recognize that its oil and gas pipelines present serious vulnerabilities, and that industry execs should step up and take voluntary actions to better protect their pipelines.
If such voluntary steps are not forthcoming, said the strong-willed congresswoman, her infrastructure protection subcommittee will take action to require such security investments.
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