A measure by Representative Steve Knight, CA-25, that would increase safety at underground natural gas storage facilities and help prevent future gas leaks passed the House floor on Wednesday.

In February Rep. Knight introduced H.R. 4429, the Natural Gas Leak Prevention Act, which would require the Secretary of Transportation to issue adequate safety standards for underground natural gas storage facilities. This legislation aims to prevent gas leaks similar to the one that occurred near Porter Ranch last October, which forced many residents from their schools, businesses and homes. The language in Knight’s measure was included in S. 2276, the PIPES Act, a bill by Senator Deb Fischer (NE) that would reauthorize national pipeline safety programs that was considered on the House floor Wednesday.

“The gas leak may be sealed, but we do not want a similar disastrous leak to happen in the future,” said Rep. Knight. “I am pleased that my colleagues in Congress recognize that the communities in this country need to be protected from dangerous natural gas leaks.”

Wednesday’s vote is the latest in a series of actions taken by Knight to address safety issues at underground natural gas storage facilities like Aliso Canyon in Porter Ranch and Honor Rancho in Valencia. Prior to introducing H.R. 4429, he testified in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railways, Pipelines and Hazardous Material on behalf of the residents of Porter Ranch about the need to create safety standards to prevent future gas leaks.

In March Knight hosted Rep. Jeff Denham, Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railways, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials, for a tour of the Aliso Canyon facility to provide him with first-hand information and perspective about the site so that the causes of the leak can be properly addressed by Congress.

“We cannot undo the damage that was done in Porter Ranch, but we can and must act now to prevent another incident from happening in our communities ever again,” continued Knight

The PIPES Act, along with Knight’s natural gas storage safety measure, passed the House floor with unanimous, bipartisan support. It now awaits signature by the President.