Washington, D.C. - Today President Bush signed the first pipeline safety bill to make it to the President’s desk since the accident in Bellingham three and one half years ago.

Larsen said "Getting a strong pipeline safety bill passed was a long and arduous process, but well worth it."

"Today communities can declare victory knowing that they will be safer tomorrow than they were yesterday," Larsen said. "Better trained employees will be operating pipelines. Violators will face stiffer fines and whistleblowers will be protected."

"Make no mistake, this does not include everything I asked for, but it is an improvement over existing law," Larsen added.

The bill that is now law includes a provision that Larsen created to authorize $6 million for local emergency responders to use to train for pipeline safety accidents. It also enables states like Washington state to strengthen federal pipeline safety laws; requires pipeline operators to provide maps of pipelines to municipalities; and improves pipeline operator qualification requirements.

Larsen sits on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which oversees the Office of Pipeline Safety.