03.07.14

Hoeven, Klobuchar, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Legislation to Help Communities Impacted by Propane Shortage

Legislation Would Deliver Much-Needed Certainty to Homeowners And Business Throughout the Region That Rely on Propane Heating

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Al Franken (D-MN), and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced legislation to make it easier to transport propane to communities impacted by the ongoing propane shortage. The bipartisan bill would extend the hours-of-service exemption until May 31st, allowing truck drivers to work longer hours to help transport propane to regions impacted by the shortage.

More importantly, the legislation would deliver much-needed certainty to hundreds of thousands of households throughout the region that rely on propane as their main source of heat during the winter. The bill is a companion to legislation introduced by Congressmen John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Tim Walz, and Rick Nolan that passed the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this week.

“This has been a particularly long, cold winter, putting a great deal of stress on families and businesses throughout our state and region,” Hoeven said. “Our bill will give drivers and residents the certainty of knowing they will have enough propane to heat their homes and businesses till the end of this heating season, and also allow the industry to better stock propane supplies for next year.”

“With winter weather still bearing down on Minnesota, we need to do everything we can to deliver relief to families who are feeling the impacts of the propane shortage,” Klobuchar said. “By letting truck drivers work longer hours for the rest of the winter, this legislation will help speed propane supplies to those who need it most and deliver some much-needed certainty to families across Minnesota.”

“The propane shortage has caused hardship for thousands of families, businesses, and farmers across Minnesota who rely on the fuel,” Franken said. “As Chairman of the Energy Subcommittee, I’ve been pressing on several fronts to support Minnesotans affected by the shortage and to help take the stress off people’s pocketbooks. As cold weather continues to hit our state, this bill will let truckers deliver more propane to the areas still running low on the fuel.”

“I am proud to join this bipartisan action on behalf of Wisconsin,” Senator Baldwin said. “This legislation will help provide relief and certainty to the nearly 250,000 residents and countless businesses throughout Wisconsin who have weathered a severe propane crisis this winter.”

Earlier this year, Hoeven, pressed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to waive hours of service for the Western Service Center, which includes North Dakota. The waiver was approved in January.