# 116-hr-5542: To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for States to provide incentives to natural gas distribution companies for the improvement of natural gas distribution systems, and for other purposes.

116-hr-5542, To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for States to provide incentives to natural gas distribution companies for the improvement of natural gas distribution systems, and for other purposes., is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ); status Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote . (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5542
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-5542
- Congress: 116
- Title: To require the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for States to provide incentives to natural gas distribution companies for the improvement of natural gas distribution systems, and for other purposes.
- Status: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .
- Introduced: 2020-01-07
- Sponsor: Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Energy
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

This bill directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to establish a grant program for states to improve public safety and environmental performance of the natural gas distribution system by offsetting rate increases to low-income households and providing incentives for natural gas distribution companies to accelerate, expand, or enhance improvements to the natural gas distribution system. Grants must be used for (1) replacement of cast and wrought iron and bare steel pipes and other leak-prone components of the natural gas distribution system, or (2) inspection and maintenance programs for such system. In awarding grants under the program, DOE must prioritize applications based on the expected results of a project with respect to (1) quantifiable benefits for public safety, (2) the magnitude of methane emissions reductions, (3) innovation in technical or policy approaches, (4) the number of low-income households anticipated to benefit from the assistance, and (5) overall cost-effectiveness of the project.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2020-01-07T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-8782: Keeping All Students Safe Act
- 116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act
- 116-hr-8598: Emergency Social Security COLA for 2021 Act
- 116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8261: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8092: Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-5542 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5542)

## Related
- [116-hr-8782: Keeping All Students Safe Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8782)
- [116-hr-8662: Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8662)
- [116-hr-8598: Emergency Social Security COLA for 2021 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8598)
- [116-hr-8270: I am Vanessa Guillén Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8270)
- [116-hr-8261: Presumptive Benefits for War Fighters Exposed to Burn Pits and Other Toxins Act…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8261)
- [116-hr-8092: Protecting Democracy by Securing the Right To Vote by Mail Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8092)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-5542 (as of 2025-11-18).