Compressed Gas Cylinder Safety and Oversight Improvements Act of 2025
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Would tighten federal oversight of foreign manufacturers of compressed gas cylinders used to transport hazardous materials in the United States, requiring stricter application vetting, annual inspections when warranted, and public disclosure of approved manufacturers.
The bill targets gaps in how the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration reviews and monitors overseas cylinder makers, adding national-security screening questions, a public reevaluation petition process, and cost-recovery authority for foreign inspections.
What this bill would do
What it would do
The bill would direct the Secretary of Transportation to overhaul the approval process for foreign manufacturers of cylinders (FMOCs) used to transport hazardous materials in the United States. Standard approvals would be capped at one year; a five-year approval would be available only to manufacturers who attest their cylinders are not made with forced labor, certify the accuracy of their application information, and have demonstrated three years of regulatory compliance. The bill would require applicants to answer detailed questions about past civil and criminal penalties, antidumping orders, and whether they appear on national-security watchlists. DOT would gain authority to suspend or revoke approval if a manufacturer obstructs inspections or knowingly misrepresents information.
The bill would also require PHMSA to publish applications for 30-day public comment before granting approvals, establish a process for any interested party to petition for reevaluation of an existing approval, and publish an annual list of all approved foreign manufacturers on the PHMSA website. It would further require DOT to revise inspection regulations to mandate annual inspections when good cause exists, treat inspection refusals as a loss of good standing, and allow recovery of travel and other inspection costs.
Key provisions
- 1Would cap standard FMOC approvals at one year, with a five-year approval available to manufacturers in good standing who attest compliance with forced-labor and accuracy requirements.
- 2Would allow suspension or termination of approval if a manufacturer obstructs inspections or knowingly misrepresents information in required filings.
- 3Would establish a process for any interested party to petition DOT for reevaluation of an FMOC's approval based on evidence of inaccurate, changed, or fraudulent attestations.
- 4Would require 30-day public comment on FMOC applications published on the PHMSA website before an approval is granted.
- 5Would require applicants to answer questions about prior civil and criminal penalties, national-security watchlist status, antidumping orders, and forced-labor prohibitions.
- 6Would require DOT to publish and maintain an annual list of all approved foreign cylinder manufacturers on the PHMSA website.
- 7Would revise foreign inspection regulations to mandate annual inspections for good cause, treat refusals as loss of good standing, and allow recovery of all inspection costs including travel.
Who would be affected
Foreign manufacturers of compressed gas cylinders that seek approval to sell their products for use in U.S. hazardous-materials transport, as well as U.S. companies that import and use those cylinders. Domestic industry competitors and safety advocates would gain standing to petition for reevaluation. PHMSA staff would take on expanded inspection, vetting, and public-disclosure responsibilities.
Why it matters
Foreign cylinder manufacturers currently face limited application scrutiny and infrequent inspections. If enacted, the bill would make it harder for manufacturers with safety violations, forced-labor ties, or national-security flags to obtain or retain U.S. market access. U.S. importers relying on foreign-made cylinders would face potential supply disruption if their suppliers lose approval; domestic manufacturers could benefit from a more level playing field.
What would change
Changes to existing law
Amends 49 C.F.R. § 107.807 (PHMSA foreign manufacturer approval regulations) (Sec. 2(b) and (g))
Adds one-year approval limit, five-year approval pathway, inspection cost recovery, annual inspection authority, and refusal-of-inspection consequences.
Amends Tariff Act of 1930, section 307 (19 U.S.C. 1307) (Sec. 2(b)(2)(A))
Requires FMOC to attest its cylinders are not prohibited from U.S. entry under the forced-labor import ban as a condition for five-year approval.
Agencies directed to act
Effective dates
- DOT must establish reevaluation petition process via rulemaking
- DOT must first publish annual list of approved foreign cylinder manufacturers on PHMSA website
- DOT must revise foreign inspection regulations under 49 CFR § 107.807(d)
Funding and costs
Congressional Budget Office estimate
CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1182 would cost $2 million over the 2025–2030 period, with no effect on direct spending, revenues, or the deficit.
CBO estimates that H.R. 1182 would have no effect on direct (mandatory) spending or revenues over the 2025–2035 period, leaving the deficit unchanged. The bill's only estimated cost is $2 million over 2025–2030 in discretionary spending (funds that require annual congressional appropriations), driven by the need for two additional full-time employees at the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to carry out annual approval reviews and increased inspections of foreign-manufactured compressed gas cylinders. CBO did not identify any intergovernmental or private-sector mandates in the bill.
How implementation would work
DOT would promulgate new regulations establishing the one-year approval limit, five-year approval criteria, and mandatory application questions within standard rulemaking timelines. Within one year of enactment, DOT must finalize a reevaluation petition process and begin publishing the annual FMOC approval list on the PHMSA website. Within 18 months, DOT must revise 49 CFR § 107.807(d) to authorize annual inspections, cost recovery, record requests, and random sample testing. Applications would be posted publicly for 30-day comment before approval decisions are made. Approval suspension or termination may follow obstruction of inspections or knowing misrepresentation.
Legislative status & sources
Latest action
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Official CRS summary
Show the CRS summaryHide the CRS summary
This bill expands the application, testing, and inspection requirements for a foreign manufacturer of cylinders used for transporting hazardous materials in the United States (e.g., compressed gas cylinders).
Current regulations require a foreign manufacturer to apply for approval from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) of the Department of Transportation (DOT) for testing such cylinders outside of the United States. The bill requires that, to obtain an approval, a foreign manufacturer must answer in their application specified questions, including whether the manufacturer is or has been subject to various civil or criminal penalties.
Further, DOT must establish a process for any interested party to request a reevaluation of an approval for a foreign manufacturer's cylinders to review the accuracy and safety of the manufacturer's actions.
DOT must also revise the foreign inspection regulations to
- require that annual inspections of foreign manufacturers be carried out if DOT determines there is good cause;
- specify that a refusal of inspection shall result in the loss of good standing;
- allow DOT to request testing and production records and random sample testing; and
- allow for the recovery of the costs of foreign inspections, including travel and time.
The bill limits an approval to one year; however, DOT may extend an approval for five years for a manufacturer who meets certain requirements.
On an annual basis, DOT must publish a list of approved foreign manufacturers of cylinders on the PHMSA website.
Legislative subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures; Administrative remedies; Civil actions and liability; Department of Transportation; Foreign and international corporations; Government information and archives; Industrial facilities; Manufacturing; Oil and gas; Transportation and Public Works; Transportation safety and security
Committee report
H. Rept. 119-141