1.   But last month, just before Congress broke for its holiday recess, Young filed his own pipeline bill.

2.   Competing pipeline safety bills are moving through the House of Representatives.

3.   Engleman has pledged to step up enforcement, issue the backlogged rules and work with Congress on crafting a new pipeline safety bill.

4.   Gorton, who spoke to Lott about the matter recently, remains hopeful the pipeline bill will come to the floor.

5.   He has influential allies on the pipeline bill.

6.   In part because of that stance, a Senate-passed pipeline bill, backed by President Bush, and a handful of House bills were going nowhere.

7.   Prospects for passing a pipeline safety bill in the House received a surprise boost in the chaotic final hours before Congress recessed for the year.

8.   Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who also toured the explosion site Monday, said that he anticipated problems in getting the pipeline safety bills passed by Congress this year.

9.   Story will include comparison of pipeline safety appropriations bills pending in House and Senate.

10.   The bill now goes to the House which has shown less zeal in passing a pipeline safety bill and where opposition remains strong.