On the recordDecember 13, 2011
As the sponsor of the Keystone pipeline language, I support H.R. 3630. And, no, it doesn't put a block of coal in the socks. It puts a barrel of oil in a pipeline. In fact, it puts 150,000 barrels of oil in the pipeline daily. The American people need jobs. They want Congress to work together to help the private sector create those jobs. Keystone XL is shovel-ready. It will create thousands of jobs. All we need is a Federal permit, something that has already taken 3 years. So why have the President and his allies in the Senate said no to these jobs? It's not for the cost; the project is privately funded to the tune of $7 billion. It's not to protect the environment; this pipeline will utilize the cleanest and safest new technology available, making it the safest pipeline in America. And it's not private property concerns because 97 percent of the landowners came to friendly settlements in earlier Keystone efforts. Frankly, there is no excuse. This is pure politics. With thousands of jobs hanging in the balance, it's time to put politics aside and do the right thing.
