Lois Capps: “I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise to speak against this hazardous piece of legislation. H.R. 1938…”

“I thank my colleague for yielding. Madam Chair, I rise to speak against this hazardous piece of legislation. H.R. 1938 directs the President to allow Canadian oil companies to build a dangerous pipeline through American lands and waters. And H.R. 1938 would expedite the pipeline's permitting process despite a long list of unaddressed concerns from numerous communities. The environmental impacts of this pipeline--which would extend over 1,600 miles through six States--have not been thoroughly considered. And we know that this project has the potential to significantly impact the environment. We have already seen what damage can be done. There have been 12 spills along TransCanada's Keystone pipeline in its first 12 months of operation. And the Keystone XL pipeline will deliver some of the most destructive oil on the planet. Tar sands oil contain higher concentrations of toxic chemicals, like sulfur, nickel, nitrogen, and lead, than conventional oil. And a barrel of tar sands oil emits up to three times more climate-disrupting gases than conventional oil. Building this pipeline would be the greenhouse equivalent of adding roughly 6.5 million passenger vehicles to a highway or constructing 12 new coal-fired power plants. Major concerns arise about the negative impacts of the pipeline on public health and the environment.…”