On the recordSeptember 13, 2012
Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the veterans jobs bill. That is the legislation before us. We voted on it last night, and we will likely be voting on it again today and possibly tomorrow. I rise to speak on that bill. I have in fact offered an amendment to the bill because we should do all we can to support our veterans. It is very important. They put their very lives on the line for us, and we need to do all we can to support them. But we need to do it the right way, and that is why I am offering this amendment. We are talking about creating jobs for our veterans. The right way to do that is long-term jobs, quality employment, not short-term stimulus-type jobs. That is exactly why I am offering this amendment to the legislation that would include approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline project. The VFW, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, is an organization that does a tremendous amount for our veterans. We all know the VFW. We all know the great work they do on behalf of our veterans. The VFW is already working to help returning vets get jobs--and that is great. They are working to help our returning veterans get jobs constructing the Keystone XL Pipeline. The only problem is those jobs are in Canada. Those jobs are in Canada because they have not approved the Keystone XL Pipeline in the United States. After 4-plus years, it is still in the permitting process. Since the administration has approved the project, we need to step up and approve the project, and we can do that.…





