Lee Terry: “It just seems logical that as we have a bill to extend unemployment insurance for those unemployed that we also have a…”

“It just seems logical that as we have a bill to extend unemployment insurance for those unemployed that we also have a measure for them to become employed, and that's the Keystone pipeline. It is a $7 billion infrastructure project that is ready to start today, employing as many as 20,000 laborers--mostly union labor, by the way. Now, not only will it employ, but the delays of the State Department and the White House in permitting this project are costing jobs. And I refer to Little Rock Fox Channel 16. There's their online story that says: ``Layoffs and a brief company shutdown is what employees face at Wellspun Tubular Company, which makes steel pipes for the oil industry. ``Company leaders say miles of pipeline are on the property, and that has caused five dozen employees to lose their jobs. The pipes would be part of the Keystone oil pipeline, which is a project running from Canada to Texas.'' The President has said that he would veto this bill extending unemployment and his tax holiday if this Keystone jobs bill was put in it. Mr. President, this is about creating jobs. Please join us. Also, they said that the State Department may have to say no because they're rushed. But this is the same State Department that back in June testified before our committee that they could have the decision made on this pipeline by December 31. The environmental studies have been there for months. This application has been with the State Department for 3\1/2\ years.…”