Political Quotes

“this morning I rise in support of two amendments that will make it clear to the American people exactly what this bill to authorize the Keystone XL Pipeline is all about and whom our Republican friends from across the aisle are trying to help. The amendments offered by Senators Markey and Franken would ensure that the pipeline benefits the American consumer and the American economy. Without them, the bill to authorize the pipeline will benefit narrow special interests, such as foreign oil companies, not hard- working Americans. We have heard from several of my friends on the other side of the aisle, including the lead sponsor, that the Keystone bill is a jobs bill and an energy bill. That may be true, but without Senator Markey's amendment it is nothing but a Canadian energy bill, and without Senator Franken's amendment it is a paltry jobs bill. First, on energy, in short, the Keystone bill will allow one Canadian company to use the United States as a middleman to ship oil to the highest bidder abroad. The Canadian oil company, TransCanada, refuses to commit to keeping the crude oil or the refined products in America. Canadian tar sands oil is already traveling through gulf coast refineries on its way to foreign markets, and, as the Wall Street Journal has reported, much of the crude oil that would flow through the Keystone XL Pipeline would ultimately be exported as refined product.…”