Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the Northern Route Approval Act, which would deem the Keystone XL pipeline approved. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration just measured almost 400 parts per million of atmospheric carbon dioxide, well beyond the 350 parts per million many scientists warn is the level we must not cross to avoid severe climate impacts. Any rational person who doesn't want more Hurricane Sandys or more Oklahoma hurricanes would recognize that we must focus on developing renewable energy sources and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels, and yet this bill mandates the approval of a pipeline that will allow Canada to deliver 830,000 barrels per day of tar sands oil to gulf coast refineries. Tar sands oil is difficult to extract, and the process is destructive and toxic. Producing tar sands oil results in at least 14 percent more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional oil. For those concerned about climate change, the Keystone pipeline is a nonstarter. We cannot allow such a gigantic and irreversible step backward in the fight against global warming. H.R. 3 goes well beyond the merits of the pipeline itself. This bill sets a dangerous precedent, undercutting our environmental laws and short-circuiting the review process. It deems the pipeline approved by Congressional mandate.…”