Bill Flores: “A few minutes ago the White House announced that it was going to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. The White House did…”

“A few minutes ago the White House announced that it was going to reject the Keystone XL pipeline. The White House did this among a backdrop with record high gas prices in January. A major factor in these high gas prices is the continued political upheaval in the Middle East and the impact that it's having on economic uncertainty around the world. Keystone would bring nearly a million barrels of oil from our friendly neighbor, Canada, to the north and also up to 100,000 barrels of oil from the Bakken discoveries in Montana and North Dakota. It would also put more Americans to work while improving our energy security. The Department of Energy has stated that ``gasoline prices in all markets served by the gulf coast and east coast refiners would decrease'' as a result of the pipeline's construction. The White House would be well-advised to consider a poll that I took in a recent tele-town hall of our constituents, where 87 percent of the constituents said that they strongly supported the Keystone XL pipeline. We cannot wait for more jobs and for better economic certainty for all generations. ____________________”