On the recordJanuary 9, 2015
I thank the gentleman. Mr. Speaker, the permitting for the Keystone pipeline has taken longer than it took for the United States to win World War II. Isn't that lovely? The pipeline will bring oil to my home State of Texas. Pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. The Keystone will deliver as much oil as we get from Saudi Arabia. The United States should work more with our neighbors--our normal neighbors--Canada and Mexico to develop our national resources and compete with OPEC. Mr. Speaker, this is a national security and energy security issue. We can make the Middle East, its politics, its oil, and its turmoil irrelevant. It is time to pick a horse and ride it. And that is just the way it is. Mr. DeFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 30 seconds. In response to the transport, yes, pipelines are generally safer, but the consequences--look at the case in Michigan--when a pipeline goes are generally much greater, much greater volumes. Even in the horrific train accidents we have had, the volumes were relatively small that were spilled, even though the consequences-- particularly in the one in Canada--were very, very damaging. Minimally, you should have added to the bill requiring them to pay into the oil spill liability trust fund. That would make that slightly less objectionable.
