Nick Rahall: “Last Congress, I voted for every piece of pro-Keystone pipeline legislation that was brought before this body--every…”

“Last Congress, I voted for every piece of pro-Keystone pipeline legislation that was brought before this body--every piece of pro- Keystone pipeline legislation. But something has happened along the way between then and now. That something is called a hijacking of this bill by the right wing. I support the Keystone pipeline project. I believe it will be an important element in our domestic energy infrastructure. Last Congress, I was pleased to support and vote for Keystone legislation that was considered and passed by the House, including H.R. 1938. However, I am opposed to the pending measure primarily due to section 3 of the bill. The bill we are considering today is vastly different from H.R. 1938. That was reasonable, responsible legislation. H.R. 3 is absolutely not. Instead of taking the straightforward approach that H.R. 1938 did, which set a specific deadline for the President to grant or deny a permit for the Keystone pipeline, the pending measure completely eliminates the requirement for a permit. It waives a permit, and it deems a permit application by a foreign company for a major undertaking in the United States to be approved. As I said, I want to see this pipeline built, but it will not be built under this proposal. Waiving permits? Deeming permit applications approved? For a foreign company? We don't even do that for our domestic companies.…”