WASHINGTON, DC - Responding to President Obama’s State of the Union address, members of the Energy and Commerce committee last night underscored the harmful consequences of the president’s decision to reject the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would bring 20,000 direct jobs and significant new energy security to America with no cost to taxpayers. Although President Obama stayed conspicuously silent about this shovel-ready project during his remarks to the nation, committee members have no intention of standing down on a project that offers such great promise to strengthen the state of our union through job creation and energy security.
“More than three years after receiving the permit application for the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline project that won’t cost taxpayers a dime - the same project that his State Department called the “˜preferred’ option - the President still cannot find a way to say yes to tens of thousands of jobs and energy security."
-Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
“While the President claims that we need to revive the American middle class - he denies the creation of 20,000 Americans jobs by rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline."
-Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)
“The president should reverse course and work with Congress on real solutions to our country’s most pressing issues, including getting government spending under control, preventing tax increases and adopting an all-of-the-above national energy strategy such as allowing the Keystone XL pipeline project to proceed."
-Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
“Let’s not forget that just last week, President Obama turned his back on 20,000 new private sector jobs and our energy security by rejecting the Keystone XL pipeline. What logical reason could there be to say no to 20,000 new private sector jobs - potentially 100,000 indirect jobs - while our national unemployment rate remains close to 9 percent?"
-Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK)
“President Obama and Senate Democrats have talked about putting Americans back to work, but have failed in implementing programs, or even voting on legislation, that would actually accomplish this. Just last week the Obama administration formally rejected the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline proposal that has been in the works for over three years. Even the Obama administration’s Jobs Council stated that we need to optimize all of our natural resources if we are going to compete and accelerate job creation."
-Rep. Michael Burgess (R-TX)
“President Obama must support private sector led investments, like the $7 billion Keystone XL pipeline, which would create 20,000 good paying jobs"
-Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH)
“As we saw with the recent Keystone decision and tonight’s speech, the President has decided that while jobs can wait, his campaign cannot."
-Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
“The president had an opportunity to advance this shovel-ready jobs and energy project. But in a trademark Obama political decision, his administration prolonged the process with job-destroying regulations and bureaucratic betrayalsIf the president were sincere about creating jobs and increasing energy production, he would remove the excessive federal regulations stinging manufacturers and would have approved the Keystone XL pipeline."
-Rep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)
“He should say he will reconsider his decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline that would immediately create 20,000 direct jobs and over 100,000 indirect American jobs."
-Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
“Canadian crude piped in through Keystone can largely offset imports from Middle East that pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Stabilizing our energy supply will go a long way to reduce the price we pay at the pump. Canada is a strong ally - We should be their biggest energy customer, not the Middle East, Brazil and Venezuela."
-Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)
“The President has said repeatedly that we need to create more jobs and grow the economy. However, just last week, he rejected the Keystone XL pipeline permit, which would have created thousands of immediate American jobs."
-Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)
“Unfortunatelythe Keystone pipeline is a missed opportunity and is yet another major example of the President placing politics before the people. The fact is that someone will benefit from the oil out of Alberta. If it’s not the United States, it will be China - and it will be American businesses and consumers who will suffer the consequences from our inaction."
-Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL)
“Unfortunately, tonight’s speech was just more of the same. While President Obama talks a good game, three years of failed economic policies and government overreach say otherwise. The President has said repeatedly that we need to create more jobs and grow the economy. However, just last week, he rejected the Keystone XL pipeline permit, which would have created thousands of immediate American jobs."
-Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)
