1,590 DAYS AND COUNTING - WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ON KEYSTONE
It has been 1,590 days since TransCanada first submitted its application to construct the Keystone XL pipeline to the U.S. State Department. The exhaustive planning, necessary studies, and research have been conducted, and the Nebraska governor this week approved the proposed reroute through the Cornhusker state. Following the Nebraska governor’s decision, a bipartisan majority of U.S. Senators urged the president to approve the landmark jobs project. Running out of excuses, Jay Carney yesterday urged patience and declared the White House was “keeping with formal tradition." America has spent 1,590 days awaiting a decision, and after all that patience, bipartisan momentum continues to build.
Leading Senate Democrats on Keystone:
“No more excuses. It’s time to put people to work. It’s time to put people to work in Montana, North Dakota and other parts of the country. There’s no reason, no reason not to proof the Keystone Pipeline and finally get the job done. Let’s get it going." - Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT)
“The reasons to approve this project are straightforward and simple: the Keystone XL Pipeline will provide America with a secure supply of energy from a trusted ally, create jobs, and provide a much needed boost our economy. The President has committed to an all of the above approach which includes oil and gas. Now that Nebraska has approved the route, I strongly encourage President Obama to follow through on that promise." - Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK)
“The concerns President Obama cited when he originally denied a permit for the Keystone pipeline have been met, and he should allow the project to move forward." - Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN)
“Now that Nebraska has approved an alternative route, I encourage President Obama to quickly approve the Keystone XL Pipeline that will create thousands of American jobs while providing energy security for our country." - Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC)
“We have gone through a process with the Keystone pipeline where it has taken us longer to evaluate that pipeline than it took us to fight a world war. That is a frustrating point to the American public who realizes this is not only a great security project, but it’s a jobs project, it’s an economic project." - Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
“It is time for the President to look anew at this project and approve it for the benefit of the country. Not only will it create thousands of jobs and inject billions of dollars into our economy, it will strengthen our energy security by allowing us to import more oil from our trusted friend and ally Canada, instead of from Venezuela or nations in the Middle East." - Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
“The Keystone XL pipeline simply makes sense. I can’t understand why we would pass up an opportunity to buy oil from our greatest ally and trading partner, Canada - especially because if we don’t buy it, China will." - Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV)
“With the recent approval from Nebraska, the President is out of excuses for holding up this project. I hope he’ll act swiftly to approve the pipeline and create thousands of jobs here at home." - Sen. Mark Pryor (D-AR)
“Energy security means economic and national security, and a responsibly-built Keystone XL pipeline will make us less dependent on unfriendly countries." - Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
