WASHINGTON, DC - Hundreds of union construction workers took to the streets of Washington, D.C. yesterday to urge President Obama to approve the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline. American workers have waited over four-and-half-years for a decision on this project that will create thousands of good-paying construction jobs and help bolster America’s energy security. Union workers rallied support for the pipeline, some waving signs that read, “Keystone XL Creates AMERICAN JOBS." Yesterday’s rally was just the latest public display of strong union support for the Keystone project.
Sean McGarvey, President of the Building and Construction Trades Department at AFL-CIO, spoke at yesterday’s union rally and expressed growing frustration with the president’s inaction on Keystone, exclaiming, “We are tired of waiting and we believe the time has come to make the final decision on one of the most important projects to unlock the energy future for this country - the Keystone XL pipeline."
Congressional Republicans and many Democrats are also tired of waiting on the president to approve this jobs project and are moving forward with a solution to build the pipeline. Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE) authored H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, which will move Keystone beyond the regulatory process and allow construction of the pipeline to begin. The legislation will address all necessary federal permits, including the Presidential Permit, and limit litigation that could cause further delays. The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced H.R. 3 last week with a bipartisan vote of 30-18, and the House Natural Resources Committee approved the measure yesterday by a bipartisan vote of 24-17. The legislation is expected to be considered by the full House in the coming weeks.
