Keystone XL Pipeline: No More Excuses

 McConnell: ‘Mr. President… Pick Up That Pen You’ve Been Talking So Much About And Make This Happen’

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): “This report from the Obama administration once again confirms that there is no reason for the White House to continue stalling construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.  So, Mr. President, no more stalling– no more excuses. Please pick up that pen you’ve been talking so much about and make this happen. Americans need these jobs.  The Keystone XL Pipeline is the single largest shovel-ready project in America, ready to go, but for years President Obama and his hard-left allies have stalled these jobs in a maze of red tape. But if the President meant what he said this week about ‘a year of action,’ he’ll act now on this important project that won’t cost taxpayers a dime to build but will bring thousands of private sector jobs to Americans who desperately need them.” (Sen. McConnell, Press Release, 1/31/14)

Majority Of Americans See Keystone As Beneficial

“About 56% say they favor the northern leg of the billion-dollar, Canada-to-U.S. project… according to the poll of 801 U.S. adults completed last month by Stanford University and Resources for the Future (RFF), a non-partisan research group.” (“USA TODAY Poll: Slight Majority Backs Keystone Pipeline,” USA Today, 1/28/14)

“More Americans view the Keystone XL oil pipeline as a benefit to U.S. energy security than as an environmental risk…” (“Keystone Backed In Poll By 56% Of Americans As Energy Security,” Bloomberg, 12/12/13)

• “More than twice as many -- 61 percent versus 28 percent -- blame the delay in approving the pipeline on potential political problems it would create with environmental groups rather than on ‘legitimate concerns’ about an increase in carbon emissions.” (“Keystone Backed In Poll By 56% Of Americans As Energy Security,” Bloomberg, 12/12/13)

UNION SUPPORT: ‘It Is, In The Most Literal Sense, A Life Line’

AFL-CIO: “For many members of our unions, Keystone XL is not just a pipeline; it is, in the most literal sense, a life line.” (President Of AFL-CIO Building And Construction Trades Department Sean McGarvey, Letter To U.S. House Of Representatives, 5/22/13)

• AFL-CIO: “We are adamant in our belief that the economic, energy security and national security benefits associated with the construction of this pipeline are too important to allow it to be delayed any longer.” (President Of AFL-CIO Building And Construction Trades Department Sean McGarvey, Letter To U.S. House Of Representatives, 5/22/13)
• “The AFL-CIO president also reiterated his support for construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that would transport crude oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. ‘Anything that makes sense and creates jobs and is sound environmental policy as well, we will be doing it. [With respect to] the XL pipeline, there's no environmental reason that it can't be done safely while at the same time creating jobs,’ he said.” (“AFL-CIO President Opposes Lifting Ban On Crude-Oil Exports,” National Journal, 1/14/14)

International Union of Operating Engineers: “The United States cannot afford further delay and uncertainty on the Keystone XL pipeline. It’s time to unlock the jobs this massive private investment will create and put Operating Engineers to work. The uncertainty that looms over this project has gone on long enough. The United States cannot sit idly by while state-owned Chinese oil companies move aggressively to secure this North American resource and the oil industry looks for other ways to move this product – at the same time the unemployment rate in construction is at 15% and Operating Engineers are hungry for work. Let’s move forward!” (The International Union of Operating Engineers, Press Release, 4/10/13)

Laborers' International Union of North America: “Too many hard-working Americans are out of work, and the Keystone XL Pipeline will change this dire situation by creating thousands of construction jobs, with good wages and good benefits. For these workers, the Keystone XL is not just a pipeline, it is a lifeline.” (LiUNA! General President Terry O’Sullivan, Letter To The U.S. House Of Representatives, 4/15/13)

International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers: “While we are deeply disappointed with the U. S. State Department’s decision not to move forward with the Keystone XL pipeline, we are more concerned that a vital project that would create 20,000 construction and manufacturing jobs, generate $585 million in state and local taxes plus another $5 billion in property taxes and strengthen North America’s energy independence, has been ensnared in the political deadlock in Washington. … We believe that the decision-making process has been caught up in political gamesmanship.” (International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, Press Release, 1/18/12)

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