Griffin: "It Is Past Time' To Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline to Grow American Jobs

Press Release

Congressman Tim Griffin (AR-02) issued the following statement after House passage of H.R. 5682 to approve the Keystone XL pipeline:

"Since first coming into Congress, I've strongly advocated for the Keystone XL pipeline to grow jobs in Arkansas and across the nation. This modern, infrastructure improvement project has bipartisan support and the support of a majority of Americans, yet it has been stonewalled by the President for more than five years. It is past time for us to come together and approve this project, which will improve our economy, lessen our dependence on oil from countries that don't like us, strengthen our energy security and grow thousands of jobs. Out-of-work Americans have waited long enough; it's time to build Keystone XL."

H.R. 5682, which passed the House by a vote of 252-161, authorizes the construction, connection, operation and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline.

A national survey by Rasmussen Reports found that American support for the Keystone XL pipeline has reached a new high as sixty-one percent (61%) of Americans favor building the project.

The U.S. State Department's Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement found that the project would support more than 42,000 direct and indirect jobs nationwide.

According to the House Energy and Commerce Committee, the House has voted eight times before today's vote to approve the Keystone XL pipeline.

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