Rigell Votes to Advance Keystone Pipeline; Urges POTUS to Support Bipartisan Energy Efforts

Press Release

Congressman Scott Rigell (VA-02), a consistent and vocal advocate for the environmentally responsible development of American energy resources, today voted for H.R. 5682, a bill to authorize the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline. Development of the pipeline would advance American energy independence, reduce our dangerous reliance on foreign oil and could create over 40,000 jobs across our country. Identical legislation is now being considered in the Senate.

"The energy sector is an incredible opportunity for us to create tens of thousands of jobs here in America," said Rigell, who has supported American energy development, including Virginia coastal energy. "Efforts like the Keystone XL pipeline and developing Virginia's coastal energy will put people back to work, grow our economy, and strengthen our national security."

It has been more than six years since the Keystone XL pipeline's application was first submitted to the U.S. State Department. Today's vote was the ninth in the House to approve the landmark jobs and energy project.

Rigell continued: "These efforts have bipartisan support, and the Administration should not stand in the way of the millions of Americans who need those jobs today."

Moving Virginia's coastal energy forward to create jobs has been one of Rigell's top legislative priorities since taking office in 2011. In the 113th Congress, Rigell introduced H.R. 1782, the Virginia Jobs and Energy Act, to open the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of Virginia for energy development. The bill passed the House last year as part of H.R. 2231, the Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, but has not been considered in the Senate. The responsible development of Virginia coastal energy can produce as many as 25,000 local jobs for the Commonwealth, according to a recent study by Quest Offshore and has the support of Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and U.S. Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

"We can develop our domestic energy resources while meeting our deep obligation to leave the next generation with clean air, clean soil, and clean water," Rigell added. "I urge President Obama to be a part of the solution, not the problem, and join the strong bipartisan efforts to advance new infrastructure projects such as the Keystone XL pipeline and help create good-paying jobs for Americans."

The Senate is expected to follow with a vote on identical legislation next week, and if passed, the bill will be sent to the President's desk for signature.

Source