North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chair, I rise in strong opposition to this legislation and, in particular, a section of the bill that would create an opening to cause irreparable damage to our national parks.

H.R. 8 would establish national energy security corridors to short circuit the approval process for natural gas pipelines that cross our Nation's public lands. In doing so, it eliminates longstanding protections afforded to our national parks and other historically significant areas that were set aside for the very distinct purpose of preserving our Nation's cultural and natural heritage.

This legislation also blocks the public from providing any input on where these natural gas pipeline corridors should be located.

My home State of Massachusetts, like many areas around the country, faces real energy challenges. In my district, a company is proposing to build a new 250-mile natural gas pipeline that crosses three States. I have heard from hundreds of my constituents expressing their concerns with the project, particularly with regard to its route.

Thanks to extensive public review and input, the pipeline route has already been adjusted to minimize some of the environmental impacts, but there are still many outstanding concerns that deserve careful scrutiny to be sure that the route does not adversely impact local farmland, State forests, parks, wildlife management areas, and wetlands.

The significant amount of interest in this proposed pipeline reflects the Commonwealth's longstanding history of preserving natural habitats and protecting open spaces for the public benefit, and we have invested enormous public resources toward these goals. This is also true of the investments that American taxpayers have made in our national parks.

By expediting approval of natural gas pipelines, H.R. 8 would directly erode the National Park Service's ability to meet its core mission of preserving and protecting our Nation's natural, cultural, and historic resources, unimpaired for the use and enjoyment of future generations.

I offered an amendment with my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Beyer) to remove this section from the bill. However, the majority blocked this simple amendment from coming to the floor and receiving an up-or-down vote.

Our national parks belong to all Americans and have been famously called "America's best idea.'' National parks protect, celebrate, and give access to the many places that have shaped and defined who we are as a people and a country.

Members should have been given the opportunity to vote on whether or not we should protect our national parks from natural gas pipelines.

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