Toomey Co-Sponsors Bill To Approve Keystone XL Pipeline, Create American Jobs

Press Release

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) has co-sponsored legislation introduced today to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project, which would create thousands of jobs and increase America's energy security.

This bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by 43 additional senators, would authorize TransCanada to construct and operate the Keystone XL pipeline from Alberta, Canada, to the U.S. Gulf Coast, transporting an additional 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries. The bill would allow the company to move forward with construction of the pipeline in the United States while the state of Nebraska works to determine an alternative route.

"We can't wait for the president to drag his feet on this job-creating project any longer. Instead of focusing on American energy security and putting people back to work, the president has chosen to appease environmental special interests instead. It's time for Congress to step up and do what the president hasn't - authorize this pipeline and create tens of thousands of American jobs, increase our access to oil from our friends in Canada, and diminish our dependence on less secure sources of energy."

The Keystone XL pipeline project has been under review for more than three years, but President Obama rejected it last week, saying the 60-day provision included in December's payroll tax cut extension bill didn't give him enough time to review the project. In fact, the Obama administration spent 1,217 days reviewing the pipeline, and there was no time limit on the State Department's ability to review the Nebraska portion of the project.

In addition to Sen. Toomey, the bill is cosponsored by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Dan Coats (R-Ind.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kyl (R-Ariz.); Mike Lee (R-Utah), Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), John Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), John Thune (R-S.D.), David Vitter (R-La.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

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