Northern Route Approval Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This important legislation would remove roadblocks to allow for the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline--a project that is vital to America's energy future.

The Keystone XL pipeline has been tied up in red tape by the Obama administration for nearly 5 years. Just over 1,700 days ago, the application to build this important energy project was submitted to the State Department, and for 1,700 days the American people have been waiting for the Obama administration to stop leading from behind.

This bill will create tens of thousands of American jobs, it will lower energy prices, the building of it will invest billions of dollars into our economy, and it will make America more energy secure. The Keystone XL pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada, down to American refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. That's half the amount that the U.S. imports from the Middle East.

This bill was approved by the Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. The provisions under our jurisdiction will help ensure that the construction of this pipeline takes place in a timely manner without threat of lawsuit or unnecessary delay by the Secretary of the Interior.

This important project has gone through extensive environmental reviews, including two separate EIS's and over 15,000 pages of NEPA reviews. President Obama's own State Department has Mr. HASTINGS of Washington. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This important legislation would remove roadblocks to allow for the approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline--a project that is vital to America's energy future.

The Keystone XL pipeline has been tied up in red tape by the Obama administration for nearly 5 years. Just over 1,700 days ago, the application to build this important energy project was submitted to the State Department, and for 1,700 days the American people have been waiting for the Obama administration to stop leading from behind.

This bill will create tens of thousands of American jobs, it will lower energy prices, the building of it will invest billions of dollars into our economy, and it will make America more energy secure. The Keystone XL pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada, down to American refineries in the Gulf of Mexico. That's half the amount that the U.S. imports from the Middle East.

This bill was approved by the Natural Resources Committee with bipartisan support. The provisions under our jurisdiction will help ensure that the construction of this pipeline takes place in a timely manner without threat of lawsuit or unnecessary delay by the Secretary of the Interior.

This important project has gone through extensive environmental reviews, including two separate EIS's and over 15,000 pages of NEPA reviews. President Obama's own State Department has stated that this project will have no significant impacts on the environment. There is no credible reason for the President to continue holding up this project.

That is why this project enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. This is not a Democrat issue; this is not a Republican issue. Energy security and job creation is an American issue. This administration is the only roadblock that's standing in the way of American jobs, lower energy prices, and increased American energy security.

The Northern Route Approval Act makes the Keystone XL pipeline a reality. It declares that no Presidential permit shall be required to approve this pipeline and prevents the Obama administration from imposing further delays.

I urge my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

stated that this project will have no significant impacts on the environment. There is no credible reason for the President to continue holding up this project.

That is why this project enjoys bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate. This is not a Democrat issue; this is not a Republican issue. Energy security and job creation is an American issue. This administration is the only roadblock that's standing in the way of American jobs, lower energy prices, and increased American energy security.

The Northern Route Approval Act makes the Keystone XL pipeline a reality. It declares that no Presidential permit shall be required to approve this pipeline and prevents the Obama administration from imposing further delays.

I urge my colleagues, Mr. Chairman, to support this important legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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