2 Years Ago Obama Supported Keystone XL: What's He Waiting For?

Press Release

Today, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), top Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following statement ahead of the two-year anniversary of President Obama's statement supporting the Keystone XL pipeline's southern leg, promising to "cut through the red tape, break through the bureaucratic hurdles, and make [Keystone] a priority, to go ahead and get it done."

"There are plenty of reasons to support and build the Keystone pipeline, including the thousands of good-paying jobs and cheaper energy costs for American families. There are no reasons not to support it. What's difficult to understand is why the President and his followers have spent two years dillydallying on a project with such widespread support," said Vitter. "Two years ago, the President said he wanted to get Keystone done, so what the heck is he waiting for?"

The Keystone XL pipeline will carry 830,000 barrels of oil a day to U.S. refineries. According to the U.S. State Department, its construction will create 42,000 jobs. The State Department concluded its final environmental review of Keystone XL in January 2014, which acknowledged the pipeline would not worsen climate change. In June 2013, President Obama said he would approve Keystone only if "it does not significantly exacerbate the climate problem."

For years, Vitter has been a leader in the U.S. Senate to get the Keystone XL pipeline approved. In 2012, Vitter introduced a bill that would prevent the Obama Administration from drawing from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve until Keystone XL is fully permitted. Vitter was also a lead coauthor of a bill to approve permits under Congress's constitutional authority for the full Keystone XL pipeline.

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