Daines, Senate Energy Committee Approval Keystone XL Bill

Senator Steve Daines joined the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee today to approve Daines-cosponsored legislation that would permit construction of the job-creating Keystone XL pipeline, clearing the way for full Senate vote.

The bill, S. 1, was introduced earlier this week and has 60 bipartisan cosponsors. It was passed in Committee today with bipartisan support.

"Along its way the pipeline crosses through six counties total injecting thousands of jobs to dying rural communities and millions of dollars in tax revenue to support weakening infrastructure and neighborhood schools," Daines stated. "Simply stated, Keystone XL is not just a pipeline that will run through northeastern Montana -- it's a lifeline. The pipeline keeps electricity prices low for Montana families and creates jobs in small towns that are losing residents to jobs in other states right now."

During the hearing, Daines submitted a letter from Phillips County, Montana stating that the county could receive up to $3 million for improvements to their roads and bridges. This represents only part of the millions of dollars in tax revenues six Montana counties will receive if the pipeline is approved.

Another letter from the Montana Petroleum Association details how adequate pipeline capacity has been a long-term problem as production in the Bakken continues to grow. The Keystone XL will transport up to 100,000 barrels of oil per day from the formation, which is located in Montana and North Dakota.

Daines also submitted letters for the record from the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association and the Eastern Plaines Economic Development Corporation.

"This legislation is exactly the kind of commonsense solution that Montanans want to see. It has broad bipartisan support, it's environmentally sound, it creates jobs and it helps move us toward energy independence," Daines said. "I look forward to passing it out of the Senate and giving President Obama the opportunity to finally approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline after six years of political games and gridlock."

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