Foxx: There is a Reason Democrats, Republicans & Organized Labor all Support Keystone

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Virginia Foxx today issued the following statement upon voting for the immediate construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline through H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. Foxx is a cosponsor of the measure:

“The Keystone Pipeline and the 40,000 jobs it’s expected to create have been waiting for President Obama’s approval for the better part of five years, and with no good reason. The Northern Route Approval Act will ensure that those senseless delays end immediately. Americans need these jobs.

“The American people have coalesced behind the Keystone XL Pipeline because it will spur job creation, help us on our way to energy independence and increase access to affordable North American oil. There is a reason Democrats, Republicans and organized labor are counted among its supporters.”

President Obama and his State Department have delayed and blocked the Keystone XL Pipeline proposal since its first application was filed nearly five years ago. Keystone XL is the most studied pipeline in our nation’s history with over 15,500 pages of review having been issued by the State Department showing it is safe and in the national interest. Similar pipeline projects requiring a Presidential Permit usually take 18 to 24 months to review and approve.

H.R. 3 will end the Obama Administration’s delays by removing the need for the Keystone XL Pipeline to receive a Presidential Permit. Additionally, this legislation satisfies all National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and streamlines the review and approval process for all other necessary federal permits.

H.R. 3 is bipartisan bill with over 130 cosponsors. It received bipartisan support in all three committees of jurisdiction during the markup process.