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By Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

Some Washington insiders think it is the center of power.  However, when I brought North Carolina common sense to Washington, I quickly learned that Washington is nothing more than a steering wheel that is disconnected from the rest of the car.  The real power lies with the people.

A few weeks ago I was reminded just how disconnected and out of touch Washington is from the rest of America when President Obama denied a license for the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The construction phase of that pipeline alone holds the potential of producing an estimated 20,000 jobs in a suffering economy and significantly decreasing our dependence on OPEC oil.

In December, the President deferred a decision on the pipeline’s future until 2013.  In response, Congress acted on behalf of our constituents and in the interest of job creation, requiring the President to make a decision. He rejected Keystone and now the United States is compromising the potential jobs, and energy resources, to China and other competing nations.  

Americans today are anxious about economic stability.  They want the White House to focus on job creation. According to a January 12^th Gallup poll, Americans say that jobs, the national debt, and domestic economic stability are their top three economic worries. The same sentiment is echoed in the letters and phone calls I receive from my constituents: our citizens are worried about our economic future.

Of course, Keystone is not a solution to all of our nation’s economic, and energy worries, but it is a step in the right direction.  And the administration’s rejection of this project is more proof that they have run out of ideas for boosting job creation and economic growth.

Construction and maintenance of the pipeline, which would stretch from Canada to Texas, would create thousands of American jobs in design, manufacturing, and construction of the pipeline, and it is estimated that close to 100,000 related jobs could be created by an increase in consumer demand along the pipeline route.

Building the pipeline would also reduce America’s reliance on overseas oil. Every day, America imports 2.1 million barrels of oil from Canada, 1.8 million barrels from the Middle East, and almost 900,000 barrels from Venezuela. The TransCanada Corporation estimates that Keystone XL could double the amount of oil the United States imports from Canada. Doing so would decrease our dependence on energy imports from hostile, unstable foreign countries whose interests conflict with those of free and open societies like ours.

President Obama acknowledged the importance of energy independence when he stated that he would “set a clear goal as president: In 10 years we will finally end our dependence on oil in the Middle East.”

It is clear that approving Keystone and setting this project in motion is what is best for America. If the President continues to disregard America’s needs by placating a favored political base then Congress should use its authority to act.  

In June of last year, I took an energy tour of the Fifth District and saw firsthand how our jobs and economy are affected by the lack of smart and resourceful national energy investment.

I am committed to work with my colleagues in Congress to move legislation approving Keystone XL and an all of the above energy policy.  

It is time for President Obama to steer our nation down a path of prosperity starting with investment in American jobs and energy security.