Marshall, Western Senators to Introduce Bill to Keep Keystone XL Pipeline Construction Moving Forward

(Washington, D.C., January 20, 2021) – U.S. Senator Roger Marshall, M.D., and several western senators will introduce legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline following President Biden’s decision to revoke the cross-border operation permit. Senator Marshall will introduce the legislation with Senators Steve Daines (MT), Mike Crapo (ID), James Risch (ID), John Barrasso (WY), Jerry Moran (KS), Jim Inhofe (OK), and John Hoeven (ND). Several other western senators are expected to sign on.

“The focus of the new administration must be on restoring our economy to pre-COVID levels and ensuring Americans can put food on the table. Instead, President Biden has revoked the Keystone XL pipeline, a move that will drive up the price of gas at the pump, cost thousands of jobs, crush our energy industry and put our country back on a path to dependence on foreign oil. Over the years, the Keystone XL pipeline has undergone extensive environmental and safety studies that have been verified, tested, and approved by both the courts and independent groups. Instead of firing American workers through government decree, the Biden Administration should take steps to grow our economy and continue down the path of American energy independence and economic recovery,” SenatorMarshall said.

“It’s only day one, and with the stroke of a pen, Biden has already taken steps to kill American energy projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline which is critical to energy producing states like Montana,” SenatorDaines said. “This project will create thousands of jobs, generate tax revenue for local communities, promote North American energy security and independence, and it is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport oil. We must do all that we can to ensure construction moves forward.”

“President Biden’s executive order will rob both American and Canadian workers of good-paying jobs,” said Senator Barrasso. “Currently, one thousand union workers are busy constructing the Keystone XL pipeline. When completed, the pipeline will ship oil from the Canadian and Bakken oil fields to American refineries along the Gulf Coast and across the Midwest. President Biden’s actions will not end our need for oil from our strongest ally, Canada. Instead, it will cost jobs, result in more shipments of oil by rail and make America even more vulnerable to OPEC and foreign adversaries, like Russia.”

“We came so far during the last administration – from prioritizing American energy development to ending the far-left’s war on fossil fuels. The Keystone XL pipeline would create thousands of jobs in Oklahoma and throughout the nation and President Biden’s disappointing choice today to revoke this permit will harm the nation’s tremendous progress toward energy independence. I am sad to see this decision to continue the failed Obama-era legacy of denying tens of thousands of Americans good, well-paying jobs at the expense of satisfying liberal, “Green New Deal” inspired interest groups. It is a sad day for the future of American energy independence, but I will not stop fighting for legislation and other policies that keep energy costs down and further our energy and national security,” stated Senator Inhofe.

Background:

This project is expected to provide approximately 11,000 direct high-paying jobs and up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generate tax revenue, increase renewable-energy demand, reduce emissions and strengthen North American energy independence.

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