[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 175 (Wednesday, November 16, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H7629]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NEW ROUTE FOR STALLED KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Shimkus) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SHIMKUS. Mr. Speaker, in today's Reuters report, ``Secretary of 
State Hillary Clinton Wednesday urged claimants to the South China Sea 
not to resort to intimidation to push their cause in the potentially 
oil-rich waters, an indirect reference to China ahead of a regional 
leaders' summit.''
  Why are we concerned about crude oil in dangerous places of the 
world? It is because we do not have North American energy security, 
hence the whole Keystone XL pipeline debate.
  And we have good news on that front. Two days ago, from Lincoln, 
Nebraska, another Reuters article says, ``Nebraska and TransCanada 
agreed on Monday to find a new route for the stalled Keystone XL 
pipeline that would steer clear of environmentally sensitive lands in 
the State.''
  Why is that important? Energy security, expediting the permitting 
process, 20,000 new jobs immediately, private capital, Caterpillar 
mining trucks, Marathon Oil refinery.
  If you live in the Midwest States of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, 
Ohio, and Michigan, this oil goes directly to refineries and that, 
which decreases our reliance on imported crude oil and makes us safe 
and secure and it creates jobs.
  Keystone XL is a no-brainer. This administration needs to get off the 
dime and move this process.

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