[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H44]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
(Mr. GARDNER asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute.)
Mr. GARDNER. Mr. Speaker, according to the Canadian Government, over
143,000 jobs in Colorado depend on our trade relationship with Canada.
Further, crude petroleum is Colorado's top import from our neighbor to
the north. And Colorado's not unique. Many of the jobs and energy
around the country come as a result of our relationship with Canada.
It's been 3 years since the application was filed to build the
Keystone XL pipeline, which would create a pipeline that extends from
the oil sands in Alberta to the gulf coast, bringing significant oil
supplies into the United States.
The United States as a whole, both economically and from a national
security standpoint, will benefit immensely from the approval of this
pipeline.
In my mind, it's a very simple question: Why import oil from
countries that seek to do us harm when we can get it from our neighbor
to the north? I'm continuously awed at how much energy potential we
have in North America and how simple it would be to advance policies
that would make us more energy independent. Isn't that what we're
trying to accomplish?
But apparently there is an asterisk when it comes to job creation for
this administration. Not these jobs, not these 100,000 jobs. Perhaps
some others. This administration has done everything it can to stand in
the way of a project that can help 100,000 Americans get back to work.
Mr. President, don't put a cork in our economy. Let's get this
pipeline built.
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