[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      NORTHERN ROUTE APPROVAL ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3) to 
     approve the construction, operation, and maintenance of the 
     Keystone XL pipeline, and for other purposes:
  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Chair, I rise today in astonishment that the House 
even had to consider H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. Now, I'm 
a cosponsor of this bill and I strongly supported its passage yesterday 
in the House. But we wouldn't need to pass it if the Administration 
would've green-lighted the Keystone XL pipeline like it should have 
long ago. For more than seventeen-hundred days, Americans have waited 
for the Administration to approve this pipeline. We have waited long 
enough for 20,000 new jobs--600 of which would be created in my home 
state of Iowa. We have waited for $20 billion to be added to the 
economy, much of it in the Midwest and Iowa. And we have waited for 
more than 800,000 barrels of North American oil per day to be carried 
to U.S. refineries--to help fuel our economy. The State Department has 
found twice that this pipeline would have a limited impact on the 
environment. Labor groups support its construction. And seventeen 
Senate Democrats endorsed it earlier this year by helping to pass a 
budget amendment approving the pipeline. Approval of the Keystone XL 
pipeline means jobs, a boost to the economy and greater American 
independence when it comes to energy.
  So today, Mr. Chair, I urge our colleagues in the U.S. Senate, in the 
strongest possible terms, to consider and pass this bill as soon as 
possible--but I also urge the Administration to stop hitting the snooze 
button on real chances to create American jobs and energy independence.

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