[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 74 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2940]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
(Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to
address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, during the 2013 State of
the Union address, President Obama stated that every day we must ask
ourselves: How do we attract more jobs to our shore? And how do we make
sure that the hard work leads to a decent living? Well, this week the
House considered and passed H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act,
legislation approving the Keystone XL pipeline.
Despite estimates showing thousands of new jobs resulting from the
project, the administration has delayed approval. Despite the Democrat-
led Senate passing an amendment recommending its approval, the
administration has delayed approval. Despite an environmental review
process that has been more rigorous than similar, previously approved
projects, the administration has delayed approval. Despite two-thirds
of Americans favoring its approval, this administration has delayed
approval.
It's time for the President to move from asking the jobs question to
answering it. He can do so by ending the bureaucratic delays blocking
approval of Keystone XL and moving forward with this vital project that
will bring thousands of high-paying jobs to America's shore.
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