[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 23 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[House]
[Page H1684]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
(Mr. SHUSTER asked and was given permission to address the House for
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. SHUSTER. Mr. Speaker, for more than 5 years, the Obama
administration has played politics with the Keystone XL pipeline, a
project that is essential to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and
creating jobs.
Progress has been blocked at every turn by the President more
concerned with his popularity with environmental extremists than
supplying our Nation with OPEC-free energy.
House Republicans have joined with members of the labor movement to
move this project forward. Just last year, I worked through my
committee to advance H.R. 3 to approve the Keystone pipeline with
Congressman Lee Terry. The House passed the bill back in May of 2003,
but once again we were ignored by the Senate and the President.
The State Department just released its final Environmental Impact
Statement, which estimates that Keystone XL will produce 42,000 jobs
and will be safe.
President Obama often talks about wanting to create jobs, improving
our economy, and strengthening our energy independence. He claims to
support an all-of-the-above energy strategy. But with his stopping the
Keystone pipeline and his war on coal, we are losing jobs, we are not
strengthening the economy, and we are decreasing our ability to become
energy independent.
Mr. President, stop dragging your feet and approve the Keystone
pipeline.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to address their
remarks to the Chair.
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