[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 23 (Thursday, February 6, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H1684-H1685]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE
(Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute.)
Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, if I told you we could create tens of
thousands of truly shovel-ready jobs, increase the prospects of
American energy independence, and avoid undue environmental harm, how
long would it take you to sign on the dotted line? For the President,
it would take over 5 years. That is how long the application for the
Keystone XL pipeline has been languishing on his desk.
In his State of the Union address, the President talked about the
need to grow jobs and pursue an all-of-the-above energy strategy, yet
he has failed to take action on a project that does just that. Even
after the release of a report from his own State Department last week
clearly stating there would be little to no negative effect
environmentally, the President still will not take the lead.
This project has support from Members of both parties, as well as the
support of both business groups and labor groups.
The President said he has a pen. Now is the time to use it. Approve
the Keystone XL pipeline, get Americans to work, and truly support a
plan for an all-of-the-above energy strategy that sends a message to
the rest of the world.
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