[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 133 (Wednesday, September 17, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S5653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             ENERGY POLICY

  Mr. McCONNELL. On another matter, I just explained why the war on 
coal has been so damaging to the people of my State. It is clear to me 
at least that we need to work together toward sensible, all-of-the-
above energy policy. The good news is that the Republican-run House is 
set to present us with another perfect opportunity to work across the 
aisle and do just that this very week. The House plans to pass and send 
over a bipartisan legislative package that would create jobs while 
helping to make energy more affordable and more abundant.
  Among other things, this energy package would finally approve the 
Keystone Pipeline. This is a project that is safe, shovel-ready, and 
could create tens of thousands of jobs right away. It is just 
unacceptable that the administration has now spent 6 years--6 years--
dragging its feet on the Keystone Pipeline. I commend my colleague from 
North Dakota Senator Hoeven for bringing attention to that fact and for 
his strong vocal leadership on this issue. While some on the other side 
of the aisle claim to be supportive of Keystone jobs, they have failed 
to stand up to the majority leader who has blocked this effort time and 
time and time again on behalf of the Obama administration. We need to 
approve the House legislative package and finally get this pipeline 
built and these Keystone jobs created.
  But the House's energy package would do a lot more than just that. It 
would also modernize the permitting process, allow for more energy 
exploration, increase exports of American energy, and it would help us 
fight back against the Obama administration's war on Kentucky coal jobs 
in several different ways.
  One bill would prevent the administration from developing more job-
killing coal regulations and another from Representative Whitfield 
would push back on the coal regulations that have already been issued.
  This package is common sense. I applaud our colleagues in the House 
for their efforts on this issue. It presents a perfect opportunity for 
our Democratic friends, if they are willing to support it, to prove 
they are serious about real solutions for middle-class families--that 
they have a real agenda beyond just designed-to-fail bills.

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