[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 140 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  APPROVAL OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 14, 2014

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, this is the eighth time that the House 
has voted to approve Keystone and short circuit the review process, and 
I have opposed it each time. Continuing this pattern is not helpful or 
a good use of our time.
  My position has long been clear: there is a legal and regulatory 
process that the Administration is currently following to determine if 
this pipeline is in the interest of the American people.
  It is important to consider the environmental impact that this 
pipeline may have, including a potential direct increase in the energy-
intensive extraction of tar sands oil. It is also important to consider 
the impacts to local communities where this pipeline would be built as 
well as threats to the water supply. Oil from the tar sands continues 
to reach American refineries.
  We should do the analysis of this pipeline right, and wait for it to 
finish. Most importantly, we should focus on long-term, sustainable 
solutions to meet our nation's future energy needs, lower our carbon 
emissions and make our communities more resilient to a changing 
climate.
  If I had been present for the vote, I would have voted no.

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