Keystone XL Pipeline

President Obama has clearly revealed his complete disregard for American energy independence and American job growth. The Keystone pipeline project is not just a pipeline – it’s a lifeline.  Out-of-work Americans urgently need the tens of thousands of direct jobs this project will immediately create, and countless industries across our country that will benefit from this project.

The President claims to be committed to ‘a future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity are not tied to unstable parts of the world.’  However, his policies and his rejection of this project tell a much different story.  If we do not act quickly, the communist Chinese will happily snap up these vast oil reserves, strengthening themselves and weakening the United States.  Denying this project not only further jeopardizes our economic recovery, but continues to put us at the mercy of unfriendly foreign nations and threaten our national security.

Rep. Culberson’s work on Keystone XL:

May 8, 2012

Rep. Culberson signed a bipartisan letter co-authored by Chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Congressman Connie Mack (R-FL) that urges the Transportation Bill Conference Committee to include language that would build the Keystone XL pipeline immediately.

April 18, 2012

Rep. Culberson voted in support of H.R. 4348, Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012 that included language  requiring the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to issue a permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline within 30 days of receiving an application.

January 24, 2012

Rep. Ted Poe introduced H.R. 3811, the Keystone For A Secure Tomorrow Act (K-FAST), of which Rep. Culberson is an original co-sponsor.  K-FAST would allow Congress to directly and immediately approve the Keystone XL pipeline as a matter of National Interest. The Congressional Research Service has stated that “congressional action related to permitting of pipeline border crossings is a legitimate exercise of Congress’s authority to regulate foreign commerce.” A similar procedure was used in 1973 to build the Trans-Alaska pipeline.

December 23, 2011

Rep. Culberson supported a provision in the payroll tax extension deal reached between the House and Senate to force President Obama to approve or reject the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days of the bill being signed.  Additionally, it required the president, if he rejected the permit, to explain to the American people why the pipeline is not in the national interest of the United States.  (President Obama rejected the Transcanada application for a Presidential permit on January 18, 2012.)

October 28, 2011

Rep. Culberson wrote an editorial in the Houston Business Journal, imploring the President to look towards the domestic energy sector for job creation and asking that he approve the Keystone XL pipeline to put Americans back to work.  Rep. Culberson stated, “Mr. President, approve the Keystone XL Pipeline now, and stop destroying the domestic energy industry through over-regulation.  Let’s get Americans back to work.”

October 7, 2011

During the public comment period, Rep. Culberson sent a personal letter to Secretary Clinton expressing his support for the Keystone XL project and asking that the State Department move to grant the presidential permit required for construction to begin.

July 26, 2010

Rep. Culberson signed a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that the State Department move to approve the Keystone XL’s presidential permit.

July 26, 2011

Rep. Culberson voted in favor of H.R. 1938, the North American-Made Energy Security Act of 2011, which directs the President to expedite approval of the Keystone XL pipeline in the national interest of the United States.

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