WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bill Shuster (R-Hollidaysburg) led efforts to pass H.R. 5682, to Approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, on Friday. In the six years since the application to build the pipeline was first filed, the House has voted eight times to move forward with its construction.

“The House is leading where the president has failed by approving the construction of the Keystone Pipeline and the energy security it will provide for our nation,” said Congressman Shuster. “This is not the first time legislation has been passed to make this project a reality, but it is hopefully the last. These manufactured stalemates by the administration have held our nation back from reducing our dependence on oil from the Middle East.”

As Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over the legislation, Congressman Shuster led the debate of H.R. 5682 on the House floor on Thursday evening. In addition to his work on this bill, Shuster has also played an instrumental role in passing other pieces of legislation to approve the project such as H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. Before being passed in the House, Shuster guided H.R. 3 through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and to the full body for passage.

“This is a project that has the support of the majority of the American people, and at a time when our economy continues to struggle, we cannot afford to miss out on the thousands of jobs it will create,” continued Shuster on Keystone. “In addition to approving the construction of the pipeline, I will continue to support an all of the above approach to advance policies that strengthen our energy infrastructure by utilizing the resources we have here at home.”

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