House Approves Bipartisan Bill to Build the Landmark Keystone XL Pipeline

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives today approved H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, with bipartisan support by a vote of 241 to 175. Sponsored by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will end the regulatory delays blocking construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and finally allow the job-creating project to proceed after nearly 5 years of review. A broad range of diverse organizations representing American workers and job creators have lent their support to this commonsense bill. Similar legislation was needed 40 years ago to achieve construction of the game-changing Trans-Alaska Pipeline.

Members of the Energy and Commerce Committee voiced their strong support for building the Keystone pipeline during today’s debate on the House floor.

“It's time, after almost five years, to get the Keystone pipeline working and the people working.”
– Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), author of H.R. 3

“Not one dime of federal or taxpayer dollars will be in this pipeline – an $8 billion project, 20,000 jobs...”
– Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY)

“Only in America would this be controversial…It’s a win for the consumers in America and it’s a win for the workers in America…”
– Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX)

“It is time that this body take action to bolster our economy, move our nation towards energy independence - areas where this president has failed miserably.”
– Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA)

“If you look at the facts about what this means to America: 20,000 jobs immediately. Energy security where we’re going to be getting 830,000 barrels of oil a day from a friend in Canada that we don’t have to get from Middle Eastern countries who don’t like us.”
– Rep Steve Scalise (R-LA)

“America needs action. America needs 20,000 jobs. America needs 800,000 barrels a day coming from Canada. America needs national security that comes from energy security. America needs the Keystone XL pipeline.”
– Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)

“The fact that we can create 20,000 jobs is a good thing - the fact that the National Federation of Independent Businesses support this pipeline, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, manufacturers, the labor unions, support the construction of this pipeline.”
– Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)

“Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is a significant element of America’s all-of-the-above energy policy, and it will help lower energy costs, create jobs, and reduce our dependence on dangerous sources of foreign oil.”
– Rep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ)

“This a job creating opportunity. This is an opportunity to take energy resourses from a friendly ally in Canada, use it here in America, or make sure that it goes to our friends and our allies rather than our competitors like the Chinese.”
– Rep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)

“In truth, the only thing that is unprecedented is the lengthy delays that we’ve already encountered for a project that has been the subject of over 15,000 pages of federal environmental review, and, yes, found to be safe.”
– Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI)

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