House Approves Bipartisan Bill to Build North American Energy Projects, Delivering Jobs and Lower Prices

WASHINGTON, DC – The House of Representatives today approved H.R. 3301, the North American Energy Infrastructure Act, by a bipartisan vote of 238 to 173. The bill, authored by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Gene Green (D-TX), will establish a clear and efficient approval process for pipelines and transmission lines that cross the borders of the United States with Canada or Mexico.

As demonstrated by the application for the Keystone XL pipeline that has languished for nearly six years, the current process for approving cross-border energy projects is broken. H.R. 3301 replaces the current Presidential Permit process created by a series of executive orders. The bill is a key component of the committee’s efforts to build the Architecture of Abundance, and will help facilitate the construction of new job-creating energy infrastructure projects needed to transport North America’s growing energy supplies to markets and consumers.

Upton said, “With lessons learned from the Keystone XL pipeline debacle, we’re creating a fair and transparent approval process for cross-border energy projects, putting them all on a level playing field, finally, for the benefit of North American energy security, lower energy prices, and jobs.”

Click HERE to watch Upton’s remarks in support of H.R. 3301

Green said, “The U.S. has an opportunity to form a unified North American energy market that will create jobs, grow the economy, and help us reduce our dependence on hostile or unstable nations. Unfortunately, the decision-making and the regulatory process associated with cross-border infrastructure has been bogged down by political calculations and obstructions. Our bill changes this process to reflect the realities of the North American energy sector and secure our energy needs well into the 21st century.”

“I am glad to see this legislation move forward and pass the House of Representatives,” said Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman Ed Whitfield (R-KY). “Our country’s infrastructure for energy production is critical for our future. This bill will help prevent delays in projects such as the Keystone Pipeline, which has been delayed by President Obama for more than 2100 days, and will in turn create much-needed jobs in our anemic economy. It is now time for the Senate and the president to act so that we can advance our energy infrastructure.”

The bipartisan legislation has received strong support from leading energy experts, economists, and policy analysts as well as labor unions, manufacturers, job creators, and consumer groups. To learn more about H.R. 3301, click HERE.

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