WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02) supported job creation and energy independence by voting to support H.R. 5682, a measure that would immediately authorize the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline. The project has been awaiting a Presidential permit for six years because the pipeline crosses an international border.
“In addition to creating jobs and strengthening our national security, the Keystone XL Pipeline project will advance the security and diversity of the United States' petroleum supply in an environmentally safe and economically responsible manner,” said Congressman Bishop. “To keep up with an increasingly competitive world, it is vitally important that our economy continues to increase our energy portfolio by taking advantage of all types of resources, including solar, wind, carbon, hydro, bio, nuclear, and fossil fuels--including oil.”
The Keystone XL project would transport an estimated 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada to Gulf Coast refineries, thereby reducing U.S. reliance on energy imports from the Middle East and Venezuela as well as immediately making the U.S. less vulnerable to political and security-related disruptions. In addition, the pipeline would produce significant economic benefits by directly creating an estimated 20,000 jobs. Hundreds of thousands of additional jobs are expected to be created indirectly, both in the building of the pipeline and in the refining of its crude oil.
H.R. 5682 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 252 to 161. The U.S. Senate is expected to vote on an identical measure next week (S. 2280).
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