Congressman Canseco on the Keystone Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 10th, 2011

Contact:  Valentina Weis
(202) 225-4511 or Valentina.Weis@mail.house.gov

Congressman Canseco on the Keystone Announcement

Washington D.C. – Representative Francisco “Quico” Canseco (TX-23) issued the following statement in reaction to the Obama Administration’s announcement calling for the consideration of a new route for the Keystone XL pipeline, which will trigger a new environmental review and delay a final decision on the project until 2013:

“President Obama, while on the campaign trail, has repeatedly promised the American people that he is focused on creating American jobs. Yet, his actions today speak louder than his empty campaign promises. The Keystone Pipeline was a chance to create thousands of jobs while bringing more energy to markets to help lower the cost of energy. Yet, once again Obama has failed to deliver for the American people. There’s an old saying that comes to mind, which is, ‘It’s not what you say, it’s what you do.’ At a time when almost 14 million Americans are unemployed and the unemployment rate has been above 8% for the 33rd straight month, it is irresponsible to stall the creation of thousands of American jobs.

The Keystone XL pipeline project has already obtained a favorable final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) from the State Department after two and half years of study. Despite this, the President has ignored the American people and sided with far-left environmental activists who continue to oppose the project. The Campaigner-In-Chief has sold out the American people to garner the political support of the far-left, as evidenced by comments made by the Executive Director of the Sierra Club, who said that if President Obama approved the project, “it will be increasingly difficult for our members to stand behind the president.” With today’s announcement by the Obama Administration delaying a final decision until 2013, it seems President Obama has put getting reelected as a higher priority than creating jobs and lowering the cost of energy for the American people.”

Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the North American-Made Energy Security Act (H.R. 1938) to expedite the permitting process for the Keystone XL pipeline and require a final decision on the project by November 1, 2011. Unfortunately, the United States Senate never considered H.R. 1938, which was passed by the House in July.

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