Energy Independence

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DAINES. Mr. Speaker, thank you, Mr. Johnson for leading tonight's leadership hour on American energy. This is an issue of great importance to the people of Montana, and I'm glad we're having this discussion tonight.

1678. That's how many days it's been since the application to build the Keystone XL pipeline was filed.

It took Canada seven months to approve the pipeline. President Obama has taken over four and a half years.

Study after study has shown that not only is the pipeline safe--but it said to be the most advanced, state-of-the art pipeline ever constructed.

And the benefits of constructing this pipeline go beyond just transporting oil.

Earlier this month, I was in Glasgow, Montana visiting NorVal Electric Co-op. Members of the co-op told me that they are going to be supplying electricity to pump stations for the KXL, allowing them to spread their cost burdens and hold rates steady for customers.

If Obama does not approve the Keystone pipeline, their customers will see upwards of a 40 percent increase in their utility rates over the next ten years.

This is a great example of how this will impact everyday Americans.

It will create thousands of jobs--at least 800 in my home state of Montana alone.

And the president still can't make a decision.

Last month, the U.S. State Department issued its Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Keystone XL Presidential Permit application, which confirmed what we already knew.

The Keystone XL Pipeline will have no significant impacts on the environment.

In fact, this is the fourth environmental review of the Keystone Pipeline--with a final report still to come.

Let me be clear--this project means jobs.

This project could directly create more than 800 good-paying jobs in Montana--and thousands more across the nation.

It means coming one step closer to North American energy independence. The Keystone XL would be able to move up to 830,000 barrels of oil per day. That's about half the amount that the U.S. presently imports from the Middle East.

And of the oil moved each day, 100,000 barrels will come from the Bakken formation, which spreads across Montana and North Dakota.

This isn't about politics--Republicans and Democrats alike support the pipeline.

This is about our nation's security. This is about lowering energy costs for American families. This is about American jobs.

After four and a half years of waiting on President Obama to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, enough is enough.

The American people deserve action on this job-creating project, not more of President Obama's delays.

That's why today, the House Natural Resources Committee voted to advance the Northern Route Approval Act.

This bill makes it possible for the pipeline to be constructed in its entirety by removing the need for a presidential permit for the northern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline.

With this approval, we are one step closer to getting this pipeline approved.

The construction of the Keystone XL pipeline means hundreds of good-paying jobs created for Montanans, it means millions of dollars injected into our economy, and it even means lower utility rates for Montanans--we can't afford to wait any longer.

Enough is enough. It's been 1678 days.

As a member of the House Energy Action Team, I urge President Obama to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. And, if he won't act, we will.

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