Ryan Zinke Blasts Obama Veto

Statement

Montana Congressman Ryan Zinke today blasted President Obama for going against the people of Montana and the country by vetoing the bipartisan Keystone XL Pipeline.

"President Obama today chose Middle Eastern oil and coastal special interests over Montana jobs and North American energy independence," said Zinke. "The people of Montana have been waiting for six years for Washington to quit playing politics with our jobs and our energy, and finally build the Keystone XL pipeline. During that time we have seen multiple incidents in shipping oil through less safe forms of transport. These events underscore the importance upgrading our energy infrastructure with the safest and most reliable pipelines, like the Keystone XL. Multiple studies, including those by the Obama Administration, have found the pipeline to be a safe and environmentally responsible form of transport, and an economic engine for the region. While I'm not surprised at the President's veto, I'm still disappointed."

Zinke is a strong advocate for updating America's energy infrastructure. Some of his top priorities relating to energy infrastructure include: conducting a survey of health of existing pipeline infrastructure; expediting the permit process for entities that want to upgrade existing pipelines, requiring a greater depth for pipelines that travel under water sources or through sensitive areas.

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