News releases on Obama Administration’s decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline
The following news releases were issued Wednesday by Illinois Congressmen regarding the Obama Administration’s decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline
U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, R-Winfield, 14th District
Hultgren Statement on President's Rejection of Keystone XL Pipeline
Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after the Obama administration announced that they will formally reject the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.
"With today's disappointing decision by the Obama administration, the President has shown us that he is more concerned about getting re-elected than he is about putting Americans back to work," said Hultgren. "This decision will deny Americans 20,000 new jobs at a time when unemployment has been higher than 8 percent for 35 straight months, and will perpetuate our reliance on oil from unstable regions. Even more surprising is that just this week, President Obama's jobs council endorsed the type of energy infrastructure projects that Keystone XL pipeline represents.
"The President is running out of time to prove that he's serious about putting Americans back to work, and not just scoring points on the campaign trail. He should immediately adopt his job council's plan for expanded domestic energy production, corporate tax reform to improve American competitiveness, and regulatory reforms that are burdening our job-creators and small business owners. Better still, the President need only embrace the commonsense legislation we have already passed in the House. Many of the 27 bills awaiting Senate action would address the council’s proposals, and would help create the pro-growth environment we need to get the American economy moving again."
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Manteno, 11th District
Kinzinger Statement on the Obama Administration’s Decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after the Obama Administration's announcement to reject the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline project:
"It's appalling to see the President's Administration block the Keystone XL Pipeline - particularly after his own jobs council yesterday called for an 'all-in approach' to energy policy that incorporates expanded oil and gas drilling in addition to advancing energy projects such as pipelines.
"The report stated: 'The Council recognizes the important safety and environmental concerns surrounding these types of projects, but now more than ever, the jobs and economic and energy security benefits of these energy projects require us to tackle the issues head-on and to expeditiously, though cautiously, move forward on projects that can support hundreds of thousands of jobs.'
"The Keystone XL Pipeline would have done just that. This pipeline would directly create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs and 118,000 total jobs. In addition, we would see 830,000 barrels of safe and secure oil each day from our friends to the North, which means we will need less oil from countries we can no longer rely on and are not friendly to the interests of the United States.
"The Keystone XL extension has bipartisan support in Congress and across the country. Manufacturers and union organizations alike are also supportive. And, last summer, the State Department announced this extension passed environmental reviews.
"Unfortunately, this missed opportunity is yet another major example of the President placing politics before the people. The fact is that someone will benefit from the oil out of Alberta. If it’s not the United States, it will be China - and it will be American businesses and consumers who will suffer the consequences from our inaction."
U.S. Rep. Don Manzullo, R-Egan, 16th District
Manzullo: President Kills Jobs with Keystone Denial
WASHINGTON] – Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) issued the following statement today responding to President Obama’s decision to deny the Keystone XL energy pipeline permit.
“The President’s decision today to kill the Keystone XL pipeline project is outrageous. The President had an opportunity to support the project and put more than 100,000 Americans to work while ensuring our nation a stable energy supply from our friends in Canada. Instead, his denial will keep those Americans on the unemployment lines and ensure the United States remains dependant on costly, foreign oil from unstable sources overseas. Two of the largest challenges standing in the way of America’s return to prosperity are unemployment and high gasoline prices, and the President denied a great opportunity to make progress on both fronts today.
“As the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and the Chairman of the U.S.-Canada Interparliamentary Exchange, I am also concerned that the President’s denial today will push Canada to partner with China on this additional energy source. Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper previously warned President Obama that his denial of Keystone would force the Canadians to seek new customers in Asia, and that would be a disaster for American manufacturers trying to compete with their Chinese competitors.”
