Rep. Ellison Stands Against Endangering our Environment to Fill Big Oil's Pockets

Statement

Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus and Chief Deputy Whip, released the following statement today on the Northern Route Approval Act, which rewrites environmental laws to put more money in the pockets of oil companies :

"I have serious concerns about authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline--which would cause the same carbon dioxide emissions as over 37 million passenger cars--in any circumstance. However, this bill overrides existing law to authorize a pipeline without any input from the American people. It is an assault on democracy and should be opposed by all those concerned with good government.

"Over one thousand constituents from Minnesota's 5thdistrict have contacted me this month with concerns about the Keystone XL pipeline. Groups in the district, including Environment Minnesota, and local chapters of 350.org and Sierra Club, have all raised concerns about its construction. Pumping dirty oil through our neighbors' backyard so that it can be shipped to China does not help Minnesotans facing an unprecedented spike in gas prices. In fact, TransCanada's own experts concluded that gas prices--all over the US, but especially in the Midwest--would increase because of the pipeline.

"This bill will bypass existing protections of our air, water and soil in order to expedite construction of a dirty and spill-prone pipeline. The bill puts on full display the magnitude of environmental disaster this pipeline could bring. The bill would waive six separate existing environmental protection laws and leads to approval of the pipeline. The tar sands spill in Arkansas earlier this year provides a sneak preview of the threat the Keystone pipeline poses to American communities.

"I share the concerns of construction workers throughout America whose unemployment rate is still higher than the national average. We should be doubling down on rebuilding our roads, bridges and schools and investing in environmentally sustainable projects.

"We need to hit the brakes on this project, not turn the wheel over to big oil. If the Keystone XL pipeline is built, it is 'game over for the planet,' according to one of the world's most respected climate scientists and former head of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, James Hansen.

"It's time to stop this pipeline."

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