Letter to John Kerry, Secretary of State

Letter

Dear Secretary Kerry:

Over the last several years, I have heard increasing concerns from families and small businesses in my congressional district regarding rising gas prices. It is time for the United States to expand its development of oil. I write to communicate my constituents' concerns and express my strong support for building the Keystone XL Pipeline.

As you know, rising gas prices are hurting families and small businesses at a time when our economy is already struggling to create new jobs. The Keystone XL Pipeline will expand the system and create as many as 42,000 new U.S. jobs during construction alone. In fact, the pipeline is expected to contribute $775 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product by 2035.

Equally important, the Keystone XL Pipeline would strengthen our nation's energy security. It would carry up to 830,000 barrels of North American oil -- double what we currently import from the Persian Gulf. In combination with other resources, the pipeline could help the U.S. independently meet all of its energy needs.

The President continues to delay making a decision on this shovel-ready project, which would create tens of thousands of American jobs and bring millions of barrels of secure oil to U.S. refineries. For these reasons, I strongly encourage the U.S. Department of State to proceed with an official determination that building the Keystone XL Pipeline would serve the national interest.

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