Lankford Supports 9th Keystone XL Pipeline Bill Since Taking Office in 2011

Statement

Representative James Lankford (R-Okla.) released the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 5682, the ninth House bill since the Congressman was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Passage of the bill sends it to the Senate to approve the northern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline:

"Central Oklahomans already see the economic benefits of the southern leg of the Keystone XL pipeline, which originates in Cushing, OK and has been operational for months. The southern leg of the Keystone XL from Cushing to the Gulf of Mexico has been permitted and constructed and is now operational in the same time the northern leg has waited for a permit. Our energy present is stuck while the nation waits for permission to build our energy future.

"The President has stalled the approval process for 2, 247 days to pander to his environmentalist supporters. Most recently, the Administration used the excuse of ongoing court proceedings in Nebraska to further delay the pipeline's route. However, approving the transnational portion of the pipeline will not prevent Nebraska from determining the pipeline's path through the state. Additionally, after the pipeline safety standards put in place in 2011, Keystone XL will be one of the safest pipelines ever constructed.

"It's time to build America's energy future, not delay it again."

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