Wyden Amendments to Keystone XL Pipeline Bill to End Taxpayer Subsidy for Tar Sands Cleanup, Reduce Wasted Natural Gas

Statement

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced two amendments to a Senate bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Wyden's amendments would require foreign oil companies -- not taxpayers -- to be responsible for cleaning up oil spills and ensure taxpayers receive fair returns for energy produced on public lands, while minimizing environmental impacts.

Wyden opposes the Keystone XL Pipeline, which poses major environmental concerns, and risks increasing gasoline prices in parts of the country. He has voted against it every time it has come up for a vote on the Senate floor.

"The amendments I introduced today will ensure taxpayers in Oregon and across the country aren't on the hook for the cost of cleaning up oil spilled by foreign companies," Wyden said. "Taxpayers must receive full value from the oil and gas that's produced on federal lands, so I am asking Congress to send the message that producers must stop wasting valuable natural gas."

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