Cramer's Keystone XL Approval Bill Passes U.S. House of Representatives

Press Release

Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed Congressman Kevin Cramer's bill to authorize the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, passed on a bipartisan majority with 238 Republicans and 28 Democrats voting in favor.

"This is day 2,303 of this process, and it is time to build this pipeline now. It's time because it's good for job creation, for the environment, for national security, for economic security, and it is good because 62.8% labor force participation is the lowest since 1978, and this project creates jobs. For these reasons, not only do majorities in the United States House and Senate support it, but the vast majority of the people of the United States support it," Cramer said.

With a total capacity of 830,000 barrels per day, Keystone XL will accept 100,000 barrels per day of Bakken crude oil and provide approximately 40,000 jobs. The project has now waited 2,303 days for its required Presidential Permit. Cramer's bill authorizes the construction, connection, operation, and maintenance of the pipeline, deeming the Secretary of State's January 2014 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and all other federal agency consultation or review. In addition, the bill:

Allows for any previous Federal permit or authorization issued for the pipeline and cross-border facilities to remain in effect;

Provides that except for review in the Supreme Court, any Federal legal challenge to solely be subject to review by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia; and

Leaves unaltered any Federal, State, local, or private property process that is necessary to secure access to construct the pipeline and cross-border facilities.

Earlier today, the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled to uphold the route of the Keystone XL pipeline.

"Today, another major objection to Keystone XL construction was removed," added Cramer. "While I disagreed with this particular objection, and my bill to approve construction did not interfere with any state's jurisdiction, it was certainly a major issue raised to me this week by my friends across the aisle. To those who remained skeptical because of their concerns about Nebraska, we honor your decision to wait until this important ruling was made. Welcome to the family."

Source