Keystone XL Pipeline Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3, the
Keystone XL Pipeline Act. While I welcome an open and transparent
debate about whether building this pipeline is in our national
interest, that is not what this legislation is about. Instead, we are
being asked to circumvent the administration's permitting process and
pass legislation that has been rushed to the House floor, without
consideration by any committee or proceeding through regular order.
This is no way to legislate.

The people of Michigan sent me to Congress to fight for our shared
values. And no one knows better than the people of my state the
importance of protecting our natural resources. This legislation puts
those resources at risk by exempting the operators of the pipeline from
paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, which helps the federal
government respond to oil spills. It also waives all the requirements
of the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy
Act, both of which contain critical environmental protections that
cannot be ignored. I simply cannot support legislation which sets these
landmark laws aside.

Congress needs to have a real and thoughtful debate on how we promote
clean energy in the United States. I am ready to have that debate, but
until then, I cannot support flawed legislation that puts our natural
resources at risk.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in opposing H.R. 3.

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