Keystone XL Pipeline Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHER. I thank the Senator from North Dakota for his comments.

Mr. President, I, too, come to the floor to speak on the great
improvements to our economy due to energy production.

The American oil and gas surge has created jobs across this country
and renewed investments in infrastructure, transforming many unlikely
States and cities into energy hubs for fuel production.

Over the past 5 years alone the United States has increased our
domestic supply of oil and gas by 50 percent. In an amazing turnaround
the United States is now on track to overtake Saudi Arabia as the
world's top oil producer, resulting in the creation of thousands of
American jobs and greater savings for consumers.

The natural gas industry has also grown tremendously and in the
United States has become one of the world's No. 1 producers.

Across this great Nation we are fortunate to have a diverse portfolio
of energy resources, including coal, nuclear, hydroelectric, natural
gas, and multiple renewable energy resources such as ethanol, wind, and
solar. These resources can be used to improve the lives of all
Americans.

American consumers are now blessed with multiple options to obtain
the affordable, reliable energy that is being produced in an
environmentally responsible manner, but in order to maintain and grow
our domestic energy security we need to have policies that support that
goal.

Unfortunately, President Obama has given only lip service to an ``all
of the above'' energy strategy while pushing a counteragenda that has
restricted domestic production and energy choices. That costs Americans
billions of dollars.

Meanwhile, the EPA is taking this anti-American energy agenda to a
new level with proposals that jeopardize the affordability and
reliability of electricity for all Americans.

The EPA's proposed rule for existing powerplants would force the
premature retirement of efficient, low-cost coal-fueled generation,
leading to the potential loss of billions of dollars of investments
made over the past decade to make coal plants cleaner.

These proposals would make it nearly impossible for the United
States--which possesses the world's largest reserves of coal--to
continue to utilize this affordable and abundant energy source.
Nebraska's families and businesses, which depend on coal-fired
generation for nearly two-thirds of their electric needs, are going to
be disproportionately penalized under this plan.

Under this administration the Federal Government has quashed energy
projects by slow-walking, politicizing, and rejecting routine permits
to build energy infrastructure such as the Keystone Pipeline. This
important project has the clear capacity to grow our economy and
maintain our energy security.

On this floor we have heard many comments during this debate about
the Nebraska Legislature and what was done with regard to the Keystone
Pipeline. Let me set the record straight. I was in the Nebraska
Legislature at that time. In fact, the proposed pipeline route crosses
my former legislative district.

By the way, I am a cattle rancher. I live in the Nebraska Sandhills
and I live over the Ogalalla Aquifer. The legislation was not coerced
and the Nebraska Legislature was certainly not confused, as some of my
colleagues on the other side have implied.

The Nebraska Legislature is a very open and public process. Every
bill--every single bill that is introduced--has a public hearing, and
our citizens are welcome and encouraged to come to those public
hearings to express their opinions before legislative committees.

We also have three stages of debate. We have three stages of debate
on every single bill before that final vote.

The Nebraska Legislature made decisions dealing with the pipeline
siting within our borders.

The bill passed on a 44-to-5 vote. I would also mention that the
entire Nebraska congressional delegation--which does include a
Democratic Congressman from the Second Congressional District who also
served in the Nebraska Legislature--is united in our support for this
bill. Last week this bill was called an opening gambit or spin by some
of my colleagues.

For the vast majority of Nebraskans, this is about certainty.
Nebraskans want a decision made. This has been going on for 6 years. It
is time for the President to make a decision.

I am also working on some commonsense amendments to improve the
arduous NEPA approval process and to protect private property energy
production. I am also going to be offering amendments to set
commonsense limitations for Federal land designation.

I am excited about the opportunities we have to pursue policies where
we can champion the productive use of America's energy resources in
this Congress and where we will be able to capitalize on our country's
energy prosperity. I am excited and looking forward to an open
amendment process where we can do our jobs, where we can offer
amendments, where we can debate those amendments, and most importantly where we can vote because that is the only way we are held accountable to our constituents, the American people.

I thank the Presiding Officer, and I yield the floor.

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