Walden backs Keystone bill, urges Obama to sign it

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., cheered House passage Wednesday of a bipartisan bill that he said would “increase American energy security and grow jobs by authorizing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. “

The bill passed the Senate with strong support two weeks ago, and it is now on its way to the president—who has threatened a veto.

Walden called on President Obama to drop his veto threat and sign this bipartisan jobs bill.

“Now, more than ever, we must increase our energy security and grow jobs in America,” he said. “After years of delay, it’s time for the president to finally allow the Keystone XL jobs and infrastructure project to go forward.

“It has been over six years since the application for the pipeline was submitted to the State Department, which has already conducted five reviews, encompassing over 22,000 pages.

“The final review concluded that the project would not increase carbon emissions and that construction would support approximately 42,000 jobs. These are real jobs in real communities that will help move America’s economy forward,” Walden said.

“I’m pleased that bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate have now acted to send this common-sense energy bill to the President’s desk. He should drop his veto threat so we can strengthen America’s energy security and create good-paying jobs,” he added.

The Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S. 1) would immediately authorize the construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline. The application for the pipeline was first submitted to the U.S. State Department on September 19, 2008.

In its latest and final environmental review, released on January 31, 2014, the State Department confirmed that construction of the pipeline would support approximately 42,100 jobs.

Walden has strongly supported construction of this pipeline as part of an “all of the above” energy strategy to promote energy independence and grow the economy.