Have Lawmakers Turned Their Backs on Keystone XL?

WASHINGTON D.C. — On breaking news that a congressional conference report for the transportation bill will not include a provision forcing the approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline, American Energy Alliance President Thomas Pyle issued the following statement:

“House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Leader Harry Reid seem ready to push a major, multi-billion dollar transportation and infrastructure bill through both chambers just in time to meet a deadline this weekend. But nowhere in the package is a provision to finalize approval for the most important infrastructure project currently blocked by the Obama administration — the Keystone XL pipeline. The American people deserve decent roads, and they need the fuel for their cars to drive on those roads. Coupling Keystone XL with the highway bill makes good sense for our economy and our energy future.

“Already, the Obama administration delays have cost the United States more than $15 billion dollars — money that apparently Senator Reid would rather send to overseas oil cartels rather than our closest North American trade ally. Members who support a transportation bill that doesn’t force the Obama adminstration’s hand to approve — once and for all — the TransCanada permit application are taking a Keystone cop-out.”