Press Releases

Washington, D.C. (January 9, 2015) – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline with a bipartisan vote of 266-153.  The bill would put an end to the lengthy and unnecessary delay of the project that has gone on for over six years. Congressional Western Caucus Chairman Cynthia Lummis (WY-At Large) and Chairman Emeritus Steve Pearce (NM-02) along with Western Caucus member and bill sponsor Kevin Cramer (ND-At Large) released the following statements in response to the passage of the bill:

“The Keystone XL pipeline has met all the requirements this administration has demanded and more and once the new Republican Senate passes the bill, the buck will stop at the White House,” said Chairman Lummis.  “This vote, this bill, and building the pipeline is a real no-brainer.  It would mean stronger energy security for the nation, a boost for local economies, and a positive, lasting economic ripple effect throughout the country.  President Obama will need to suspend his anti-economic growth agenda for one moment, listen to his own State Department, and get this pipeline constructed.”

“The American people have entrusted this new Congress with creating a prosperous economy,” said Chairman Emeritus Pearce. “The unnecessary stalling by President Obama over this project is costing Americans good paying jobs every day and is a good example of the inaction that the American people are fed up with.

This bill will provide shovel ready jobs for Americans and will increase American energy independence while strengthening our national security. The President has used a Nebraska Supreme Court case as an excuse to prevent this critical jobs measure. This morning the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the route of the pipeline, effectively eroding the President’s last excuse. I urge the President to put politics aside and listen to the majority of Americans by approving this commonsense piece of legislation.”

“This is day 2,303 of this process, and it is time to build this pipeline now,” said Congressman Cramer. “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.”