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Congressman Rick Berg today released the following statement following the announcement that President Obama will reject the permit for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, in turn blocking the creation of thousands of American jobs.

“By rejecting the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, President Obama has once again put politics over getting Americans back to work,” Berg stated. “The Keystone XL project would create thousands of jobs, strengthen North Dakota’s energy sector, and help break our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.  Yet by blocking the pipeline’s construction, the Obama administration continues to stand as a roadblock to expanding domestic energy production and creating the jobs our nation desperately needs.  In North Dakota, we have seen the benefits of a long-term energy plan that encourages investment in our state’s natural resources and energy infrastructure.  Rather than playing into election year politics, the President should take a page out of North Dakota’s book and work toward common sense policies that would grow our energy sector, help make America energy independent, and create good American jobs.”

Berg noted that he will continue working in the House to move the Keystone XL approval forward and is exploring legislative proposals to remove the President’s permitting approval authority and transfer it to another jurisdiction’s control. North Dakota Senator John Hoeven is also working in the Senate on proposals to move forward the project.

The Keystone XL pipeline extension would help increase America’s access to safe and secure energy supplies. The project would have more than doubled the current pipeline’s capacity, bringing more than 1.2 million barrels per day into U.S. markets and creating more than 100,000 American jobs—many of which could be seen in North Dakota, with Bakken Field crude oil expected to account for approximately 25 percent of the pipeline’s expanded capacity.