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Terry: “Our nation of builders needs these jobs.”

Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today released the following statement after his legislation, The Northern Route Approval Act (H.R. 3) passed the U.S. House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote of 241-175-1:

“When the President went to a manufacturing facility to promote his executive order designed to expedite the federal permitting process; he highlighted how significant delays hamper job creation.  

“So it’s timely the House today passed my legislation to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. Congress wouldn’t have acted without all of the bureaucratic tricks and delays holding back this important project.

“It’s been over 1,700 days since the initial permits were filed. That’s longer than it took the Greatest Generation to win WWII and longer than it took Lewis and Clark to walk the Louisiana Purchase and back.

“If signed into law, it’s estimated that my legislation will create up to 20,000 new jobs directly related to the construction of the Keystone Pipeline and another 120,000 indirect jobs will be created for companies like the one the President visited last week.

“I came to Congress because I want to make America energy independent with an all-of-the-above energy strategy and end our dependence on oil from OPEC nations whose interests aren’t always our interests.  This bill strengthens the relationship with our country’s largest trading partner who I believe much rather do business with America rather than with the Chinese.

“It’s taken five years and 15,000 pages of environmental reviews to get to this point.  Despite all of the delays, the President’s own State Department has said that there are no significant impacts to the environment for this project.

“Some say that my legislation can’t become law because it won’t pass the Senate. But earlier this year, the Senate voted with a filibuster-proof majority urging the construction of this important infrastructure project.

“Senator Reid should listen to the 70 percent of Americans who want cheaper gas prices; energy independence; and, the jobs that will be created when my legislation is signed into law and immediately consider this bill for an up-or-down vote.

“Our nation of builders needs these jobs. I thank my colleagues for their support today because it’s time to build the Keystone XL Pipeline.”