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Today 44 groups, including business, labor, and consumer organizations, joined together in urging Secretary of State John Kerry to end the delays blocking construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, finish the National Interest Determination process, and grant final approval on the presidential permit. The letter explains that the State Department’s latest excuse for shelving the project – a pending court decision in Nebraska – is unwarranted, stating, “The issue of our national interest will not be affected or changed by the outcome of the Nebraska decision. The Keystone XL Pipeline has been studied longer than any pipeline project in U.S. history.”

We are now at 2118 days and counting since the application to build the jobs and energy infrastructure project was first submitted to the department in 2008. There is no question that this monumental, shovel-ready project is in the national interest. The State Department’s own analysis shows the project will support tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic growth without significant impact to the environment. Many communities throughout the Midwest are depending on this project to revive their economies. American workers and consumers have been waiting long enough. It’s time to say #Yes2Energy. It’s #TimeToBuild.

Industry groups are pressing Secretary of State John Kerry to resume and complete the final review of the Keystone XL oil pipeline that his department halted earlier this year.

In a letter sent Tuesday, 44 industry groups asked to meet with Kerry to discuss the pipeline and answer any questions he might have about the $5.4 billion project.

"The Keystone XL Pipeline has been studied longer than any pipeline project in U.S. history," states the letter signed by the American Petroleum Institute and National Association of Manufacturers, among other groups.

"We write today to request the State Department immediately complete the Keystone XL Pipeline National Interest Determination (NID) process and grant the final approval on the presidential cross-border permit," the letter adds.

The department had 14 days left in its national interest review of the pipeline, but stopped the clock in April to better understand ongoing litigation in Nebraska, which has placed a section of Keystone's route in question.

Environmentalists, ranchers and farmers in Nebraska challenged the route of the pipeline, claiming it puts their livelihoods and communities at risk.

In the letter, the industry groups argue that multiple environmental impact statements by State have found that the pipeline is safe and would not drastically contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

"The issue of our national interest will not be affected or changed by the outcome of the Nebraska decision," the letter states.

But with the latest delay in State's review, it is unlikely that President Obama will make a decision on the fate of the pipeline before early 2015.