Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, applauded House of Representatives passage of H.R. 5682, legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which has been blocked for more than six years by the Obama Administration.

Chairman Royce said: “Today, the House has shown strong support for the Keystone XL pipeline.  This project will create jobs and lower costs for Americans. At some point, President Obama has to realize that his blockade of the Keystone XL pipeline is forcing American consumers to depend on volatile oil-rich regimes and is hurting our diplomatic relationship with our top trading partner – Canada.  Canada’s abundant natural resources will be put to use; the question is who will benefit – American consumers or our economic competitors?  U.S. refineries are cleaner, too.  After the State Department released its report demonstrating that the pipeline’s construction and operation is environmentally safe, President Obama lost his major argument against Keystone XL. Unfortunately, the President has not been moved by the facts.”

Note: Last year, Chairman Royce, joined by all 24 other Republican Committee Members called on President Obama to approve the Keystone XL project after Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman endorsed it.  Their letter is available HERE.  
Also, the Committee convened a hearing focused on the Keystone XL pipeline last year.  Information about this hearing, including Chairman Royce's opening statement, is available HERE.
 

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