Hearing to convene at 9:30 a.m.

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee issued the following statement as the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, chaired by Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ), convened a hearing focusing on U.S. energy security:

“U.S. energy security is a matter of U.S. national security and American jobs.  We must work to reduce our reliance on energy imports from the countries of the OPEC cartel; doing so would make the U.S. less vulnerable to political and security-related disruptions of our energy supply.  Subcommittee Chairman Salmon deserves great credit for convening this hearing on the vital topic of energy security and U.S. energy partnerships with Canada and Mexico.   

“A pending energy project of paramount importance is the far-too-long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline, which would create an estimated 200,000 American jobs if ever approved by the Obama Administration.  The President and Secretary Kerry have no credible reason to wait any longer to approve Keystone.”

Note:  Today’s hearing, entitled “U.S. Energy Security: Enhancing Partnerships with Mexico and Canada,” will begin at 9:30 a.m.  Watch live webcast HERE. 

Last month, 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.