Dear Members of Congress:
On behalf of the members of National Taxpayers Union (NTU), I write in support of H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. This legislation would clear the way for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, bringing with it tens of thousands of much-needed jobs over time, and supporting thousands of other jobs in many sectors, according to the Canadian Energy Research Institute. The pipeline would also have the potential to deliver an additional 500,000 barrels of oil a day from Canada, our largest and most stable trading partner, injecting our economy with billions of dollars in additional activity.
A January 2014 report from the State Department detailed that “construction contracts, materials, and support purchased in the U.S. would total approximately $3.1 billion,” with another $233 million that would be spent on construction camps for workers, altogether adding $3.4 billion to our GDP. The ongoing anemic economic recovery and stagnant wages make the Keystone XL pipeline project all the more urgent.
The pipeline has repeatedly cleared environmental and regulatory hurdles. The same State Department report echoed previous assessments, raising no significant red flags that should hinder the construction of Keystone XL. Further, the report pointed out that other transmission methods of oil from Canada’s oil sands could potentially create greater environmental risks. One alternative, moving the crude oil by train, posed a threat of increased likelihood of spills as well as a greater potential for “injuries and fatalities.”
Common ground is difficult to find. We should not run from opportunities to safely bolster our energy-supply options in a bipartisan manner. Canada’s oil resources are going to be harvested and exported—whether to the United States or to competitors like China.
NTU urges Members to embrace the partnership of one of our greatest allies and to bring this vital economic lifeline to fruition. NTU is pleased to endorse the Keystone XL Pipeline Act; our members urge all Representatives to co-sponsor this legislation and work toward its enactment.
Sincerely,
Nan SwiftFederal Affairs Manager