Dear Members of Congress:
On behalf of the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), I write in support of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This legislation would clear the way for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, bringing with it 20,000 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.
The recent jobs report highlighting persistently high unemployment and sluggish hiring prospects makes the Keystone XL pipeline project all the more urgent. And the increase in bipartisan support for the pipeline, demonstrated by the Senate’s recent 62-37 vote in favor of the pipeline, is proof positive that continued stalling on the part of the Administration is out of step with the needs of the American public.
In March, the State Department released the latest draft in a seemingly never-ending string of reviews and analyses of the cumulative impact of the pipeline. The assessment raised no significant red flags that should hinder the construction of Keystone XL, and pointed out that other transmission methods of oil from Canada's oil sands could mean equal or greater environmental risks.
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 Northern Route Approval Act; our members urge all Representatives to co-sponsor this legislation and work toward its enactment.
Sincerely,
Nan SwiftFederal Affairs Manager