What They’ve Said About Keystone XL: Build It!

Mark Green
Posted February 13, 2014

What They’ve Said About Keystone XL: Build It!

It’s hard to overstate the broad-based nature of political support for the Keystone XL pipeline, support that stems from the project’s benefits: upwards of 830,000 barrels a day of oil from Canada’s oil sands and the U.S. Bakken region, 42,100 jobsduring the pipeline’s construction phase, strengthened energy security – with the Keystone XL playing an integral role in a broad strategy that could see 100 percent of U.S. liquid fuel needs met domestically and from Canada.

Keystone XL now has cleared five environmental reviews conducted by the U.S. State Department – the only thing left is President Obama approving the project’s construction because it’s in the U.S. national interest.

Now, about the Keystone XL’s support … let’s review:

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka: “Anything that makes sense and creates jobs and is sound environmental policy as well, we will be doing it. [With respect to] the XL pipeline, there’s no environmental reason that it can’t be done safely while at the same time creating jobs.”

Former Obama National Security Adviser Thomas E. Donilon: “I probably would.” (When asked if he would advise approval of the Keystone XL.)

Former Obama Interior Secretary Ken Salazar: In an interview with the Associated Press, Salazar said that the pipeline could be a “win-win” project that benefits U.S. energy security while boosting conversation efforts in Montana, South Dakota and other affected states.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.): “I urge the administration to act swiftly and give final approval so we can put people to work in these good-paying jobs right away.”

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.): “It just makes sense. First of all, our friendliest nation Canada has oil. They’re going to produce it and they’re going to sell it. And I’d rather buy it from my friends than my enemies. So this is more of a security thing. It’s all about jobs absolutely but the security of our nation is also at risk. A more energy independent nation is going to be a more secure nation.”

Building and Construction Trades Department President Sean McGarvey: “The interstate highway system was a temporary job, Mount Rushmore was a temporary job. If they knew anything about the construction industry they’d understand that we work ourselves out of jobs and we go from job to job to job.”

Gen. Jim Jones, former Obama national security advisor: “The country can’t afford to pass up the opportunity for reliable supply from a close ally and neighbor, which would leave us less vulnerable.”

Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.): “[T]he Keystone XL pipeline will create good-paying American jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil.”

Laborers’ International Union of North America President Terry O’Sullivan: “It’s about jobs; that’s what it’s about.”

Former Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.): “Approving the Keystone Pipeline is the perfect opportunity to put Americans to work right now. American workers cannot afford to wait any longer for Keystone jobs, and there is absolutely no excuse for further delay.”

Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska): “The Keystone XL pipeline will give our economy an added boost by creating thousands of jobs and securing a reliable energy supply close to home.”

Sen. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.): “We cannot afford to wait any longer. Let’s build the Keystone pipeline so we can ensure our future energy security and create jobs here at home.”

Support for the Keystone XL is strong and wide. The American people believe building the pipeline is in the national interest and have supported its construction in poll after poll. After more than five years of review … time to build.

Want to join the thousands who have already voiced their opinion on Keystone XL? Make a comment here.