API urges Obama to work with Congress on U.S. jobs from the Keystone XL pipeline

WASHINGTON, November 14, 2014 ─ API President and CEO Jack Gerard commended the strong bipartisan House passage of H.R. 5682 to approve the final leg of the Keystone XL pipeline and urged the president to demonstrate his concern for U.S. job creation by approving the final bill.

“The strong, bipartisan support for the Keystone XL pipeline demonstrates lawmakers from both parties in the House, as well as the Senate, are listening to the American people,” said Gerard. “A vote for KXL tells Americans their jobs matter, their futures matter and that our nation’s energy and national security are a clear priority.

“Mr. President, do not outsource the 42,000 American jobs this pipeline represents, to move Canadian and U.S. energy resources from North Dakota and Montana, to U.S. refineries on the Gulf Coast.

“Voters overwhelmingly told Washington it’s time to get things done. The House today passed a job-creating infrastructure bill that aligns with the president’s own jobs plan, and the Senate will almost certainly pass an identical bill next week. Five affirmative reviews from the State Department, and strong majority support among voters of every party, give the president a glide path to an easy yes on KXL.

“Americans are embracing our domestic energy renaissance but they can't fully benefit from it unless there is a robust infrastructure system to transport the fuels they demand. The president said he heard the voters last week. If he did, American workers and consumers could have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.”

API represents all segments of America’s oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 600 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation’s energy. The industry also supports 9.8 million U.S. jobs and 8 percent of the U.S. economy.