Graves Supports Building Keystone Pipeline

House committee passes legislation approving construction

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Congressman Sam Graves (MO-06) says that if President Obama won't act to approve the building of the Keystone XL pipeline, the House of Representatives will. Congressman Graves voted in favor of legislation that was debated in the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee today which would allow for the issuance of all relevant permits necessary for construction of the pipeline. This action was taken after President Obama continued his refusal to make a decision regarding Keystone.

"Only in Washington would a project to create over 42,000 jobs and reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil fail to be approved rapidly," said Congressman Graves. "The State Department has completed an extensive environmental review of the project, concluding that it is the ‘preferred alternative' among all possible options – including not building a pipeline – and that there would be limited environmental impact. It's time to cut the red tape and eliminate roadblocks that prevent its construction. If the President won't act to create jobs and economic opportunity, the House of Representatives will."

Backers of the Keystone project first submitted an application to the State Department nearly four-and-a-half years ago. After registering his concerns about the route the pipeline would take through Nebraska – which have since been satisfactorily addressed and approved in January 2013 by that state's governor – President Obama promised a decision on the pipeline following the 2012 election. Yet, no announcement has been made to this point.

The House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade also held a hearing this morning on the beneficial economic impact building the pipeline would have on small businesses and rural communities, including enhancing our nation's energy security and potentially lowering energy prices for consumers. Congressman Graves is Chairman of the Small Business Committee.

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