Sen. Joni Ernst Urges President to Sign Keystone Pipeline Jobs Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congress will send President Obama the Keystone XL Pipeline Act (S.1), a jobs and infrastructure bill authorizing construction of a cross-border pipeline to transport oil from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), an original cosponsor to the bipartisan legislation, released the following statement:

“I urge President Obama to reconsider his previous veto threat and work with Congress on this bipartisan effort to enact the Keystone XL Pipeline jobs bill into law,” said Senator Ernst. “This commonsense legislation would help create thousands of new jobs, grow our economy and provide important energy infrastructure developments to move our country forward. The president has a major opportunity to show willingness to work alongside this new Congress and support this important jobs and infrastructure bill.”

President Obama has 10 days to decide whether he will sign the bill or veto it.

About The Keystone XL Pipeline Act:

• The cross-border pipeline will carry 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada to U.S. refineries along the Gulf Coast.
• According to the U.S. State Department, oil will be transported safely with minimal impact to the environment, and cause no disruption to the development of Canadian oil sands. This project contains strong protections and will comply with federal, state and local authorities.
• The Keystone XL Pipeline sets up basic energy infrastructure for future needs and is necessary to the progress of our country.
• Construction of the pipeline will stimulate the American economy through the creation of 42,000 new construction jobs and add an estimated $3.4 billion to GDP.
• This project has been under review for over six years and encountered numerous unnecessary delays by the Obama administration.
• There is broad-based support behind construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and AFL-CIO.
• On February 11, the House of Representatives passed the Keystone XL Pipeline Act with bipartisan support by a vote of 270 to 152.
• On January 29, the Senate passed the Keystone XL Pipeline Act with bipartisan support by a vote of 62 to 36.

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