Friday, November 14, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Today’s vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Keystone XL Pipeline (H.R. 5682) once again divided the region’s representatives along party lines, with the two area Republicans favoring the project and the sole Democrat opposing it.
The legislation passed the House by a vote of 253 to 161. It essentially circumvents the White House by authorizing TransCanada Corp. to proceed on its $8 billion project without the approval of the Obama administration. It now goes before the U.S. Senate, where approval is in doubt, and the White House has indicated that if it reaches President Obama’s desk, he may veto it.
Congressmen Tim Ryan and Bill Johnson issued separate statements explaining their votes. At this posting, Mike Kelly has not released a statement. Earlier Friday his press office circulated video of his remarks Thursday on the House floor (CLICK HERE)
Ryan is a Democrat who represents Ohio’s 13th District; Johnson is a Republican representing Ohio’s 6th District; and Kelly is a Republican representing Pennsylvania’s 3rd District. Each represents a portion of Mahoning, Trumbull and Columbiana counties in Ohio and Mercer County in Pennsylvania.
Ryan said he voted against the Keystone XL Pipeline because of “significant concerns with the environmental, safety, economic and trade issues associated with this proposed project.”
Johnson said he voted for the pipeline because of the “tens of thousands of jobs” it’s estimated to create and “one environmental impact study after another [that] has determined that construction of the pipeline poses little risk to the environment.”
Said Ryan, “The Keystone Pipeline will carry up to 830,000 barrels of Canadian tar sands oil across the United States to the Gulf Coast to be refined and sold to the global market. The Canadian economy and TransCanada Corp. will see almost all the benefits, while the United States takes on all the risk. Tar sands oil is the dirtiest, most toxic and environmentally dangerous fossil fuel in the world. The existing portion of the pipeline has already suffered 12 spills in its first 12 months of operation, more spills than any other first year pipeline in American history. There is no doubt it is poisoning American lands and aquifers.
“Furthermore, over fifty percent of the steel being used is produced by foreign companies. The Keystone Pipeline is not going to lower gas prices and it will not create jobs in Ohio. This legislation, in particular, includes a regulatory loophole that exempts TransCanada Corp. from any oil spill clean-up efforts or costs – putting the burden solely on the backs of the American tax-payer. After careful review I do not believe that the creation of this Keystone Pipeline is in the best interest of the people of Ohio or our nation.
“If we want to reinvigorate American Manufacturing then we must focus on shifting to cleaner, alternative energies and increasing our Liquefied Natural Gas exports to our allies around the world.”
Said Johnson: “It has been over 6 years since the application for the Keystone pipeline was first submitted to the State Department for review. Despite the strong opposition to this project from some of President Obama’s strongest allies on the extreme left, one environmental impact study after another has determined that construction of the pipeline poses little risk to the environment.
“Today marks the ninth time the House has passed legislation to begin the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, and the tens of thousands of jobs its estimated that this important project will create. The Senate has been reluctant to approve the previous eight bills, but many believe they will now ready to take action and approve this legislation – sending it directly to President Obama’s desk for approval. I’m hopeful the president will listen to the majority of the American people and sign this job-creating measure, demonstrating that he is willing to put partisan politics aside and do what’s in the American people’s best interests.”
CLICK HERE to watch Kelly’s remarks Thursday on the House floor.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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