Washington, DC- Rep. Pete Olson (R-Sugar Land) today issued the following statement in response to the White House rejecting TransCanada’s application for a permit to build and operate the Keystone XL pipeline:

"The President continues his “we can’t wait” campaign slogan while American workers suffer through record unemployment. But it's the President who is making America wait for approval of this pipeline. Today's announcement is nothing more than another election year stunt to delay making the tough decisions required of a real leader.

"The President's own Council on Jobs and Competitiveness recommended moving forward on projects like this because it understands the importance of reducing our reliance on Middle East oil, creating 20,000 direct jobs and strengthening our energy security.

"The argument for delay due to a need for further study is false and merely an excuse to avoid offending a base constituency in an election year. The State Department has stated that the Keystone XL pipeline is the preferred option. The time has come for the President's focus to be on the 20,000 new jobs he could help create, not the one he wants to keep."

###

Media Contact: Melissa Kelly
202-225-5951