WASHINGTON, D.C. – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter to House and Senate Conferees who are hammering out a final bill to extend the Payroll Tax Relief for the rest of the year asking them to once again include language to allow the Keystone XL jobs project to move forward.  Rehberg has championed the private sector infrastructure project because it will create thousands of jobs including at least 1,200 in Montana.

“This isn’t a time to sit on the fence and hope this pipeline will build itself,” said Rehberg.  “We need this energy infrastructure and the jobs it will create today.  The President said we couldn’t wait, well, I think he’s right.  What does it tell you when the President and his Senate allies think putting thousands of people to work will hurt their chances for re-election?”

Rehberg’s letter encourages the inclusion of language allowing construction to begin on the Keystone XL Pipeline after more than three years of review.  This allows states like Montana, which have already approved the pipeline, to let the private sector start creating jobs.

Last December, Rehberg added language to the short-term Payroll Tax extension requiring the President to make a decision on the Keystone XL permit within 60 days.  That permit was rejected by the Obama Administration for purely political reasons.  President Obama cited the route in Nebraska as his excuse for rejecting the pipeline but his reasoning did not take into account the legal flexibility provided by Keystone XL Language introduced by Rehberg and signed into law.

“I am extremely disappointed in the President’s decision to reject the Keystone’s federal permit for political reasons,” said Rehberg in his letter.  “I believe the inclusion of language to congressionally approve the permit is absolutely necessary, both to shore up our energy infrastructure and begin creating jobs today.”

The full letter is below:

Dear Chairman Camp and Chairman Baucus,

As you and your fellow conferees negotiate an extension of the payroll tax cut, I strongly urge you to include language that would congressionally approve the federal permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. As you know, members on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Capitol have indicated time and time again that they want construction on the pipeline to move forward – and now is the time to act.

The Keystone XL pipeline project has been under review for more than three years now and will create thousands of jobs around the country, including 1,200 jobs in Montana.  It’s time to let America get to work.

I’ve expressed my disappointment in the President’s decision to reject the Keystone’s federal permit for purely political reasons, and in light of his action, the inclusion of this language to congressionally approve the permit is absolutely necessary – both to shore up our energy infrastructure and begin creating jobs today.

Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,