Coats: Irrational of Administration to Reject Job Creating Keystone Pipeline Project

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) today issued the following statement regarding the president’s decision to deny a permit for construction of the $7 billion, privately-funded Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline is the largest, ready-to-build infrastructure project ready in the United States.

“It is both irrational and disingenuous for an administration that claims its number one priority is jobs to block a project that would put thousands of Americans back to work,” said Coats. “We need results from Washington, not more excuses. The president has had more than enough time to act on this project, but he continues to sacrifice good paying jobs for the sake of appeasing extremist members of the environmental lobby.

“The Keystone XL pipeline has bipartisan support because it will provide jobs for hardworking Americans and reduce our country’s dependence on Middle East oil,” continued Coats. “It’s time for the president to get on board with this common sense plan that has broad support from both parties.”

In December, Coats supported legislation that forced President Obama to make a decision on the Keystone XL pipeline within 60 days or determine that oil trade with Canada is not in the national interest of the United States.

“It is impossible to understand how the president can come to this conclusion when it is clearly in our national interest to reduce the need for foreign oil from volatile regions in the Middle East,” added Coats.

The 1,700 mile pipeline would transport 700,000 barrels of oil per day from Canada to U.S. refineries. The project is estimated to generate approximately 20,000 new jobs directly and support hundreds of thousands of jobs in the coming years. The proposed pipeline represents the largest shovel-ready infrastructure project in the country and it would not require any new government spending. Despite more than three years of analysis by the State Department and the opportunity to create American jobs, President Obama is denying construction from moving forward.

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