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Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined by all 24 other Republican Committee Members, last night urged President Obama to finally end his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline following Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman’s recent endorsement.

If approved, the energy infrastructure project would create an estimated 20,000 jobs directly, and 200,000 indirectly.  In addition to boosting to the U.S. economy, the project would advance U.S. national security.

In a letter to the President, Royce and the other Members wrote: “By providing secure access to petroleum from Canada, we would reduce our reliance on energy imports from countries in the OPEC cartel. The U.S. would be less vulnerable to political and security-related disruptions of our energy supply.  Further hesitation in approving Keystone XL would not only ensure higher economic costs, but enhance the fortunes of economic rivals, as Chinese state-owned oil companies and others race to secure permanent access to North American energy sources. Last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao himself raised the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Harper, demonstrating the extraordinary importance Beijing places upon the economic and geostrategic opportunities the Keystone XL delay has created for it and other countries.”

The signed letter is available HERE.

The text of the letter follows:

February 6, 2013

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to request that you end your opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline by allowing its long-delayed approval process to be finalized.

When you intervened in January of last year to stop the nearly completed approval process, you emphasized the potential negative environmental impact of the pipeline’s proposed route in Nebraska. These concerns have now been addressed. As you know, Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman once opposed the pipeline’s route on environmental grounds. However, on January 22, 2013, Governor Heineman sent you and Secretary of State Clinton a letter officially informing you of his approval of the new proposed pipeline route. Therefore, we see no remaining argument for refusing to move forward on this very important energy project.

If approved, the positive impact on our economy would be felt almost immediately.  Keystone XL would create an estimated 20,000 new jobs directly, and 200,000 indirectly, at a time when millions of hard-pressed Americans remain unable to find work. These jobs would be located not only in the states through which the pipeline would be laid, but throughout the entire United States, providing a much needed boost to our economy.

Keystone XL would also advance our national security. By providing secure access to petroleum from Canada, we would reduce our reliance on energy imports from countries in the OPEC cartel. The U.S. would be less vulnerable to political and security-related disruptions of our energy supply.

Further hesitation in approving Keystone XL would not only ensure higher economic costs, but enhance the fortunes of economic rivals, as Chinese state-owned oil companies and others race to secure permanent access to North American energy sources. Last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao himself raised the issue with Canadian Prime Minister Harper, demonstrating the extraordinary importance Beijing places upon the economic and geostrategic opportunities the Keystone XL delay has created for it and other countries.

Canadian authorities eager to develop these valuable resources will move ahead, with or without United States participation. In fact, our ally to the north has openly stated that it has already begun to shift its long-term planning for energy exports away from the U.S. and toward Asia. The long-term damage to our economic well-being that the Keystone XL delay is risking will be long-lasting and potentially enormous.

When you visited Cushing, Oklahoma on March 22, 2012, a region that would benefit greatly from this delayed project, you stated:

“I don’t want the energy jobs of tomorrow going to other countries. I want them here in the United States of America. And that’s what an all-of-the-above strategy is all about. That’s how we break our dependence on foreign oil.”

We agree. Mr. President, all reasonable objections to the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline have been addressed. Our economy can no longer be put on hold while the bureaucratic process you set in motion jeopardizes this critical project. You can guarantee Americans the jobs they deserve, and prevent our national security from being undermined, with a simple stroke of the pen. We urge you to do so now.

Sincerely,

Edward R. Royce
Chairman

Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Member of Congress

Steve Chabot
Member of Congress

Michael T. McCaul
Member of Congress

Ted Poe
Member of Congress

Matt Salmon
Member of Congress

Tom Marino
Member of Congress

Jeff Duncan
Member of Congress

Adam Kinzinger
Member of Congress

Mo Brooks
Member of Congress

Tom Cotton
Member of Congress

Paul Cook
Member of Congress

George Holding
Member of Congress

Randy K. Weber Sr.
Member of Congress

Scott Perry
Member of Congress

Steve Stockman
Member of Congress

Ron DeSantis
Member of Congress

Trey Radel
Member of Congress

Trey Radel
Member of Congress

Mark Meadows
Member of Congress

Ted S. Yoho
Member of Congress

Luke Messer
Member of Congress

Joe Wilson
Member of Congress

Dana Rohrabacher
Member of Congress

Christopher H. Smith
Member of Congress

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