East Alabamians are feeling the pain as summer approaches and energy prices rise.
With gas at its highest price in months, one might think the Obama Administration would be putting forth solutions to help lower energy prices and create more jobs for cash-strapped Americans. One such solution – building the Keystone XL Pipeline – would accomplish both goals at once.
The Keystone XL Pipeline, which I have long supported, would greatly benefit our struggling economy. The pipeline would bring good-paying jobs to Americans at a time when our economy is stuck in neutral. It would also provide North American energy from Canada, a long-standing ally of the USA, to be refined and sold. The pipeline has broad-based support from both Republicans and Democrats. Even trade unions support it.
The pipeline is actually a bipartisan issue in Washington – most people agree on it.
However, just three weeks ago, the State Department announced an indefinite delay on approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Officials have been studying and delaying this project for five years now.
Once again, they are putting politics before the American people.
Through the use of Executive Action and sheer stubbornness, the Obama Administration refuses to act on the Keystone XL Pipeline; instead, they impose delay after delay.
The American people can’t wait any longer. The House has acted repeatedly to urge officials to build the pipeline. In the Senate, a group of bipartisan Senators are pushing their own legislation to force the construction of this important pipeline. I applaud their efforts, which are further proof that this pipeline is important to the American people.
For far too long, Americans have been forced to rely on foreign sources of energy. With uncertainty in South America and Ukraine, it is becoming clearer that the time to lessen our dependence on foreign energy is now.
It’s past time for the president to act on efforts to create energy independence. The use of Executive Action to circumvent Congress and the will of the American people is unacceptable. Americans need reliable and affordable energy. Most importantly, we need good-paying jobs and fewer regulations. The time to build the Keystone XL Pipeline is now.
Contact me at mike-rogers.house.gov, like me on Facebook at Congressman Mike D. Rogers, follow me on Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram at RepMikeRogersAL and subscribe to my YouTube page at MikeRogersAL03.