Senator Collins' Statement On Senate Passage Of Keystone XL Pipeline

Washington, D.C. – In a 62-36 vote, and with the support of Senator Susan Collins, the U.S. Senate has approved the job-creating Keystone XL Pipeline with strong bipartisan support.
 
Included within the bill is Senator Collins’ bipartisan amendment which passed unanimously to help make schools more energy efficient. The amendment, cosponsored by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), will coordinate information about existing federal programs and financial assistance that is available for schools to develop and finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects.
 
In response to Senate passage of the Keystone XL Pipeline, Senator Collins released the following statement:
 
“We must develop reasonable policies to advance the goal of energy independence for our nation, help ensure access to safe, reliable, and affordable energy solutions for American families and businesses, and work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“Since the time TransCanada’s application for a permit was filed more than six years ago, the environmental reviews and studies have been completed, and it is past time for the President to approve this project. I would much rather see our nation receive and refine the oil from our ally Canada than from unstable nations in the Middle East. Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will help to grow our nation’s economy and advance the long-standing goal of American energy independence. By further reducing our nation’s reliance on oil from unstable regions of the world, the pipeline, constructed at the highest standards, will benefit our national security.
 
“The pipeline will also create thousands of jobs in the United States and Canada, both in building the pipeline and refining the crude oil. These new employment opportunities are one reason many labor unions have voiced their support of the project.
 
“I hope the House of Representatives will agree to retain my bipartisan amendment so that schools will have improved access to the resources available to help increase energy efficiency and cut energy costs. With the savings from this increased efficiency, more of our school’s financial resources can be dedicated where they should be – in the classroom helping students learn.”
 
To watch Senator Collins speaking from the Senate Floor this week about her bipartisan amendment, click HERE.
 
For a downloadable video file of Senator Collins’ speech, click HERE.

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