11.18.14

Hoeven Statement on Keystone XL Approval Vote

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate fell short of passing his Keystone XL approval bill:

“Today, we did not gain the 60 votes necessary in the Senate to pass my bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Even had it passed, however, President Obama has indicated that he intends to veto the bill. I believe we will have the votes to pass the bill in January when a number of new Senators who support my legislation take office and the new Congress begins.

“At that time, I will reintroduce the bill, possibly as part of a broader energy package or appropriations bill that the president will not want to veto.

“The Keystone XL pipeline is in the interest of the American people, who in poll after poll say they believe the project should be approved by a margin of 60 to 70 percent, and they have good reason. It will help us produce more energy, more jobs and more economic activity. It will strengthen our national security by increasing energy security, and it will help us reduce our dependence on the Middle East for oil because we can produce it at home with our closest ally Canada.

“The Keystone XL pipeline will also greatly benefit North Dakota, which now produces more than 1.2 million barrels of oil a day and transports more than 700,000 barrels a day by rail. It will help relieve stress on our railroads and help them better keep up with our agriculture shipments.

“Our nation needs a sound energy plan, and that means we need the infrastructure to move that energy to market, safely and efficiently. Approving the Keystone XL pipeline will take us a step in the right direction.”