03.04.15

Hoeven Statement on Vote to Override the President's Veto of the Keystone XL Approval Bill

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today issued the following statement in response to the Senate vote to override President Obama’s veto of the Keystone XL pipeline approval bill.

“Today the U.S. Senate cast 62 votes to override the president’s veto of our bipartisan Keystone XL pipeline approval legislation, but we needed a supermajority of 67.

“The Senate action on Keystone comes as we are locked in a battle with OPEC to see who will supply energy to the United States. It also comes just a day after the Prime Minister of Israel cautioned us about Iran’s relentless effort to develop a nuclear weapon in one of the most volatile regions of the world, and the president himself is asking Congress for an Authorization to Use Military Force in the Middle East to combat ISIS.

“That’s why we have worked hard to make it clear that the Keystone XL pipeline project is not only about energy, jobs and economic growth, but also about national security through energy security. This project will help us source more energy from the United States and Canada, and less from foreign sources like the Middle East and Venezuela, which detained four North Dakota missionaries last week on the spurious charge of a visa violation. A solid domestic energy plan and infrastructure like the Keystone XL will help prevent any hostile nation from holding us hostage because of oil.

“At this point, we will continue to press for approval of the Keystone XL pipeline by attaching a similar measure to another must-pass bill, perhaps an energy, transportation or appropriations bill.”

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