Jun 10, 2021

Moran, Marshall want to expose job loss from cancellation of Keystone Pipeline

Posted Jun 10, 2021 7:04 PM

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran, Roger Marshall and 9 of their Senate Republican colleagues introduced the Defending Keystone Jobs Act, which would require the Department of Labor to submit a report to Congress on the number of jobs lost as a direct or indirect result of the Biden administration’s move to cancel construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, according to a media release from Moran's office.

This project was expected to provide approximately 11,000 direct high-paying jobs and up to 60,000 indirect and direct jobs, generate tax revenue, increase renewable-energy demand, reduce emissions and strengthen North American energy independence. 

On Wednesday, the sponsor of the pipeline said it's pulling the plug on the contentious project after Canadian officials failed to persuade the Biden administration to reverse its cancellation of the company's permit. Calgary-based TC Energy said Wednesday it would work with government agencies “to ensure a safe termination of and exit from” the partially built project. 

“Canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline has cost our country thousands of good-paying jobs and made us more dependent on foreign countries to supply our domestic energy needs,” said Sen. Moran. “The Biden Administration must reverse this policy, especially in light of its decision to waive sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline, and reprioritize the needs of American workers and energy consumers.”

“The Keystone XL pipeline would have strengthened U.S. energy independence while supporting thousands of high-paying jobs in the U.S. and Canada. It’s hard to square why the administration canceled its construction, yet waived sanctions on Russia’s malign pipeline project,” said Sen. Risch. “Reinstating the Keystone project to invest in U.S. energy security and job creation is just common sense. Why is it bad for the U.S. to have access to natural gas, but it’s ok for Russia?”

Background:

·         On his first day in office, President Biden issued an executive order revoking the permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

·         Following this executive order, Sen. Moran introduced legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline with seven of his Senate Republican colleagues.