Click to play the complete video
On the heels of President Obama’s speech in Ohio and his weekly address, where he touted the United States making great strides towards energy security, OSFC is releasing the second video of its two part series, which features Democrats and Republicans coming together to tell President Obama how important Keystone XL will be in achieving this goal.
As President Obama said in his remarks:
“One area where we’ve made great progress is American energy, after years of talk about reducing our dependence on foreign oil, we are actually poised to control our own energy future […] Just yesterday, we learned that for the first time since 1995, the United States of America produces more of our own oil here at home than we buy from other countries. First time since 1995. And that’s a big deal. That’s what America has done these past five years.”
As Democrats and Republicans explain in the video, we could be producing even more North American oil if the Keystone XL pipeline is built, which would be even more of “big deal” for our goal of energy security.
Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) points out that energy security is one of the most crucial benefits of the pipeline:
“It just makes sense. First of all, our friendliest nation Canada has oil. They’re going to produce it and they’re going to sell it. And I’d rather buy it from my friends than my enemies. So this is more of a security thing. It’s all about jobs absolutely but the security of our nation is also at risk. A more energy independent nation is going to be a more secure nation.”
Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) highlights the strong “bipartisan effort” emphasizing that the job creation won’t stop once the pipeline is built:
“This is a bipartisan effort by all of us. There’s no question – this is about jobs for America; about jobs that will not only will happen during construction season but throughout the period of time afterwards when it’s refined and utilized in our markets.”
From Democrats to Republicans, from labor groups to the Chamber of Commerce this video shows that support for Keystone XL – and the energy security it would bring – truly transcends political boundaries. Given its manifold benefits it’s no wonder that Americans overwhelmingly say yes to Keystone XL – for the list of reasons to build it, as Senator Landrieu recently put it, are now “as long as the pipeline itself.”
Quotes from Video
Senator John Hoeven (R-ND):
We elect a president to make a decision. We have no decision on the Keystone XL pipeline after five years.
Senator Mark Begich (D-AK):
This is a bipartisan effort by all of us. There’s no question — this is about jobs for America; about jobs that will not only will happen during construction season but throughout the period of time afterwards when its refined and utilized in our markets.
Karen Harbert President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for 21st Century Energy :
“It’s time to close that question mark, say yes to the Keystone pipeline, put America back to work and invite investment into this country, rather than call into question whether you can do business in America.
Sean McGarvey, North America’s Building and Trades Association:
This decision rests in one place with one man and I call on the President of the United States at this time to issue this permit.
Senator Manchin (D-WV):
It just makes sense. First of all our friendliest nation Canada has oil. They’re going to produce it and they’re going to sell it. And I’d rather buy it from my friends than my enemies. So this is more of a security thing. It’s all about jobs absolutely but the security of our nation is also at risk. A more energy independent nation is going to be a more secure nation. I’m proud to be here with both of my colleagues on the Republican and Democrat side — having a common sense approach for a problem that should have been solved many years ago.
Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND):
Unfortunately it doesn’t appear that anyone from the administration has ever gone up to see the oil sands and so I would challenge the administration to go up and see the oil sands Go up and see what’s happening and go up and think about the potential of an energy independent North America.
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