February 24, 2015 - WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Jeff Denham (R-Turlock) today issued the following statement after President Obama vetoed bipartisan legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline:
“I’m disappointed to see the President ignoring the will of the people and the widespread bipartisan support this bill received in both chambers of Congress. His State Department has estimated that the pipeline will create 42,100 jobs. Their most recent environmental impact statement concludes that not building the pipeline creates greater safety and environmental risks than building, since the necessary oil would be transported through other means if not through the pipeline. And just this week a new study concluded that an estimated 70 percent of the products produced from oil traveling through the pipeline would stay here at home. Clearly, there are vast domestic economic benefits.
“It’s past time to build, and the President’s veto stands in direct contradiction with the priorities of the American people who need jobs more than partisan politics.”
Environmental impact statements issued by the State Department on the Keystone XL project are available here, and IHS Inc.’s new study concerning exports of Keystone XL is available here.
