Pipeline. 29 democrats joined 241 republicans in voting in favor. It now heads to the president but the white house has repeatedly said it will be vetoed. Members debated the bill for a little over an hour. 1 the keystone x. L. Pipeline act. S. 1 passed the senate by a bipartisan vote of 6236. This bill is based on h. R. 3 which last month the house passed by a bipartisan vote of 266153. S. 1 does not change any of the house provisions regarding the keystone x. L. Pipeline. So here we are again on the floor with a bill that has been approved on a bipartisan basis three times in the last four months. Its time for the president to approve the Keystone Pipeline. His own administration found the pipeline would have minimal impact on the environment. Congress has shown that theres republican and democratic support for the pipeline and the last remaining excuse for delay, pending litigation in nebraska, has been resolved. I hope the president reconsiders his veto threat on this bill. I think he should sign this bill because we all agree we need to invest in our nations infrastructure and pipelines are critical to the economy. Americas Pipeline Network is immense. 2. 6 million miles of pipe, transporting Natural Gas Oil and other hazardous materials. Pipelines transport more Energy Product than any other mode of transportation in this country. Keystone will be a critical addition to the Pipeline Network, increasing our nations supply of oil and enhancing our Energy Independence. This project will create goodpaying american jobs. As the president has stated, first class infrastructure attracts first class jobs. Indeed, six unions representing over three million workers support this project. Including the United Association of plumbers and pipe fitters, the International Union of operatinging engineers the labors International Union of north america, the International Brotherhood of electrical workers, the building and Construction Trade and the teamsters. Its simply time to move forward on this probably. So i urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for s. 1 and i urge the president to sign this bill and allow infrastructure to be built in this country. With that, madam speaker, i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from pennsylvania reserves. The gentleman from oregon is recognized. Mr. Defazio i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore without objection. Mr. Defazio for anyone watching this debate for the 11th time, who isnt familiar with the substantive reasons to oppose this legislation, i would refer them to my earlier remarks numerous times on the floor of the house. Because in the interest of time im not going to repeat them. I am going to say that i am pleased that this is actually a big step forward for the other side of the aisle in the house. Because there are two critical changes that the senate made which go to, you know, a raging debate on the republican side of the aisle here in the house. And that is whether or not Climate Change is real or a hoax. So by voting for this bill today, you are going to endorse language saying that Climate Change is real and not a hoax. I think thats tremendous progress for the republican side of the aisle, who i expect will be supporting this bill, to accept the reality of Climate Change and im thrilled that thats in there and their votes will be reflected in the record as endorsing that language. Secondly, the other one of the other substantive issues weve raised numerous times is that this Foreign Corporation will not, because of a bizarre ruling by the Internal Revenue service, will not be paying into the trust fund which goes to mitigate pipeline spills and breaks and cleanups. The Oil Spill Liability trust fund. And we have offered that as a motion to recommit numerous times here on the floor thinking it would be a reasonable thing to level the Playing Field between u. S. Producers shipping oil and Canadian Companies shipping oil, which is going to be exported from the United States perhaps after its refined. And so, again, this will be a shift on the republican side of the aisle because you will be voting for language that says congress should approve a bill to ensure that all forms of oil are subject to the per barrel excise tax associated with the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. Which would be i think the first time the republican side has endorsed any sort well, no, there was the tax increase for inland waterway users buried in that bill in deals. But this will be the second time ics he have voted to increase a tax and im really thrilled to see that and the fact that we will be writing that in equity and the republicans will be endorsing something weve offered numerous times on the floor. The third thing which really isnt an improvement, is some senators stuck in language saying that when this Foreign Corporation takes american citizens private property against their will they have to follow the constitution. Well, unfortunately because of the decision which we did try nam of years ago to clarify try a number of years ago to clarify and overturn, the Supreme Court in its wisdom has ruled that you can yield the right for Economic Development purposes to a private entity to take peoples private property. We are going one step or you are going one step further here by actually giving that authority to a Foreign Corporation. As far as i know the first time in the history of the United States that a Foreign Corporation will have the right to take private property from an american citizen against their will. So that isnt an improvement, just saying follow the constitution. But the other two are great. Climate change ex exist exist, youre endorsing that by voting for this bill, and we should increase taxes and impose taxes on the tar stands oil, again i think a big breakthrow for the other Tar Sands Oil, again, i think a big breakthrough for the other side. I will not be voting for the bill. These things will be, you know, worthy of noting. With that i would am i reserving . Im now asking unanimous consent that the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Pallone, be allowed to control my time in addition to the time controlled by the committee on energy and commerce. Good luck. The speaker pro tempore without objection. The gentleman from new jersey reserves and the gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. Mr. Shuster madam speaker i now yield two minutes to the gentleman from california, the chairman of the subcommittee on railroads, pipelines and hazardous materials, mr. Denham. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from california is recognized for two minutes. Mr. Denham thank you. I rise in support of senate bill 1 the keystone x. L. Pipeline which passed bipartisan not only in the house it was 266 votes but also bipartisan in the senate with 62 votes. As chairman shuster noted, this is a jobs bill that will create jobs, enhance our energy innocence and strengthen our National Independence and strengthen our national economy. This pipeline will transport over 800,000 barrels of oil per day. Thats according to the department of energy. It also will help create goodpaying jobs, over 40,000 jobs according to the state department. We held a hearing in our subcommittee last week regarding the need for more transportation and transportation and infrastructure for energy projects. One witness testified we will need 12,000 to 15000 miles of new pipeline over the next five to 10 years. Keystone x. L. Is just one of those new projects. This is the most studied pipeline in our history. Theres no reason to continue to stall this project. This is a safe project. America has 2. 6 million miles of pipeline, providing extremely safe way to transport Energy Products. The Keystone Pipeline will be built as the safest pipeline ever with 95 special mitigation measures, including nearly 60 recommended by the department of transportation. The most extensively studied and vetted pipeline project in the history of our country and finally as amended in the senate this bill will make important strides toward Greater Energy efficiency. In conclusion, the keystone x. L. Has been under review for over six years now. And debated and voted on in the house and Senate Numerous times. We need these jobs. We need this energy. We need it now. I yield back. The chair the gentleman yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania reserves, the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. I yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone were voting once again to grant approval to keystone x. L. This is the fifth time were voting on helping this Canadian Company since the republicans took control of the house. Each Energy Related decision we make can have longterm consequencers in environment, our economy and national security. The president has made clear hell veto this legislation so we should stop wasting our time on it. The senate added many provisions to this version of the keystone bill, some of the provisions on Energy Efficiency are provisions i and many of my colleagues can support and have supported in the past. Those provisions should be considered separately preferly as standalone bills in the house and senate. They should not be held hots taj by another doomed key stobe approval bill and they in no way come close to offsetting the arm that would be caused by congress deeming the Keystone Pipeline approve wesmed dont need this canadian Tar Sands Oil. Oil prices are at their lowest level in five years and gas prices are down too. Last week e. P. A. Noted low oil prices means aprufle of the Keystone Pipeline could be a critical factor in the economic viability of canadian tar sands expansion. Tar sands are among dirtiest and p most carbon intensive of all fossil fuels. It will create a dependence on tar sands fuel, reducing the Carbon Pollution reduceing the fight against Carbon Pollution. If this pipeline spills like ambridge pipeline in michigan, the heavy tar sands that flow on the ground, into our groundwaters and surface waters will be harder to clean up than regular oil. Unfortunately if there is such a spill, it will be cleaned up at u. S. Taxpayer expense and the polluter wont have to pay. Why is that . Because tar sands are not considered crude oil for purposes of contributing to the Oil Spill Liability trust fund. Now we have repeatedly pointed out this egregious and unjustified loophole to the majority and weve repeatedly received assurances it would be addressed. Yet it has still not been addressed. In fact, three times in this chamber alone we have offered amendments to solve this problem. But the republican majority voted each one of them down. Now theres a new sense of the Senate Language that was put into the bill by the senate that promises further action on this issue but its no substitute for real legislation to protect the american taxpayer from the financial consequences of tar sands spills. Make no mistake this language this sense of congress or sense of the senate, does nothing to change the equation and end the Tar Sands Oil subsidy. Recently, the president stood in this chamber and noted that 21st century businesses need 21st century infrastructure. He said that we should, and i quote, set our sights higher than a single oil pipeline. Yet here we are again voting on that single oil pipeline. Its my hope, madam speaker that were nearing the end of this long cycle of futile votes to grant special treatment to this single pipeline and its my hope that sooner rather than later we can get back to trying to find agreement on a modern Energy Policy, one that is sustainable one that helps the u. S. Economy and one that moves us forward, not backward, in the fight against Climate Change. In the meantime, i urge my colleagues once again to vote no on this bill and i reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey reserves. The gentleman from pennsylvania is recognized. It is my pleasure to yield one minute to the gentlelady from california, ms. Walters. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady is recognized for one minute. Ms. Walters ms. Walters six years later, the Keystone Pipeline is still await ig aprufle. What does construction of the Keystone Pipeline mean for our nation . Over 40,000 jobs, Energy Security and increased economic growth. Mrs. Walters furthermore the state Department Found that construction of the Keystone Pipeline would pose little environmental risk. In fact, there would be greater environmental and safety risk from not building the pipeline. Despite the obvious benefits and bipartisan support, the president has continued to block keystones approval. Now he threatens to veto the bill effectively kill thinking entire keystone program. After sixplus years, the president has run out of excuses. Its clear that the construction of the Keystone Pipeline is in our nations best interests and we cannot afford to delay any longer. Madam speaker, i yield back the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentlelady yields back. The gentleman from pennsylvania reserves. The gentleman from new jersey is recognized. Mr. Pallone thank you, madam speaker. I want i yield myself such time as i may consume. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman is recognized. Mr. Pallone i wanted to reference again this provision in the bill that the senate put in the senate bill contains a provision boldly stating that, quote, Climate Change is real and not a hoax. I couldnt agree more with that but lets be clear, the Senate Republican majority in the same breath rejected another amendment stating that Climate Change is caused by human activity. And the senators who voted against those amendments are out of step with the American People include manage republicans. In a recent poll an overwhelming majority of americans, including almost half of republicans, stated support for Government Action to fight Climate Change and disagreed with those who question that Climate Change is caused by human activity. Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have become fond of saying they are not scientists and i think that we can generally agree that thats true, even though they admit theyre not scientists, it doesnt stop them questioning the science. Im not a scientist either but when actual scientists speak and say theres an overwhelming body of evidence that manmade Climate Change is real and happening now, i listen to the actual scientists and saying that you are not a scientist in my opinion is just a way of dodging the facts. When i go home to new jersey, my district is probably more impacted by Superstorm Sandy than any other district, i dont see any disagreement between democrats and republicans in my district. It doesnt matter whether theyre state legislators or county legislators mayors, i have almost as Many Republican mayors and councilmen and women as i do democrats but all of them agree that Climate Change is real and caused by human activity because theyre listening to the scientists. And they understand that science is important and that we should Pay Attention to it system of in any event, the sense of the Senate Language affirming that Climate Change is not a hoax does not fict any does not fix any of the problems with the bill before us and it doesnt mean that voting yes will help us in the vote against Climate Change. Voting yes will move us backward in that fight because one of the Major Concerns i have and opponents have of keystone is because it will exploit tar sands, it will actually increase Greenhouse Gases significantly. And its very possible that without the pipeline, that those tar sands will simply not be exploited. I will reserve the balance of my time. The speaker pro tempore the gentleman from new jersey reserves, the gentleman from pennsylvania. I yield one minute to the gentleman fro