McCollum Votes against GOP Bill Exempting Keystone XL Pipeline from Environmental Review

Washington, DC – Today, House Republicans passed legislation (H.R. 5682) exempting the TransCanada Corporation, a Canadian company, from federal permitting requirements to build the Keystone XL pipeline across the U.S. from Canada to the Gulf Coast. The Republican bill exempts the proposed Keystone XL pipeline from environmental review and from paying into the federal Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.

The Keystone XL pipeline would bisect the U.S. from North Dakota to Texas, moving 830,000 barrels of Alberta tar sands oil each day. Presently, the State Department is conducting a review of the project in consultation with federal agencies. However, H.R. 5682 would waive further critical environmental protection reviews.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) issued the following statement following her vote against H.R. 5682:

“The Keystone XL pipeline would have a profound environmental impact on this country. There is a federal process in place to review the project and understand the environmental costs and risks to the American people. That process needs to be completed. For this Congress to pass legislation granting such unique and special exemptions to a foreign company is remarkably irresponsible. I urge my colleagues to allow the Obama administration to finish its review and not try to force its hand by cutting a special deal for this Canadian project.”

Congresswoman Betty McCollum serves on the House Appropriations Committee.

She is Democratic Co-Chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus.