Question of the Week: Keystone XL

These questions are culled from phone calls, letters, faxes and e-mails sent to Rep. Gallegly's Camarillo, Solvang, and Washington offices. Each week Rep. Gallegly adds another question and answer. Please add your comments.

January 27, 2012

Question: President Obama denied a permit for TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL oil pipeline. Do you support this decision?

Answer: I disagree with the President’s decision to deny a permit for the Keystone XL oil pipeline. This pipeline would create tens of thousands of American jobs, while adding a new source of reliable oil from a stable, friendly ally: Canada.

The President was given the authority to block this project only if he believes it would not be in the U.S.’s national interest. However, I strongly believe it is in our national interest to create tens of thousands of jobs here in America with private investment. I also believe it is in our national interest to get energy resources from an ally like Canada as opposed to countries in the Middle East and South America.

The Keystone XL Pipeline expansion would provide a significant boost to U.S. energy security by bringing an extra 830,000 barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries. In September 2011, the U.S. imported 759,000 barrels of oil a day from Venezuela. The Keystone pipeline would eliminate our need for Venezuelan oil.

The President’s own Jobs Council said energy pipeline projects like Keystone can create hundreds of thousands of American jobs. Construction workers support it. The states along the proposed route support it. And it has bipartisan support here in Congress, yet the President decided to reject it anyway.

The State Department has stalled this project for three years. It is time for it to get a green light to begin construction.

For more information on my positions on economic issues, please see my Key Issue: Economy page.

For previous Questions of the Week chronologically and by topic, please see my Questions of the Week page.