The Keystone XL Pipeline Act (H.R. 3) authorizes construction and operation of the Keystone XL pipeline to carry crude oil from the tar sand fields near Alberta, Canada, through the United States to refinery destinations on the Gulf Coast. Authority to build the northern half of the pipeline, including cross-border facilities, still needs to be approved by the State Department.

The Keystone bill passed the House on Jan. 9 by vote of 266-153, and was sent to the Senate. However, the Senate also has its own bill on the matter (S.1) and is debating it now. This bill is likely to pass the Senate before the end of this month. Both chambers will then have to decide to accept one of the bills, or go to a conference committee to resolve their differences before President Obama can either sign or veto it.

The American Legion’s long-held support for this legislation stems from resolutions passed by our voting membership. These legislative mandates are based primarily upon two areas of Legion concern: To enhance national security and to provide jobs and economic opportunity to America’s veterans and their families.

In the interest of national security The American Legion wants our nation to have less reliance on foreign sources of oil. This pipeline should help us gain further energy independence and will also enhance our security by reducing the flow of money to OPEC countries who may support agents in the war on terrorism with their oil money.

In addition, the war on terrorism and continuing conflicts in the Middle East have prompted a re-evaluation of America’s heavy reliance on foreign oil our government’s long-range energy policies. That reasoning is all in the general sense of the Legion’s support for our country to strive for energy independence.

President Obama has blocked construction of the pipeline’s northern section. This decision hampers efforts to expand growth of our domestic supply of oil and those from our friend, trading partner, and ally, Canada. Thus, this bill should help reduce our reliance on those foreign sources of energy mentioned above.

It should be noted this oil from Canada is being extracted now and is primarily transported by rail, a more expensive transportation mode. Thus, the pipeline will provide a cheaper means of transportation to oil refineries and, more importantly, this oil will be refined by U.S. workers. The Legion will continue to focus on energy issues that matter greatly over the long term to our members and the public at large.

The American Legion’s second concern is jobs. By supporting this legislation, the Legion enhances our nation’s economic strength and national security, and supports more jobs and economic opportunities for veterans and their families. The proposed pipeline will create temporary well-paying construction jobs, indirectly create additional jobs to support that construction, and will provide permanent jobs for maintaining the pipeline.

The political reality is this: Canadian oil is being produced and extracted now; the only question is “Where will it end up being refined?” Building the Keystone pipeline can guarantee the answer will be “The United States.”

Sincerely,

Dean Stoline, Deputy DirectorAmerican Legion Legislative Division