ICYMI: Western Senators Fight Back Against Biden’s Day-One Actions Killing American Energy Jobs

U.S. SENATE— A broad group of senators from rural, western states led by Senator Daines immediately took action to reverse President Biden’s day one anti-energy actions. Together they announced legislation to authorize the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and a Senate resolution calling on President Joe Biden to submit the Paris Climate Agreement to the U.S. Senate for advice and consent as required by the Constitution before re-joining the treaty.

The legislation reversing course on Biden’s Keystone XL Pipeline is being championed by Senators Daines (Mont.), Crapo (Idaho), Risch (Idaho), Barrasso (Wyo.), Marshall (Kan.), Moran (Kan.), Inhofe (Okla.), and Hoeven (N.D.): 

“It’s only day one, and with the stroke of a pen, Biden has already taken steps to kill American energy projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline which is critical to energy producing states like Montana,” Daines said. “This project will create thousands of jobs, generate tax revenue for local communities, promote North American energy security and independence, and it is the safest and most environmentally friendly way to transport oil. We must do all that we can to ensure construction moves forward.”

“President Biden’s executive order will rob both American and Canadian workers of good-paying jobs,” said Barrasso. “Currently, one thousand union workers are busy constructing the Keystone XL pipeline. When completed, the pipeline will ship oil from the Canadian and Bakken oil fields to American refineries along the Gulf Coast and across the Midwest. President Biden’s actions will not end our need for oil from our strongest ally, Canada. Instead, it will cost jobs, result in more shipments of oil by rail and make America even more vulnerable to OPEC and foreign adversaries, like Russia.” 

“We came so far during the last administration – from prioritizing American energy development to ending the far-left’s war on fossil fuels. The Keystone XL pipeline would create thousands of jobs in Oklahoma and throughout the nation and President Biden’s disappointing choice today to revoke this permit will harm the nation’s tremendous progress toward energy independence. I am sad to see this decision to continue the failed Obama-era legacy of denying tens of thousands of Americans good, well-paying jobs at the expense of satisfying liberal, “Green New Deal” inspired interest groups. It is a sad day for the future of American energy independence, but I will not stop fighting for legislation and other policies that keep energy costs down and further our energy and national security,” stated Inhofe.

“The focus of the new administration must be on restoring our economy to pre-COVID levels and ensuring Americans can put food on the table. Instead, President Biden has revoked the Keystone XL pipeline, a move that will drive up the price of gas at the pump, cost thousands of jobs, crush our energy industry and put our country back on a path to dependence on foreign oil. Over the years, the Keystone XL pipeline has undergone extensive environmental and safety studies that have been verified, tested, and approved by both the courts and independent groups. Instead of firing American workers through government decree, the Biden Administration should take steps to grow our economy and continue down the path of American energy independence and economic recovery,” Marshall said.  

Several other western senators are expected to sign on.

The resolution striking back against Biden’s Paris Climate Agreement action is being championed by Western Senators Daines (Mont.), Crapo (Idaho), Barrasso (Wyo.), Lummis (Wyo.), Moran (Kan.) and Marshall (Kan.): 

“The Paris Agreement is a poorly negotiated, fatally flawed treaty that represents a bad deal for American families everywhere, especially in Montana,” Daines stated. “Rejoining this agreement places our country at a competitive disadvantage and will lead to higher energy prices for Montana families and job loss in a time when rural economies are devastated, all for minimal benefit. At the very least, I urge President Biden to do what the Obama administration refused to do and submit the Paris Agreement to the Senate for consideration as required under the Constitution.”

“A return to the Paris climate agreement will raise Americans’ energy costs and won’t solve climate change,” said Barrasso. “Under the agreement, the Biden administration will set unworkable targets for the United States while China and Russia can continue with business as usual.  It will result in spiking electricity bills and higher prices at the pump. These are additional burdens during a particularly tough time for Americans and for every small business. It hurts America’s competitiveness and gives a free pass to our adversaries. The Paris climate agreement is based on the backward idea that the United States is a culprit here, when in reality the United States is the leading driver of climate solutions.”

“While the Paris Climate Accord does nothing to hold accountable the biggest polluters in the world, it does tie an albatross around the necks of American businesses and brings critical energy innovation to a halt. It is a grave mistake to saddle American businesses with regulations that hurt productivity at home, but fail to hold China accountable for the massive amounts of pollution it manufactures. I urge the Biden Administration to reconsider their decision to hastily rejoin this agreement and examine the impact it will have on families and businesses not only in my home state of Wyoming, but throughout the entire United States,” said Lummis.

“The Paris Agreement is a bad deal for America and a bad deal for Kansas. The deal will kill jobs and raise the price of energy, hurting Americans when many are struggling to stay on their feet. It will punish American energy providers with expensive regulations, dole out U.S. taxpayer money to foreign countries, and let China off the hook for their role as the world’s largest polluter. President Biden should submit this deal to the Senate to fulfill its constitutional role to advise and consent. American’s should always have a say in the international treaties signed by their leaders,” said Marshall.

Several other western senators are expected to sign on.