Commentary

Center for Biological Diversity: Congressional Approval of Keystone XL Sets Up Obama’s Veto


WASHINGTON—(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015.   The U.S. House of Representatives voted today to force approval of the disastrous Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, sending it to President Obama’s desk for an expected veto. The House and Senate currently don’t have enough votes to override a veto, putting the decision squarely in the hands of the president.

“Now that this political theater is over in Congress, it’s time for President Obama to finally do what’s right for people, wildlife and the climate: reject Keystone XL once and for all,” said Valerie Love with the Center for Biological Diversity.

In recent months President Obama has outlined the risks of the project and negligible benefits, and administration officials said he would veto a bill in Congress to force the pipeline to be built. Last week the Environmental Protection Agency highlighted significant climate impacts of the project and the development of tar sands oil.

“There’s been a massive swell of opposition to Keystone XL from people coast to coast who understand the devastation of Keystone XL and projects like it,” Love said. “It’s time to start tackling the climate crisis and get us off our fossil fuel addiction. Rejecting Keystone XL is the right place to start.”

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 800,000 members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Source: www.biologicaldiversity.org


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