Congressman responds to ‘Pipeline’ column

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Dear Editor:

On Tuesday, January 12th, the Gonzalez Inquirer ran an editorial: “Pipeline Flowing Without Keystone Vote,” that questions my statement that Texas will benefit with good paying jobs from the Keystone Pipeline.  Not only will Texans benefit, the entire nation will as well. It’s something that polls show a large majority of Americans support.

Yes, portions of the pipeline have been built and are pumping oil in places like Cushing, Oklahoma through to Texas. But that does not mean that more jobs will not be created once the full pipeline is approved, built and operated. There are still sections that need to be completed, which means more construction jobs. Once oil starts flowing from Canada (and the Bakken shale in North Dakota) Texas will all see job preservation and creation.  I am confident we will see refinery jobs, transportation safety compliance jobs, heavy oil jobs, shipping jobs, trucking jobs, and the list keeps going.  In fact, Texas refineries that have been processing Venezuelan heavy crude, which is extremely similar to oil from Canadian tar sands, are uniquely suited to grow as a result of Keystone’s completion.

The pipeline also helps secure jobs in the chemical, plastics and other industries that rely on petroleum as a raw material or energy source.  It’s a diversification of sources of energy which is important for national security and in keeping gasoline prices low.

Finally, I could take the editorial’s advice that “the project is dead until there’s a new occupant in the White House” and quit fighting for an issue people care about. That’s not who I am, nor do I believe this is an exercise in futility because the Senate voted 63-32 (only 4 votes shy of enough to override a veto) to proceed with considering the pipeline. I was elected to make a difference for people, and that’s what I intend to do. I will always work on the issues that matter to the constituents I represent; securing our border, fixing our economy, repealing Obamacare, cutting regulation, and getting Texans good paying jobs.

Sincerely,

Congressman Blake Farenthold

Representing Texas’ 27th Congressional District

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