Statement on Voting Against the Northern Route Approval Act

Washington, DC (May 22, 2013) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky released the following statement on voting against the Northern Route Approval Act:

"Today I voted against the Northern Route Approval Act — the bill for force through the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline without an adequate national interest determination. This Congress has the power to change our climate for the better, and we should take full advantage of that opportunity. Instead, this bill would commit our country to the dirtiest oil on earth — flowing through the middle of our country — for three decades. It is the wrong choice for America. Republicans need to take their heads out of the tar sands.

"We are already seeing the drastic effects of climate change, with melting ice caps, unprecedented heat waves, and violent storms increasing in number and intensity. We have a choice. We can choose to shift toward cleaner fuel sources that will make our country energy independent, or we can continue to leave American consumers subject to unpredictable oil prices and severe public health and climate impacts."

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