Press Releases

Congressman Morgan Griffith (R-VA) today released the following statement on the President’s veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act:

“Though he wants his words to indicate otherwise, President Obama’s actions – today and previously – indicate that he has always been opposed to the Keystone XL pipeline.  Put simply: I believe the President’s decision to veto the Keystone XL pipeline is based on politics, not on science.”

“This pipeline has been thoroughly studied.  The State Department has found the proposed Keystone XL pipeline would not significantly worsen carbon pollution, a consideration supposedly important in the President’s decision making.  Further, other studies have shown that transporting oil and gas through pipelines results in fewer spillage incidents and injuries than does transporting oil and gas by road and rail.  No method of transportation is perfect.  However, trains carrying crude oil have derailed within two hours of Virginia’s Ninth District twice within the last year, sending flames and plumes of smoke into the air on different sides of the Ninth District.”

“A solution to create jobs and energy is to work with our friends in Canada and support the Keystone XL pipeline.  Sadly, it seems that President Obama is not willing to work with Congress to advance this bipartisan, pro-jobs, and pro-energy Keystone XL pipeline, instead using his veto pen to put politics over policy.”

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