WASHINGTON
- U.S. Senator Tom Udall
issued the following statement after President Obama vetoed a bill mandating approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline:
"I support the president's veto of the Keystone XL Pipeline bill and will vote to uphold it. It is unprecedented for Congress to mandate a pipeline for a private, foreign corporation. This is a decision that must be made considering critical environmental and foreign policy impacts, not party politics. I believe enough information should be available for such a decision, and I urge the president to now make a final decision.
"I continue to believe that instead of doing things the old way, we should invest in our economic and energy future. I have long called for a ‘do it all, do it right' energy strategy, and I will keep fighting for a comprehensive energy policy that would maximize our energy potential while strengthening our economy and our energy security. Instead of doubling down on foreign oil, we should be talking about how we can invest in energy independence and jobs of the future.
"During the Senate debate on Keystone, I offered an amendment that would set a national Renewable Electricity Standard that would combat global warming while creating hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country. New Mexico and over half the states have wildly successful policies. I was pleased to receive the support of Republican senators from a diverse array of states, and I'll keep building on that support for a comprehensive change that moves our nation forward."
