Burns calls on Biden to restart construction on Keystone XL Pipeline

Amid oil crisis and rising gas prices, lawmaker says U.S. must not rely on foreign oil

Rep. Frank Burns    March 1, 2022

EBENSBURG, March 1 – With gas prices out of control and oil above $100 per barrel due to the crisis in Europe, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, today is introducing a House Resolution calling on President Biden to immediately restart construction on the Keystone XL Pipeline.

“We live in the greatest nation on this planet, and it is utterly unacceptable that we are reliant on foreign countries, many of whom are adversarial towards our democracy, for natural resources that are available here at home --- but only if we have the political courage to get this job done,” Burns said. “Well, I’m no coward, which is why I am leading an effort to have the PA Legislature demand that Biden reverse his decision on the Keystone XL Pipeline and get that oil flowing to help Americans – and not be reliant a bunch of greedy foreign oil oligarchs who want to hold our economy hostage.”

Before President Biden canceled the pipeline’s construction permits, it was expected that the Keystone XL Pipeline would transport 830,000 barrels of oil per day to the Gulf Coast, which Burns said would help offset the current supply received from Russia.

Burns noted a similar bill was being introduced in the state Senate by Sen. Wayne Langerholc Jr., and, while thanking the senator for working on the issue, called on the House and Senate to quickly move the legislation forward.

“Restarting and completing the Keystone XL Pipeline will start to ease the burden that Pennsylvanians are feeling every day and protect our national energy security going forward,” Burns said. “Time and again history has shown that we cannot rely on foreign countries for the resources we need. It’s time we finally learned that lesson, get this pipeline done, and get America off Russian oil – before it’s too late.”