Metro East Sun

Congressman Rodney Davis (R-IL) praised President Donald Trump's recent executive actions to advance the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access Pipelines.

“For the last eight years, politics have been put before people when it comes to these projects and the jobs they will create,” said Davis. “We have an opportunity to bring back energy and manufacturing jobs that have historically provided a better life for middle class Americans and their families. I look forward to working with the administration to advance an all-of-the-above energy strategy.”

The Keystone XL Pipeline is a roughly 1,100-mile crude oil pipeline that would connect oil production in Alberta, Canada to refineries in the United States. Also about 1,100 miles long, the Dakota Access Pipeline would carry crude oil from the Bakken and Three Forks oil production areas in North Dakota to oil markets in the country.

Davis was joined in supporting the president's actions by the Illinois-based Associated Equipment Distributors (AED).

Brian McGuire, president and CEO of AED, said the Keystone XL Pipeline "will support a substantial number of jobs and significant economic activity with minimal environmental impact."

"The Keystone XL pipeline is critical to jobs, economic growth, and national security, and is indisputably in our national interest and that of Canada, our closest trading partner," added McGuire. "The construction equipment industry is ready to assist in this project and other energy infrastructure efforts across the country."

Environmental groups, such as Greenpeace and the Natural Resources Defense Council, opposed the president's executive orders. A group of Greenpeace activists was even arrested after climbing a crane a few blocks from the White House to display a large "RESIST" banner.

U.S. Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) said he is glad the president "is wasting no time turning the page on eight years of the Obama administration’s failed energy policies.”

“The Keystone XL pipeline will pump 800,000 barrels of oil a day to the United States," said Blunt. "Creating new American jobs and bolstering our energy security."

Vets4Energy, a national organization of American veterans advocating for increased energy independence, also stressed energy security as a reason to support the president's actions.

"The president's action on Keystone XL Pipeline shows that we have a commander in chief who now understands the importance of energy security," said Capt. James McCormick, USA (ret), a bronze and silver star recipient and program director for Vets4Energy. "Developing our energy resources — and investing in the infrastructure necessary to safely transport those resources to market — are vital to America's energy security, and therefore important to our national security."