Congressman Becerra Votes Against Sweetheart Deal for Foreign Oil Company

Statement

Today, Congressman Xavier Becerra (CA-34), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, voted against legislation (H.R. 5682) that would recklessly expedite construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and assure profits for a foreign oil company at the expense of American consumers and taxpayers:

"It's hard to believe, but H.R. 5682 allows a foreign company to transport foreign oil over American territory, yet there is no guarantee that even a drop of the oil will be available for American consumption. Even worse, this legislation allows this foreign oil company to escape paying into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund that oil companies in America contribute to. So who will likely foot the bill if there is a billion dollar catastrophic breach of this proposed pipeline polluting America's heartland? The American taxpayers.

"American taxpayers have lived through the bailout of Wall Street banks and the handout of billion dollar subsidies to Big Oil. Now they are being asked to swallow a sweetheart deal for a foreign company that wants to ship its foreign oil over American soil to send the oil and its profits to parts unknown while planting the risk of a damaging oil spill on the backs of American taxpayers. Since when is that in America's best interest?

"It's time Congress started focusing on creating good-paying jobs at home instead of carving out more loopholes for special interests."

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