Sen. Carper Statement on Keystone Vote

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) released the following statement after voting to override the President’s veto of legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

“The American voters sent Congress a very clear message in the fall elections – put partisan politics aside and work together to get things done. It was in this spirit that I voted to approve the Keystone legislation during the lame duck session last year, and then again in the new Congress this year. It is in this same spirit that I voted in favor of the veto override today. It is time we move past the gridlock this issue has caused and come together to approve bipartisan, comprehensive energy legislation that will have a greater impact on our environment, our economy, and our energy security.

“I have long advocated for an all-of-the-above energy policy, and I have also championed common-sense measures to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, improve air quality and stem the tide of climate change. When we debated the Keystone legislation earlier this year, I offered thoughtful amendments that I believed could gain bipartisan support and achieve some of our long-term energy goals. While these proposals were not included in the final bill, I hope that my Republican colleagues saw my efforts and support for Senate passage as a signal that I am serious about working together to find common ground on this and other challenging policies. We have a prime opportunity to work together to enact the thoughtful, comprehensive energy policy that our nation badly needs and with some willingness and hard work, I know we can find a principled, bipartisan compromise.

“We’ve recently seen hopeful signs that bipartisanship is possible in both chambers of Congress. Faced with the possibility of a shutdown at the Department of Homeland Security, the Senate passed legislation supported by both Republicans and Democrats to keep the department up and running through the end of the fiscal year. While the spirt of bipartisanship took a bit longer to take hold in the House, Speaker Boehner, to his credit, allowed the Senate passed funding measure to come up for a vote and it, too, was approved overwhelmingly with votes from Republicans and Democrats. This is how our government can and should work and it’s what the American people expect and deserve.”

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