Washington (January 24, 2017) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, released the following statement after President Trump signed new executive orders to move forward with the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines. 

“President Trump’s executive actions to advance the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines are confirmation of his ‘oil above all’ energy agenda. President Trump says that he wants an ‘America First’ energy plan, but moving forward with these pipelines is all about putting Big Oil first.

“The Keystone XL pipeline would ask America to bear all of the environmental risk without actually guaranteeing that the oil would stay here to bolster our energy security. The Keystone pipeline would be a straw running through America to transport the dirtiest oil in the world to the thirstiest foreign markets. That is a bad deal for America, for our consumers and for the planet. President Obama was right to reject this pipeline. The Dakota Access pipeline would worsen climate change, violate tribal treaty rights and has the potential to cause more damage to sacred tribal land.

“President Trump is assembling a cabinet of Big Oil All-Stars. His foreign policy, energy policy and environmental policy are all linked by one thing – oil. I will continue to fight against these pipelines that would worsen climate change and put the interests of the oil industry ahead of the American people.”

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