WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the day he was officially sworn into office, Montana Senator Steve Daines helped introduce his first bill in the U.S. Senate. Daines is an original cosponsor of S. 1, legislation to approve construction of the Keystone XL pipeline and the first Senate bill to be introduced in the 114th Congress, which began today.
“Special interests and political games have been standing in the way of the Keystone XL pipeline and the jobs it will create for far too long. That’s why we’re wasting no time in getting to work to approve construction of this job-creating project. My top priority in the Senate is to move commonsense legislation forward to help grow our economy and create Montana jobs. This legislation will do both,” Daines said. “I am disappointed that President Obama and Senate Democrats have chosen once again to play political games with American jobs rather than putting the American people first. We will continue pushing this important legislation forward to grow jobs and secure America’s energy future.”
According to the State Department, the pipeline will support 42,000 jobs during its construction.
Daines has long been a vocal proponent of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would enter the United States through Montana, and spearheaded efforts in the House to approve its construction.
In the House, Daines cosponsored the Northern Route Approval Act, bipartisan legislation that also would permit construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.
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