Manufacturers and Unions Agree on Keystone XL It’s Time to Approve Job-Creating Project

Washington, D.C. (July 29, 2013) – The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which represents more than 12 million men and women who make things in the United States, today joined with the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), which represents nearly 500 local union chapters in the United States and Canada, to address recent comments made by President Obama and urge the Administration to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. This unique partnership is a result of the NAM and LIUNA’s strong belief that approval and construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will mean thousands of jobs and economic growth for workers in the United States.

“With unemployment remaining unacceptably high and the Administration seeking to embrace the political power that would come with an American manufacturing renaissance at every opportunity, it is amazing to U.S. manufacturers and labor groups alike that President Obama would be so quick to discount the thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs that the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline would create,” said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons. “In response to the President’s recent claims that only 2,000 jobs would be created with the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, we must respectfully disagree. Facts, not
political expediency, should guide decisions related to Keystone’s approval. Based on estimates provided by numerous experts and the State Department’s own draft Environmental Impact Statement, the evidence does not side with the President’s claims.”

LIUNA President Terry O’Sullivan went on to highlight the numerous indirect economic benefits associated with construction of the pipeline and renew LIUNA’s call for approval of the project.

“The President seems to dismiss the corresponding economic opportunities that would benefit
other laborers, manufacturers, small businesses and communities throughout Keystone’s supply
chain,” said O’Sullivan. “The Washington politics behind the delay of the Keystone XL pipeline
are of little concern to those seeking the dignity of a good, high-paying job. We renew our call to
the President to approve this important, job-creating project without delay.”

While the Administration seeks to highlight efforts to revive manufacturing with a high-profile
presidential address this week, prolonging the decision to approve this vital infrastructure project
appears to be out of sync with the President’s stated objective of job creation.
The first permit application for the Keystone XL pipeline was submitted to the State Department
on September 19, 2008—nearly five years ago. To read the NAM and LIUNA’s 2011 New York
Times letter to the editor on the Keystone XL pipeline, click here.