WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Scott Peters (CA-52) issued the following statement regarding his vote against H.R. 3 “The Northern Route Approval Act,” which would override permitting requirements for the Keystone XL Pipeline.

“I share the frustration of many Americans who believe that the process for making a decision either way on this project has taken far too long,” Congressman Peters said. “However, that does not mean that Congress should become the permitting agency. This bill reaches beyond the normal permitting process that should be handled by the appropriate federal agencies, which have years of expertise in these fields.”

Rep. Peters continued, “Further, this pipeline itself does not constitute a national energy policy as many have claimed. We must instead be working toward strategies and projects that provide abundant, cheap, and clean energy for generations to come.”