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President Donald Trump has vowed to veto the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline if the bill he backs goes to the Senate, warning that it could be used as a “bridge” between Canada and the United States if the $3 billion project is approved.
The Senate has not taken up the measure, but it is expected to vote next week on a bill that would send billions of dollars to the project that would bring it through Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Trump on Friday urged his fellow Republicans to vote against the bill, warning it could lead to a “dangerous” pipeline.
“I am urging my colleagues to vote NO,” Trump tweeted.
“I will veto the Keystone XL if it passes the Senate.
If not, we will go to war.
We will have to take the pipeline to the Canadian border.
If that fails, then we will have the pipeline built on the Texas border, and that will be a disaster for our country.
If we do not get this thing passed, we may have to go to the border, that would be dangerous.”
Republicans are opposed to the Keystone project because they believe it will lead to more oil exports from the United State.
Trump said he will ask Congress to expedite the project to help keep jobs in the U.S. and make it more competitive with other sources of crude oil.
“The Keystone pipeline is the perfect bridge between Canada, the U of S. and Canada.
If the Senate approves the Keystone pipeline, it will be used to transport oil to the U States, so we can make the case to the world that the Keystone is a great investment,” he wrote in an op-ed for the Washington Post.”
If the Senate does not approve the Keystone, we could be on the verge of war with Canada.
So I will ask my fellow Republicans who support the Keystone to vote YES.”
Democrats have said they will support the measure if it is put to a vote.
“We are proud to support President Trump’s plan to make America more energy independent and export American jobs,” said Democratic National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz in a statement.
“This is a win for American workers and American families.
We must continue to support the pipeline in this critical time.”
In addition to the vote on Keystone, the House will also take up a measure that would allow the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline to begin in North Dakota.
