Bill Text: MI HR0136 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Enrolled
Bill Title: A resolution to memorialize the President and the United States Congress to support the continued and increased importation of oil derived from Canadian oil sands and to urge the United States Secretary of State to approve the TransCanada Keystone Coast Expansion pipeline project.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 18-1)
Status: (Passed) 2011-10-18 - Adopted [HR0136 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-HR0136-Enrolled.html
Reps. Nesbitt, McBroom, Foster, Franz, Gilbert, Callton, Glardon, Agema, Haveman, Genetski, Constan, Heise, Horn, Knollenberg, Kowall, Kurtz, MacMaster, Rogers and Shaughnessy offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 136.
A resolution to memorialize the President and the United States Congress to support the continued and increased importation of oil derived from Canadian oil sands and to urge the United States Secretary of State to approve the TransCanada Keystone Coast Expansion pipeline project.
Whereas, Despite efforts to increase the use of renewable energy, the United States is still many years away from ending its dependence on nonrenewable resources. In order to fuel our economy, the United States will need more oil and natural gas; and
Whereas, The United States is the largest consumer of oil in the world. More than half the oil we consume is imported from countries in volatile regions of the world. This dependence on foreign oil has created difficult geopolitical relationships with damaging consequences for our national security; and
Whereas, Canada, our friendly neighbor to the north, contains vast oil reserves, second in size only to those in Saudi Arabia. Most of these reserves are contained in oil sands located in the western Canadian province of Alberta. Oil sands account for more than half of Canada's total oil output, and oil sands production is predicted to increase significantly; and
Whereas, Growing oil sands production in Canada has the potential to substantially reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. Canada is already the largest supplier of oil to the United States. Expanded production from Alberta’s oil sands offers the potential for this proportion to increase; and
Whereas, Canadians and Americans share the closest energy relationship in the world. Energy infrastructure, including oil and gas pipeline networks and electricity grids, is tightly integrated between our two countries; and
Whereas, Increasing U.S. imports of Canadian oil will lead to the expansion of oil refineries and pipelines, providing growing investments in the U.S. and more American jobs. Oil companies are investing huge sums to upgrade and expand refineries to make gasoline and other refined products from oil derived from Canadian oil sands. Thousands of construction jobs would be created in the Midwest as a result of this investment; and
Whereas, The money that America uses to buy Canadian oil will likely end up being spent on American goods and services. This contrasts with money sent to purchase oil from other regions of the world, which may be used to further anti-democratic agendas; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the President and the United States Congress to support the continued and increased importation of oil derived from Canadian oil sands, and we urge the U.S. Secretary of State to approve the TransCanada Keystone Coast Expansion pipeline project that has been awaiting a presidential permit since 2008 to reduce dependence on unstable governments, improve our national security, and strengthen ties with an important ally; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Office of the President of the United States, the U.S. Secretary of State, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.
