The Michigan Senate Wednesday approved a resolution sponsored by Sen. John Proos calling on the U.S. secretary of state and Congress to approve a new U.S.-Canada pipeline as part of a greater plan to increase Canadian oil importation.
“Southwest Michigan families, job providers and schools continue to struggle with high gas prices. We would like to move toward more sustainable energy sources, but we still have a need for oil,” said Proos, R-St. Joseph. “We must look hard at America’s long- and short-term energy policies because the status quo is hurting our economy and costing us jobs.  My resolution urges the federal government to energize our economy and create jobs by looking to our Canadian friends to help reduce gas prices.”
Senate Resolution 57 encourages the president and Congress to support the continued and increased importation of oil derived from Canadian oil sands. It also urges the U.S. secretary of state to approve the TransCanada Keystone Coast Expansion pipeline project that has been awaiting a presidential permit since 2008. Once completed the pipeline would reduce dependence on unstable governments, improve our national security, and strengthen ties with an important ally.
“Most of the oil America uses comes from unstable Middle East governments that use our dollars for undemocratic, often dangerous purposes — including funding terrorism,” Proos said. “Instead of financially propping up these regimes, we should tap into Canadian sources. Canada has the world’s second-largest oil reserve and approving a pipeline expansion to bring that oil to U.S. markets will lower the price at the pump and also create thousands of American jobs.”
The resolution states that 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 the creation of thousands of construction jobs in the Midwest.
“Michigan is a state with an abundance of skilled tradesmen in need of jobs, which is why I am so excited about the potential of this project to generate up to 100,000 jobs and help put Michigan back to work,” Proos said. “By partnering with Canada to meet our energy needs, we can simultaneously make the world a safer place and support our economy.”
Proos added: “I thank my Senate colleagues for joining with U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton and calling on the administration to put the economic and strategic interests of the Midwest and the entire nation first and supporting increased Canadian oil importation.”