WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today continued her support for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, voting in favor of a proposal to speed up approval of the pipeline.

"When it comes to the Keystone pipeline, it's not a matter of if it's going to be built-it's a matter of when, and where," said McCaskill, who recently praised the decision by TransCanada Corp. to construct of the southern leg of the pipeline. "Moving forward with the pipeline means good jobs for American workers. Missouri families getting squeezed by higher gas prices deserve to know that we're doing everything possible to strengthen America's energy security. That's why I'm fighting to get this project back on track as soon as possible." 

McCaskill voted to support an amendment offered by Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.), which would sidestep the need for presidential approval of the pipeline's construction, and would instead allow Congress to approve the project. McCaskill also supported an amendment offered by Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) which would also have sped up the process for the approval of the pipeline and ensured that all oil transported by the pipeline would remain in the U.S. for domestic use. Both amendments failed to get the 60 votes necessary for approval.

A recent editorial in the Missourian newspaper in Washington, Mo., applauded McCaskill's work to reduce the price of fuel for Missouri families, saying she "isn't afraid to butt heads with her party and with President Barack Obama in backing her beliefs and what's good for her constituents... Of special note is that Sen. McCaskill spent the month of January visiting Missouri towns to hear from energy producers and consumers on how to keep energy prices affordable. She listened and acted on what is best for Missourians and the country."

McCaskill is urging specific actions be taken to combat rising gas prices:

• McCaskill called for the Federal Trade Commission to quickly complete an investigation she requested into whether gas prices are being kept artificially high by oil refineries.
• Citing provocative actions by the government of Iran that are driving up energy prices for American consumers, McCaskill has urged President Obama to release oil from the United States Strategic Petroleum Reserve.
• McCaskill praised the decision by TransCanada Corporation to construct the southern leg of its proposed Keystone XL oil pipeline, calling the move "good news for American jobs," and a good step toward reducing our reliance on oil imported from nations hostile to the U.S.
• McCaskill supports construction of the Keystone XL pipelines, and also supports the planned Flanagan South Pipeline in Missouri.

McCaskill also recently released a fact-sheet to distinguish fact from fiction in the debate over rising fuel prices (available on her website, HERE).

###