1Supporting continued and increased development and delivery of
2oil derived from North American oil reserves to American
3refineries and urging the President and Congress of the
4United States to support the continued and increased
5production and use of American natural gas.

6WHEREAS, Oil and natural gas are important components of the
7United States' energy portfolio; and

8WHEREAS, A secure supply of crude oil is needed for this
9nation's economy to thrive without potential threats and supply
10disruptions from unstable world markets; and

11WHEREAS, Volatile crude oil markets have added increasing
12costs to the American economy, hampering the ability of our
13businesses to compete through difficult economic times and
14forcing Americans to pay more and more at the pump; and

15WHEREAS, Increased oil production in Canada's oil sands and
16the Bakken Formation in Saskatchewan, Montana, North Dakota and
17South Dakota can replace crude imports from countries that do
18not share American values; and

19WHEREAS, Canada is a trusted and democratic neighbor with

1rigorous environmental standards; and

2WHEREAS, Our Gulf Coast refining industry processes
3approximately 8.7 million barrels per day, or half of the
4refining capacity in the United States; and

5WHEREAS, In 2011, these refineries of the Gulf Coast imported
6approximately 5 million barrels per day of crude oil from more
7than 30 countries; and

8WHEREAS, Once completed, the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL
9and Gulf Coast Expansion projects could displace roughly 40% of
10the oil our nation currently imports from the Persian Gulf and
11Venezuela; and

12WHEREAS, Pipelines are the safest method by which to
13transport petroleum products when compared to other methods of
14transportation; and

15WHEREAS, The Keystone XL pipeline will replace the equivalent
16of 200 ocean tankers per year and thereby reduce greenhouse gas
17emissions by as much as 19 million tons, or the equivalent of
18taking almost 4 million cars off the road; and

19WHEREAS, The Keystone XL pipeline project has been subject to
20the most thorough public review process of any proposed pipeline
21in the United States and has also been the focus of multiple
22environmental impact statements and several United States
23Department of State studies; and

24WHEREAS, These analyses have concluded that the Keystone XL
25pipeline project poses the least impact to the environment and
26is much safer than other modes of transporting crude oil; and

27WHEREAS, New natural gas production in shale formations
28across the nation offer the United States additional
29opportunities for energy independence; and

30WHEREAS, The President of the United States has recognized

1the importance of clean, domestic natural gas to our economy and
2energy independence and has pledged to eliminate inefficiencies
3in permitting natural gas operations; therefore be it

4RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the
5Commonwealth of Pennsylvania support continued and increased
6development and delivery of oil derived from North American oil
7reserves to American refineries; and be it further

8RESOLVED, That the President and Congress of the United
9States be urged to support the continued and increased
10production and use of American oil derived from the Bakken
11Formation in Saskatchewan, Montana, North Dakota and South
12Dakota, as well as Canadian oil sands; and be it further

13RESOLVED, That the United States Secretary of State be urged
14to approve the newly routed pipeline application from
15TransCanada to increase our energy independence, create new
16jobs, build our economy, reduce fuel costs, improve our national
17security and strengthen ties with our northern neighbor and
18ally; and be it further

19RESOLVED, That the President and Congress of the United
20States be urged to support the continued and increased
21production and use of American natural gas; and be it further

22RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
23the presiding officers of each house of Congress and to each
24member of Congress from Pennsylvania.