2011 Scorecard Vote
Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) sponsored H.R. 1938, the misnamed North American-Made Energy Security Act, to rush a decision on whether to grant a presidential permit to build the Keystone XL pipeline across six states in order to carry tar sands--the dirtiest oil on the planet--from Canada's boreal forest to an international shipping port in Texas. This pipeline would threaten the environment with far more global warming pollution than conventional crude oil and jeopardize surrounding communities, ecosystems, and watersheds. On July 26, the House passed H.R. 1938 by a vote of 279-147 (House roll call vote 650). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE. On November 10, the Obama administration announced that it intended to conduct additional review and would not make a final decision on the permit until the first quarter of 2013. Republican leaders in Congress subsequently insisted on including language to force a decision within 60 days in H.R. 3765, the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, which the President signed into law on December 23. The Obama administration rejected the permit on January 18, 2012.
pro-environment position