Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today on the five-year anniversary of the initial permit application for the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Obama Administration has prolonged its review of the application for far longer than any other cross-border pipeline project.

"As President Obama continues to tout his job creation record, it is clear he is not living in reality. The drop in the unemployment rate is not cause for celebration – the rate is falling because more and more Americans are losing hope when it comes to their job search. In August, more than 300,000 people stopped working or stopped looking for a work, bringing labor force participation to its lowest rate in 35 years.

"For five years, the President has had the opportunity to create jobs for Americans simply by approving the Keystone XL permit application, but he continually refuses to do so. The five-year review has taken more than twice as long as it will take to build the pipeline.

This job-creating, domestic energy-promoting project is supported by an overwhelming majority of Americans, yet the President continues to look for excuses.

"Unemployed Americans with the skills to construct this important project should not be forced to wait any longer. It is time to put Americans to work and provide an opportunity to grow local, state and national economies while taking a vital step toward energy security.”

The original Keystone pipeline already moves crude oil from Steele City, Neb., to the processing facility in Cushing, Okla. The Keystone XL Pipeline would use the existing infrastructure to safely move crude through Kansas. As the ongoing operation of the original Keystone pipeline illustrates, crude oil can be moved safely over long distances.

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