This afternoon President Obama toured the facility and spoke at of Ellicott Dredges in Maryland. During his visit the President spoke about the importance of infrastructure projects. He announced a Presidential Memorandum to modernize infrastructure review and permitting regulations, policies and procedures.

Our nation’s infrastructure is in need of investment and repair. Manufacturers rely on our rails, roads, ports and waterways to deliver billions worth of commodities annually. It is a positive step that President Obama is discussing the need for reforms but we need real action to speed up the review process of many infrastructure projects. The environmental streamlining reforms in the Water Resources Development Act, which passed the Senate this week, are the types of reforms that we would need to see for future projects.

Just yesterday Peter Bowe, President and CEO of Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, testified before the House Small Business Subcommittee on Agriculutre, Energy and Trade about the benefits of Keystone XL.

“So what does the Keystone pipeline have to do with us, and why do we care? For us, it’s all about jobs, not construction jobs for the pipeline itself, but ongoing jobs every year for decades to come, all related to the production of oil from the Alberta oil sands deposits. This oil needs the Keystone pipeline. The oil sands in Alberta are one of the largest markets worldwide for dredging equipment. Our dredges are used to rehandle the tailings generated by the mining process. Tailings are the wet waste which is a combination of clay, sand, and water after the oil- bearing bitumen has been removed. All the oil sands projects generate substantial amounts of tailings which are deposited into ponds. Oil sands producers have been criticized for water usage, but now, thanks to tailings reclamation, they recycle 85% to 90% of water used, and dredges are an integral part of the recycling process.”

Keystone XL will create thousands of jobs and is critical for the competitiveness of companies like Ellicott Dredges. Keystone XL has been pending for more than 5 years, the time has come to approve this important energy and infrastructure project.

Chip Yost is assistant vice president of energy and resources policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

Yesterday the House Committee on Small Business’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade held a hearing on the Keystone XL and Small Business.  This hearing is that most recent in a number of hearings held by the House to talk about the importance of the Keystone XL pipeline project.

There were four witnesses, one of which was Mr. Peter Bowe, an NAM member, the President and CEO of Ellicott Dredge Enterprises, LCC. Ellicott Dredge makes dredging equipment that is used in the processing and the reclamation of tailing ponds at the mining site. President Obama is visiting the Ellicott Dredge facility in Maryland today to discuss infrastructure.

The other witnesses included Mr. Brent Booker, Secretary Treasurer, Building and Construction Trades Department, Department, AFL-CIO, ; Mr. Mat Brainerd, President, Brainerd Chemical Company, Tulsa, OK; and Mr. Christopher Knittel from the Center of Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Peter’s business is a small business with about 200 employees in four locations, Maryland, Wisconsin and Europe. For Peter and the Ellicott Dredge organization, the Keystone XL is critical because it will move oil more quickly and result in additional demand. As oil demand increases so does the demand for his products and will result in $10s of millions of dollars being spend within his supply chain. These are small and large companies located throughout the United States. The ripple effect of spending within his supply chain is substantial and impacts a number of smaller communities throughout the country. (continue reading…)

Today National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Vice President of Energy and Resources Policy Ross Eisenberg testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on the Northern Route Approval Act, H.R. 3. This legislation is sponsored by Rep. Lee Terry which would bring to a close the unnecessarily long and protracted regulatory process for the Keystone XL pipeline, allowing the project to move forward.

The Keystone XL pipeline is a clear job creator and a clear example of Washington hold manufacturing back. Keystone XL has been studied more than any other pipeline according to Eisenberg with the Final EIS concluding the project would have no significant impact and be safer than other domestic pipelines. From Eisenberg’s testimony:

“It bears repeating that Keystone XL has been studied for five years. The average NEPA environmental impact statement (EIS) only takes 3.4. The final EIS produced by the State Department in 2011 was an 8,000-page behemoth spanning eight volumes. It analyzed greenhouse gas emissions, environmental justice, geology and soils, water resources, wetlands, terrestrial vegetation, wildlife, fishery resources, threatened and endangered species, cultural resources, air quality and noise, land use, recreation and visual resources, socioeconomics, cumulative impacts and environmental impacts in Canada. Each area received a thorough, exhaustive analysis; for instance, the sage grouse received 100 pages by itself. The three-year EIS process included numerous public meetings, hundreds of thousands of public and agency comments and publication of a Draft EIS, a Supplemental Draft EIS and the 8,000-page Final EIS. The Final EIS concluded that the project would have no significant impact and would actually be safer than any other typically constructed domestic oil pipeline system.”

Subcommittee member Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) has been a supporter of the project and he said that the project will be part of ourenergy future and that “the due diligence is done.”  Costa added, “I’ve supported various efforts, but I wish we’d develop a more rational way of making decisions.” (continue reading…)

The Energy and Commerce’s Energy and Power Subcommittee held a hearing today on Rep. Lee Terry’s H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act. This legislation would deem all environmental requirements completed and would no longer require the President to sign a permit to approve the pipeline.

This was the subcommittee’s third hearing in the past several years on the Keystone XL project. Those in support of the pipeline emphasized the positive economic impact of the pipeline in terms of jobs, manufactured goods, increased tax revenues and the increased energy security. Those opposing the project emphasized climate change, reducing the carbon footprint, the refining of heavy oil and the ongoing reliance on fossil fuel.

However, there were a few nuggets worth repeating.

Chairman Whitfield noted that that manufactures and businesses have reduced carbon emissions on the environment over that last 20 years.

David Mallino of the Laborers International Union of North America pleaded with subcommittee members to support the legislation and “clear away roadblocks” to this project. Mr. Mallino pointed out that this project will provide opportunities for many different craftsmen, and that this pipeline will be built by union members and would result in millions of man hours. (continue reading…)

Today the Senate is holding votes on a series of amendments to the chamber’s first budget in four years. Several of the amendments on the floor address energy issues. Manufacturers use one-third of the energy consumed in the United States which makes access to affordable energy essential. Regulations and other policies which drive up costs are extremely concerning for manufacturers.

Senator Roy Blunt has filed an amendment that opposes a carbon tax. Last month the NAM released a study by NERA economic consulting that showed a carbon tax could have a devastating impact on our economy and jobs. Placing unilateral restrictions or prices on U.S. GHG emissions, without similar regulations in operation on other major emitting nations, would disadvantage U.S. manufacturers, impact millions of jobs, and result in higher prices for natural gas, electricity, gasoline and other energy commodities.

Senator Inhofe has filed an amendment that would prevent EPA from implementing costly greenhouse gas regulations for power plants, refineries and other industrial facilities.

Senator Barrasso has an amendment that would protect exports from being blocked by unnecessarily broad environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Expanding NEPA to consider the environmental impact of the cargo could hamper exports of many products, such as cars, tractors, agricultural products, electronics, toys, steel, chemicals, pumps, air conditioners, elevators and airplanes.

Also, Senator Hoeven has an amendment on the floor to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. Keystone XL would create tens of thousands of manufacturing and construction jobs and provide manufacturers with an affordable source of energy. We have continued to urge the Administration to approve the pipeline as soon as possible.

The past two days we have seen strong bipartisan efforts from both chambers of Congress to move forward with approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. In a time when you don’t seen much partisan agreement, members from both sides agree that Keystone XL would be good for our economy and energy security.

Just today Congressman Lee Terry introduced legislation in the House that would approve Keystone XL. The legislation has support from House Democrats John Barrow and Jim Matheson who both attended a press conference this morning urging passage. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton said he was aiming to get the bill to the floor of the House by Memorial Day.

Yesterday, Senators Baucus and Hoeven unveiled bi-partisan legislation that would approve the Keystone XL pipeline without any further action required by the President, or the Department of State. Baucus and Hoeven were joined by 12 other Senators in support of their legislation and these Senators were evenly divided between democrats and republicans (Sens. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), David Vitter (R-La.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.).

Most people will tell you that Washington is broken and that they can’t get anything done. Despite the current state of the Senate and House there are issues and areas where Democrats and Republicans want to work together and are reaching across the aisle to do so. This is a good example of members of the House and Senate understanding the importance of this energy project and what it will mean in terms of energy security, economic growth and a better relationship with our Canadian neighbors.

The Canadian oil sands will continue to be mined, refined and exported regardless of what happens to the Keystone XL project. The question has never been if oil will be exported, it has been where will be exported. Keystone XL is about economic growth and having the energy to power the economic growth.

Manufacturers use one-third of the energy consumed in this country and in many instances lower energy costs are allowing us to complete in a global market place in ways that we have not been able to do for years. Oil from Canada allows us to rely less on countries throughout the world that are hostile to America and our way of life.

These members of Congress understand the importance of this project in terms of economics, national security and energy. They are willing to put partisanship aside to do what is best for our country and our economy.

Chip Yost is assistant vice president of energy and resources policy, National Association of Manufacturers.

Tonight’s debate took on a very different format, and a very different tone from the first debate. It was much more combative with the candidates painting very different pictures of their vision for economic recovery and manufacturing growth.

Both President Obama and Governor Romney spoke early and often in support of growing manufacturing jobs in the United States. While it’s good to hear the support, it is incredibly important to implement policies that will not just lead to recovery, but to sustained growth. The candidates spent much of the night discussing the elements that make it 20 percent more expensive to manufacture in the United States—taxes, regulation, energy and trade.

Time and again, the conversation returned to job creation—fundamentally the most significant issue in this election. Manufacturers couldn’t agree more, but we’d like to remind the candidates that it’s also essential that we fill the 600,000 job openings in the manufacturing sector that remain unfilled today because employers can’t find workers with skills that match the jobs.

Energy policy is an immediate pathway to jobs. President Obama spoke about increased oil production and a desire for an “all-of-the-above” energy strategy, but yet again, this debate came and went without the President mentioning the Keystone XL pipeline. Governor Romney had it absolutely right when he told the audience at Hofstra University that we need to “take advantage of energy resources we have and we’ll see manufacturing jobs come back.” Governor Romney advocated in favor of the Keystone XL pipeline again and also spoke of shale gas, a game-changer that would create 1 million manufacturing jobs. The President also supported shale gas efforts, but his endorsement of more federal regulation on shale will handcuff the growth opportunity that it represents.

Special attention was paid to trade tonight—a critical aspect of our economy for manufacturing growth. President Obama deserves credit for signing the Colombia, South Korea and Panama free trade agreements and increasing exports. But manufacturers need more—the United States has a trade surplus with nations with whom we have free trade agreements. Governor Romney is right in the need for expanded trade that will open up markets for manufacturers in the United States and level the playing field around the world.

As the debate repeatedly returned to jobs, tax policy and its impact on economic growth was a focal point. Tonight the candidates doubled down on their position—Governor Romney in his support for bringing down rates across-the-board and President Obama in his support for an increase in the top individual rate. Unfortunately, if the two-thirds of manufacturers who file at the individual rate are hit with the looming tax hike, they will see a continuation of the tough times they’ve experienced over the past four years. With energy and health care costs increasing and the fiscal abyss approaching, manufacturers are getting squeezed on both ends. That’s not a recipe for economic growth.

Getting the nation on track again and putting our fiscal house in order requires addressing the factors that make it 20 percent more expensive to manufacture in the United States. The moment that we put in effect the pro-growth policies that manufacturers are calling for is the moment our true recovery can begin.

Tonight’s debate opened with a focus on jobs. It was a good start and exactly where our focus needs to be.

Manufacturing means jobs. Manufacturing means secure, good-paying jobs that help drive our economy. Governor Romney laid out a strong jobs program built on the fundamental principles of a pro-growth agenda. He correctly noted that tax revenues for the government only go up when people have jobs that allow them to pay taxes in the first place. Sixty-six percent of manufacturers pay taxes at the individual rate, and a tax hike for these job creators will stop job creation in its tracks. Washington policies that include looming tax hikes have resulted in 55 percent of surveyed small businesses and manufacturers saying they would not start a business today. Allowing manufacturers to invest in their businesses and their workforce is the only true path to economic recovery.

Ensuring that the workforce has the proper training and skills is a consistent concern for manufacturers in the U.S. Despite an unemployment rate that has been above 8 percent for the past few years, we still have 600,000 jobs that remain open because manufacturers can’t find workers with the skills to match the jobs. President Obama’s focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education opportunities is a critical aspect of creating the type of workforce that will drive the innovation that will maintain America’s place as the number-one manufacturing nation in the world.

But the spirit of the American dream, of people lifting themselves up through education, could take a backseat if the trend of picking winners and losers in business continues. The attempt to “villainize” energy producers in the U.S. was predictable, but it won’t get us any closer to the “all-of-the-above” energy policy that we sought after. Manufacturers, as consumers of one-third of our nation’s energy supply, need affordable and consistent energy resources to drive our economy. Governor Romney was absolutely right when he called for the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Keystone XL represented one of the single strongest opportunities for job creation in the past couple of years, and the discussion of energy policy returned the debate right back to where the focus needed to be on—jobs.

Today, TransCanada Corporation formally proposed a new route for its Keystone XL Pipeline project, one that avoids Nebraska’s Sandhills region.  This means the clock is once again ticking on Keystone XL’s environmental review process. From day one, the Keystone XL Pipeline has meant jobs, economic growth and energy security for manufacturers in the U.S. – consumers of one-third of our nation’s energy supply.

If you recall, TransCanada first applied for a Presidential Permit in September 2008.  After three years of rigorous environmental review–by far the most detailed and comprehensive environmental review ever conducted for a cross-border pipeline–the company was told that federal regulators needed more time examine its environmental impacts.  TransCanada lived with that decision, re-routed the project and and re-filed its application.

One thing is immediately obvious from a review of today’s application: TransCanada is intent on avoiding any potential environmental impacts raised by regulators and the public.  Not only does the new route avoid the areas NDEQ suggested avoiding but also additional areas commenters identified as vulnerable.

So let’s get on with it.  It has now been four years since TransCanada first applied for its permit.  The Keystone XL Pipeline is a clear job creator that would improve the nation’s energy security.  NAM hopes this latest round of permitting is completed quickly and efficiently, allowing the project to move forward.

Today the State Department published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on the new routes for the Keystone XL pipeline. This is another important step in moving forward to the approval of the pipeline to create manufacturing jobs.

Keystone XL will immediately create 20,000 manufacturing and construction jobs and 118,000 spin off jobs. Not to mention the much needed energy supply.

We will continue to urge the President to approve the pipeline as soon as possible to help get Americans back to work.