{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=24baf806-8714-4e14-9719-5dc6cbed4a8f", "VIDEO: KEYSTONE PIPELINE: Murray Speaks Against Keystone Pipeline Bill", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Democrat", "House", "WA", "Patty Murray", "M001111", "www.murray.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Murray: \u201cEven though the Keystone pipeline would not run through our home state, Washingtonians know well that the pipeline\u2019s impacts could quickly reach our communities from Spokane to Seattle.\u201d \r\n(Washington, D.C.) \u2013Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) delivered remarks on the Senate floor opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill. In her speech, Murray discussed the impacts of climate change, and the dangers of moving forward on the Keystone Pipeline proposal before its environmental impacts are fully evaluated. Senator Murray has consistently worked to protect the environment, and recently held a Budget Committee hearing on the economic and budgetary impacts of climate change.\u00a0 \r\nKey Excerpts from Senator Murray\u2019s Remarks: \r\n\u201cI understand the desire of my colleagues to expedite a project they support, and I understand cutting through red tape to get things done.\u00a0 But when we\u2019re considering a project that could have significant impacts on our economy and our environment, making a decision before we have all the facts is reckless.\u00a0 It could even be dangerous.\u201d \r\n\u201cWe simply cannot put expediency ahead of scientific facts regarding climate change, because as a country, we\u2019ve done that for far too long.\u00a0 And now, we\u2019re paying the price.\u201d \r\n\u201cWith all that we already know about the impacts of climate change, how can we possibly move this project forward before we have a thorough understanding of the environmental impacts that will result from building the Keystone pipeline? How can we force a decision that could very possibly make the impacts of climate change even worse?\u201d \r\n\u201cEven though the Keystone pipeline would not run through our home state, Washingtonians know well that the pipeline\u2019s impacts could quickly reach our communities from Spokane to Seattle. So M. President, I will oppose this legislation, and I will continue to oppose any effort in Congress that ignores or brushes aside the environmental consequences of our actions. For far too long, we\u2019ve put short-term interests ahead of our environment and long-term realities. That has to stop.\u201d \r\nFull Text of Senator Murray\u2019s Remarks: \r\n\u201cMr. President, I\u2019d like to take a few minutes today to discuss the legislation we\u2019re considering regarding the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. \r\n\u201cBecause Mr. President, as with too many controversial issues, we\u2019ve lost track of the facts and the basic process for moving a project like this one forward. \r\n\u201cSo let\u2019s be clear: the legislation we\u2019re voting on today isn\u2019t just a bill to say \u201cyes\u201d or \u201cno\u201d to the Keystone pipeline. \r\n\u201cThis is legislation that would have us skip the established process for determining whether a major infrastructure project, with potential impacts to millions of Americans, our economy, and our environment, should be approved. \r\n\u201cWe\u2019re still in the middle of that process, but if this bill passes, it would mean that we\u2019re bypassing over the scientists, engineers, and experts evaluating the proposal. \r\n\u201cIt would put an arbitrary, manufactured timeline on a project whose evaluation is incomplete, and short-circuit the process for the public to weigh in on the project. \r\n\u201cMr. President, regardless of how different members feel about this project, we should all agree that this is no way for the United States government to approve a project of this scope. \r\n\u201cSo Mr. President, that\u2019s one reason why I will vote against this legislation, because when it comes to protecting our environment, we should rely on facts, patience, and a fair process. \r\n\u201cBut Mr. President, there\u2019s also no denying that the proposed Keystone pipeline project has become larger than the sum of its parts. \r\n\u201cMr. President, I understand the desire of my colleagues to expedite a project they support, and I understand cutting through red tape to get things done.\u00a0 But when we\u2019re considering a project that could have significant impacts on our economy and our environment, making a decision before we have all the facts is reckless.\u00a0 It could even be dangerous. \r\n\u201cThe Keystone pipeline proposal is a perfect example, really, of why our process for evaluating the potential consequences of projects like this one is not only important, it\u2019s absolutely necessary. \r\n\u201cWe simply cannot put expediency ahead of scientific facts regarding climate change, because as a country, we\u2019ve done that for far too long. \r\n\u201cAnd now, we\u2019re paying the price. \r\n\u201cEarlier this year, as Chair of the Budget Committee, I held a hearing on the impacts of climate change on our country. \r\n\u201cWe heard testimony from business leaders, environmental experts, industry leaders, and even military officials, and their message was clear: the consequences of climate change are not hypothetical, and they\u2019re not exaggerated.\u00a0 \r\n\u201cThe impacts of human activity on our planet are real, they are significant, and they\u2019re happening right now. \r\n\u201cFor example, the federal government spent three times more on disaster relief in the past decade than it did in the previous decade. \r\n\u201cAnd if we do nothing, continued climate change will result in more frequent and more intense episodes of extreme weather, like the kind we saw during Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. \r\n\u201cThe U.S. Department of Transportation today sends approximately $22 billion a year to state and local governments just to help them keep their existing transportation infrastructure in good repair. \r\n\u201cBut hotter temperatures and more frequent flooding will wash out roads and will put added stress on bridge supports and public transit systems, requiring substantial additional federal investment. \r\n\u201cWe know that an uptick in temperature and heat waves will reduce annual yields of major crops and cause more livestock deaths.\u00a0 It will hurt farmers and agri-businesses, cause consumer food prices to rise, and create a ripple effect that will increase costs to U.S. taxpayers. \r\n\u201cAnd military experts say that climate change will act as a catalyst for instability and conflict around the world, creating additional threats to our country and adding to the costs of protecting our nation\u2019s interests. \r\n\u201cSo Mr. President, with all that we already know about the impacts of climate change, how can we possibly move this project forward before we have a thorough understanding of the environmental impacts that will result from building the Keystone pipeline? \r\n\u201cHow can we force a decision that could very possibly make the impacts of climate change even worse? \r\n\u201cMr. President, as a Senator from Washington state, I\u2019m proud of my work to protect our environment, and I\u2019m proud of my state\u2019s leadership in combatting climate change. \r\n\u201cAnd even though the Keystone pipeline would not run through our home state, Washingtonians know well that the pipeline\u2019s impacts could quickly reach our communities from Spokane to Seattle. \r\n\u201cSo Mr. President, I will oppose this legislation, and I will continue to oppose any effort in Congress that ignores or brushes aside the environmental consequences of our actions. \r\n\u201cFor far too long, we\u2019ve put short-term interests ahead of our environment and long-term realities. \r\n\u201cThat has to stop. \r\n\u201cThank you, Mr. President, I yield the floor.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/newsreleases?ContentRecord_id=24baf806-8714-4e14-9719-5dc6cbed4a8f"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.7852880991995335, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}