Congressman Lee Terry

Keystone XL Pipeline

How Obama Might OK Pipeline

 By Gerald F. Seib

2/19/13

One of President Barack Obama's trickiest political tasks early in his second term has nothing to do with taxes, budget or the debt ceiling. Rather, it will be his decision this spring on whether to give the go-ahead to the Keystone XL pipeline.

Keystone XL—the proposed new spur of a transcontinental pipeline that would carry heavy crude oil from Canada to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast—was splitting Mr. Obama's Democratic coalition even before it became highly politicized when a decision was put off during last year's presidential campaign.

Now, the temperature is rising. Environmentalists, whose admiration for Mr. Obama is about matched by their hatred of the pipeline and the oil it would transport, were busy over the weekend protesting in Washington in an attempt to stop the pipeline.

Still, unions back the idea because of the construction and refining jobs it could create, and nine Democratic senators have joined 44 Republicans in a letter asking for approval. There is ample reason to think the second-term Obama White House, seeing openings to shake America's dependence on Middle East oil, would like to find a way to give the green light.

And if that's so, a combination of forces are lining up in a way that should make it possible for Mr. Obama to get to a "yes" answer, while limiting the political fallout. One argument Mr. Obama can muster for Keystone XL is that the delay in approval that he ordered last year has worked, at least as far as environmental concerns go. It bought time for a change that addresses a principal worry, which was the route of the pipeline.

Initially, the pipeline was to go through Nebraska's ecologically sensitive Sand Hills region. Even within deep-red Nebraska, environmental concerns about that route ran high enough to create a roadblock. Now, the route has been changed. A Nebraska state agency said last month the environmental risks of this new route would be "minimal," and Republican Gov. Dave Heineman just gave it a green light.

Environmental groups aren't concerned merely with the route of the pipeline, of course, but with its very reason for existence: its use in facilitating the further burning of oil, and specifically oil extracted from Canada's tar sands, which is dirtier than average to produce.

But on this front, the pipeline's symbolic importance outstrips its practical impact. Stopping Keystone won't stop Canada from producing the oil. The Canadians have too much invested in oil-sands extraction to simply stop.

One likely effect of shutting down the pipeline—aside from deeply straining U.S.-Canadian relations—would be to divert the same oil into exports to Asia, for use by China, a country that is doing far less on other fronts to deal with climate change and dirty auto emissions than is the U.S. More immediately, tar-sands oil still would find its way to the U.S. by other routes—rail, truck and other pipelines—meaning its use won't be extinguished, but the efficiency by which it is brought to market would be diminished.

More important, though, is the broader environmental backdrop of the Keystone decisions. The U.S. is starting to make meaningful progress on reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, despite the hard reality that it can't yet shake its addiction to oil.

Thanks to a combination of forces—the increasing use of relatively clean natural gas, improved energy efficiency and, yes, a world-wide recession—the U.S. actually is on track to meet its goal of reducing its greenhouse-gas emissions to 17% below 2005 levels by 2020, a goal Mr. Obama laid out in late 2009. The U.S. is outpacing Europe in reducing carbon emissions.

Which opens the door to the real path Mr. Obama can travel in selling Keystone XL approval to his party's base. It is possible to combine Keystone with other environmental moves to show that progress in cutting greenhouse gases will continue even as the pipeline is built.

In his State of the Union address last week, Mr. Obama called on Congress to construct a "bipartisan, market-based solution to climate change," citing specifically an approach Republican Sen. John McCain and then-Democratic Sen. Joe Lieberman advanced several years ago. But if Congress doesn't act, Mr. Obama said, he would explore "executive actions" to reduce pollution and address climate change. That suggests the president would consider moving beyond an existing Environmental Protection Agency proposal to regulate emissions from new power plants and perhaps put new limits on emissions from existing coal-powered plants.

Whatever the president has in mind specifically, it should be easier to sell Keystone XL if that decision is paired with one showing that the progress the U.S. already has made on climate change will continue, even if the U.S. can't soon kick its oil habit. That is precisely the picture Mr. Obama ought to be able to paint as the big decision point nears.

Original article here

Rep. Terry Joins AmeriCorps in Announcing Grants to Two Omaha-based Organizations

Jun 18, 2013

WASHINGTON- Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today joined Bill Basl, Director of the Corporation of National and Community Service, to announce two Omaha-based organizations will be awarded over $560,000 in AmeriCorps Grants.

The two organizations receiving the grants are College Possible Omaha and the Nebraska Economic Opportunity Corps.

“I’ve been a strong supporter of the AmeriCorps in Congress because I realize the opportunities this program creates for people like our seniors, our veterans, or people who came to our country to realize their share of the American Dream, ” said Terry.  “National service provides those who serve the time an opportunity to make a difference and a passion for service that lasts a lifetime.”

College ...

Terry Remarks to the Canadian American Business Council

Jun 11, 2013

WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today gave remarks to the Canadian American Business Council (CABC) at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC. The following are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

“It’s an honor to be with you today and I want to thank you for extending to me the opportunity to talk to you about two of the most important things that I’ve been working on in Congress; chairing the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade and the Keystone Pipeline.

“Unless you’ve been up ice fishing on Ellesmere Island for the last three months, you’re aware the House passed my legislation last month, the Northern Route Approval Act that puts us one step closer to seeing the Keystone XL Pipeline beco...

Terry Celebrates D-Day by Introducing the VETS Act

Jun 06, 2013

WASHINGTON – In honor of our veterans on the anniversary of D-Day, Representative Lee Terry (R-NE), formally introduced H.R. 2284, the Veterans Equality to Salute (VETS) Act that allows veterans and military personnel not in uniform to salute the U.S. Flag during the Pledge of Allegiance.

“This common-sense legislation creates parity for those veterans and active-duty military not in uniform who want to give a military-style salute when they are reciting the Pledge of Allegiance," said Terry. "Today is an appropriate day to introduce this legislation and celebrate our vets who take deep pride in being able to honor with a military-style salute the flag they selflessly pledged to defend.

“This legislation is based on an idea brought to me...

Terry Continues to Lead Making Sarpy County Hallowed Ground

Jun 05, 2013

WASHINGTON – The U.S. House of Representatives today passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (H.R. 2266) which funds military construction and veterans’ affairs projects by $73.3 billion for fiscal year 2014.

Included in this legislation is funding of a new national cemetery in Sarpy County that will provide a burial option closer to home for over 112,000 underserved Veterans in the Omaha area.

“Providing a final resting place for our area veterans has been a top priority of mine for a number of years,” said Terry. “Our veterans and their families deserve a final honorable resting place close to home and I look forward to watching this world-class facility that honors our ...

Terry Statement on Memorial Day

May 27, 2013

WASHINGTON – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today released the following statement in observance of Memorial Day:

“This is a day we remember our national heroes. It’s unfortunate that its origins began as a day we celebrated the casualties when Americans fought against one another. But since then, our many heroes have conquered totalitarianism, stared down communism and taken the fight to extremists. They signed up for this duty simply because their country needed them.

“Our nation’s 40^th President Ronald Reagan once said, ‘We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.’

Sequestration Page

Congressman Terry on Impact of Sequester on Department of Defense Civilian Personnel

February 20, 2013

 OMAHA, NE – Representative Lee Terry (R-NE) today made the following statement in response to the Pentagon’s announcement that 800,000 civilian personnel will be furloughed as part of sequestration:

 “Two years ago when the President proposed sequestration as part of a grand bargain; I supported it in good faith.  My assumption was this President was willing to work with Congress to reform out-of-control Washington spending and reduce our national debt. Unfortunately, the emphasis from the President has been on raising taxes rather than cutting spending.

 “Therefore, I've joined my colleague's, twice voting to end the sequester and put in place common sense reforms that will reduce our deficit and prevent these devastating cuts.

 “Today’s announcement by the Pentagon is disappointing.  It makes no sense for us to go through with the sequester when the Federal government by its own estimates has made over $115 billion in improper entitlement payments; is spending billions each year maintaining vacant government buildings; and, paying $1.2 million for seniors to play video games in the name of ‘research’.

 “Everyone knows we can’t continue to kick the can down the road. And these civilian personnel, some of whom are my constituents and work at Offut AFB, shouldn’t be used as political footballs.

 “When I held my first hearing last week as Chairman of the Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade subcommittee, I did so in cooperation with my colleagues across the aisle.  The result was a bipartisan tone that I hope will continue through this Congress.

 “There is time still left. The President can set a bipartisan tone and I urge him to come to the table rather than putting this crucial part of our national security on the menu."

3 Omissions from President Obama's Press Conference on His Sequester

1. The sequester was President Obama's idea.

• President Obama and his team were the first to propose the sequester. Bob Woodward and Jay Carney both confirmed this over the past week.

2. Republicans passed two plans to replace the President's sequester, yet Senate Democrats have passed no replacement.

• House Republicans took steps to replace President Obama's sequestration, passing bills on two separate occasions to replace the sequester with responsible spending cuts and reforms. The Democratic-controlled Senate did not consider either bill.
• H.R. 5652, Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act
• H.R. 6684, Spending Reduction Act of 2012

3. In 2013 the federal government will take in more revenue than ever before.

• The Congressional Budget Office has project the government will take in $2.7 trillion in revenues in 2013 – more revenue than it ever has before. (The Budget and Economic Outlook: Fiscal Years 2013 to 2023, Congressional Budget Office, February 2013)

Gop Leaders Slam Obama sequester speech

By Jake Sherman

Congressional Republican leaders slammed President Barack Obama’s sequester speech Tuesday with only two weeks to go until massive across-the-board spending cuts take effect.

House Speaker John Boehner asked what “spending is the president willing to cut” to keep first responders employed.

“Washington Democrats’ newfound concern about the president’s sequester is appreciated, but words alone won’t avert it,” Boehner said in a statement. “Replacing the president’s sequester will require a plan to cut spending that will put us on the path to a budget that is balanced in 10 years.”

And Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Obama proved Tuesday that “more than three months after the November election, President Obama still prefers campaign events to common sense, bipartisan action.”

“Surely the president won’t cut funds to first responders when just last year Washington handed out an estimated $115 billion in payments to individuals who weren’t even eligible to receive them, or at a time when 11 different government agencies are funding 90 different green energy programs,” McConnell said in a statement. “That would be a terrible and entirely unnecessary choice by a president who claims to want bipartisan reform.”

Boehner’s office declined a POLITICO request to speak to the Ohio Republican. Congress is out of session this week as the sequester deadline looms.

Obama and House Republicans have diametrically different policy prescriptions for solving the automatic cuts that take hold March 1. Boehner wants the package to be solely spending cuts; Obama prefers a mix of cuts and new tax revenue from closing loopholes in the tax code.

“We should close loopholes and carve-outs in the tax code, but that revenue should be used to lower rates across the board,” Boehner said in a statement sent out by his office. “Tax reform is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to boost job creation in America. It should not be squandered to enable more Washington spending. Spending is the problem, spending must be the focus.”

To view online:
http://politi.co/XKPecm