Time to act, realize benefits of pipeline

Our country is nesting on an incredible economic opportunity and needs to get a move on. The Keystone XL Pipeline has been in the works for six years and just passed its fifth test issued by the State Department proving it to not be an environmental threat.

As a veteran, national security is something that matters a great deal to me. Acquiring oil from our longtime friends in Canada represents a great opportunity for the United States to eliminate much of its reliance on oil from nations overseas and better manage the resources we have available.

There also is the matter of jobs it will create. The project would put 42,000 Americans to work on its construction, and with construction sites as near as Nebraska, labor unions in Iowa will be beneficiaries of this work.

The Keystone XL Pipeline represents a major opportunity for advancement in the United States. It successfully has passed five environmental reviews and signifies a major step in achieving energy independence while securing sustainable economic growth.

There is strong support from veterans across the nation to get this project underway and the U.S. State Department needs to follow suit. I urge the president to make this a top item on his political agenda.

Dale Jones

Cedar Rapids