Manchin urges Biden to return to Keystone pipeline

His. Joe manchinJoseph (Joe) ManchinHouse Democrats unveils coronavirus relief bill Former Ocasio-Cortez spokesperson: Manchin, Sinema should be a priority if ‘they’re going to stand in the way of progress’ CBO says minimum wage would rise the B PLUS deficit (DW.Va.) urges President BidenJoe BidenDOJ Dismissing Lawsuit Against Author of Melania Trump’s Telltale Book Google Expands Election Security Aid for Federal and State Campaigns Biden Supports House Democrats’ Proposed Threshold for COVID-19 PLUS Controls to reverse the course of the Keystone XL pipeline, for which the president revoked a key license on his first day in office.

In one new letter to the president Sent on Tuesday, Manchin argued that pipelines are the “safest mode to transport our oil and gas resources and that they support thousands of well-paying American union jobs.”

“I encourage you to reconsider your decision to revoke the cross-border permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and to consider the potential impacts of any further action on safety, employment and energy security,” he added.

Republicans have also pushed back the decision to revoke the pipeline’s border crossing permit, but in recent days Biden has also heard criticism from his allies.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka recently said he the president wished had not canceled the permit on the first day of his mandate and linked it to a job creation ad.

Manchin, alongside the senator. Jon testerJonathan (Jon) TesterOvernight Defense: Pentagon says extremist groups “very aggressively recruit” troops | 3M Capitol Guard deployment estimated | No US combat deaths in Afghanistan for a year | VA Secretary Confirms Senate Confirms Denis McDonough Will Lead VA Under Biden Congress Considering Tightening Eligibility for Stimulus Checks MORE (D-Mont.), Joined Republicans on a budget resolution amendment expressing support for the pipeline. However, Democrats later approved a final budget resolution that did not include Keystone language.

Environmentalists applauded the revocation of the pipeline license, arguing it brought in Canadian oil produced from carbon-intensive tar sands.

And Biden said in an executive order as he revoked the permit that the project “Does not serve” the American national interest and that “leaving the Keystone XL pipeline permit in place would not be in accordance with the economic and climate imperatives of my administration.”

Manchin will be a key Democrat going forward on energy issues, as he is now chairman of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He is also the most moderate member of the caucus and could be a crucial deciding vote on some issues.

However, legislation that would reinstate the pipeline’s license is unlikely to gain traction with Democratic leaders in the Senate and House.

Updated at 7:20 p.m.