The National
Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) today applauded the House for passing
NFIB
Key Vote, H.R. 3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act.
“NFIB applauds the House for passing Keystone XL legislation
– taking a big step forward in energy independence, which will directly benefit
small businesses,” said NFIB Vice President of Public Policy Amanda Austin. “According to NFIB’s Small Business Problems and
Priorities, the cost of natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel, or fuel oil
ranked as the third-most important priority among NFIB’s members.”
Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline is important for
reducing America’s reliance of foreign energy and helping to lower the cost of
fuels small businesses use every day. In addition, the project has the
potential to create thousands of jobs that will help create and support small
businesses in communities where the jobs are created.
“The Administration’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) estimates that over 40,000 jobs will be created as a result of the
Keystone XL project. Many of these jobs would likely be created by small
businesses in communities along the pipeline route. NFIB urges the Senate to
support small business by quickly passing similar Keystone legislation and for
the President to sign this project into law,” added Austin.
The cost of energy remains one of the top concerns of small-business
owners, who rely on affordable energy to operate their businesses successfully.
NFIB’s Small Business
Problems and Priorities found nearly 35 percent of respondents cited energy
costs as a “critical” issue to their business.
