President’s Science Advisor Admits He Has Not Discussed Critical Energy Pipeline with President

Yesterday I questioned Dr. John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, at a House Science, Space, and Technology Committee hearing on the President’s research priorities.

I questioned Dr. Holdren about the Keystone XL pipeline, a project that would potentially supply the United States with 830,000 barrels of oil a day and create 140,000 jobs. Despite its many benefits and multiple State Department scientific assessments that concluded it would have “minimal environmental impact,” the President has blocked its development.

The Keystone XL pipeline would create jobs and lower energy prices. It’s frustrating that the President is ignoring these benefits.

In one exchange, Dr. Holdren indicated that he has not discussed the project with the President. “I can tell you that this has not been a major focus of my activity and I have not in fact had any conversations with the President at this point about the Keystone pipeline,” Dr. Holdren said. “He might in the future ask me about scientific aspects of it, but that has not happened,” he added.

It’s unacceptable that the President is choosing not to speak with his own science advisor about the key scientific and environmental issues at stake. The President has been considering the Keystone XL pipeline proposal for more than four and half years. Yet he is not interacting with his top science advisor about a decision that could help grow our economy and create jobs for thousands of American workers. It proves that his delay on the Keystone Pipeline project is not based on science, but rather on partisan politics.