Today the State Department is holding an open hearing on the Keystone XL pipeline which will help secure our energy future and create thousands of jobs.

Earlier this morning National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) President and CEO Jay Timmons hosted a press conference with TransCanada President and CEO Russ Girling, Laborers’ International Union of North America General President Terrence O’Sullivan, American Petroleum Institute President and CEO Jack Gerard and Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. President Lucian Pugliaresi to discuss what the Keystone XL project means for jobs and our nation’s energy security.

TransCanada President and CEO Russ Girling speaks during the press conference on the Keystone XL pipeline project. He is joined by NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons, Energy Policy Research Foundation, Inc. President and CEO Lucian Pugliaresi ,API President and CEO Jac Gerard and Laborers' International Union of North America General President Terrence O'Sullivan.

The Keystone XL is expected to create 20,000 construction and much needed manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and an additional 118,000 spin-off jobs according to the Perryman Report.

Access to affordable energy is critical for manufacturers to remain competitive in the growing global marketplace. The Keystone XL will help make energy more affordable, create jobs and enhance our energy security. We can no longer afford to wait, we will continue to urge the State Department and the Obama Administration to approve this project as soon as possible.