Contact: Caroline Rabbitt (202) 224-2353

Washington, D.C.- Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today released the following statement on President Obama's rejection of the Keystone XL Pipeline:

"Once again President Obama put his political allies ahead of the interests of Arkansas workers and families. Worse, both he and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent years pretending to deliberate this decision when it was their intention to kill Arkansas jobs from the beginning. Rejecting the Keystone XL Pipeline is a mistake-one that comes at great cost to our economy and our national security. This project would lower energy costs and create and sustain jobs in the Natural State and across the country. And it would facilitate United States energy independence, making us less reliant on the turbulent Middle East.

"President Obama's decision to appease his liberal donors also puts further strain on our relationship with one of our greatest allies: Canada. His changes to Country of Origin Labeling have already distorted trade relations between our two countries-now he's added fuel to the fire. Rest assured, I will continue to fight for common-sense, job-creating projects like the Keystone XL Pipeline that benefit Arkansans and all Americans."