68th Legislature 2023 HR 8.1
1 HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 8
2 INTRODUCED BY B. MITCHELL, S. GUNDERSON, J. KASSMIER, B. MERCER, B. LER, B. PHALEN, K.
3 ZOLNIKOV, J. SCHILLINGER, M. MALONE, R. MARSHALL, S. ESSMANN, T. SMITH, G. PARRY, L.
4 DEMING, J. BERGSTROM, G. KMETZ, P. GREEN, P. FIELDER
5
6 A RESOLUTION OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MONTANA SUPPORTING
7 THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE.
8
9 WHEREAS, the State of Montana, counties, and school districts would have benefited substantially by
10 an increase in the property tax base if the Keystone XL Pipeline were approved and completed; and
11 WHEREAS, the Certificate of Compliance granted by the Department of Environmental Quality in 2012
12 for the Keystone XL Pipeline states that "the Project will generate long-term property tax revenues for the
13 counties traversed by the pipeline that will last for the life of the Project. The Project will generate approximately
14 $63 million in annual property tax revenues in Montana"; and
15 WHEREAS, the selected location of the pipeline through the state and the conditions imposed by the
16 Certificate of Compliance granted by the Department of Environmental Quality minimize adverse impacts on the
17 environment, landowners, and affected communities; and
18 WHEREAS, the destruction of private jobs and capital as a result of the executive order to halt the
19 construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline is a taking based on the 5th and 14th amendments to the United
20 States Constitution; and
21 WHEREAS, given the shortage of power recently experienced in Eastern Montana and the central and
22 southern plains, the state should encourage every source of power, including fossil fuels carried by the
23 Keystone XL Pipeline; and
24 WHEREAS, Montana's Congressional Delegation supports the approval of the pipeline; and
25 WHEREAS, Montana's Governor Greg Gianforte supports approval of the pipeline.
26
27 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF
28 MONTANA:
-1- Authorized Print Version – HR 8
68th Legislature 2023 HR 8.1
1 That the 68th Legislature urge prompt congressional and presidential approval of the Keystone XL
2 pipeline.
3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Secretary of State send copies of this resolution to the
4 President of the United States, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United
5 States House of Representatives, and the Montana Congressional Delegation.
6 - END -
-2- Authorized Print Version – HR 8