Gingrich Pledges to Back Keystone XL on First Day in White House

Republican presidential hopeful former House Speaker Newt Gingrich released his draft of an executive order that he vows to enact, if elected, on the first day of his presidency, allowing the Keystone XL pipeline to be built. President Barack Obama opposes the pipeline which would send oil into the U.S. from Canada. Gingrichs draft of the order is below:

By the authority vested in me as president by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Presidential Permit for Keystone XL Pipeline

(a) The secretary of state shall reconsider the determination regarding whether the Keystone XL pipeline serves the national interest made on Jan. 18, 2012.

(b) In making the determination required by Section 1(a), the secretary of state shall abide by subsection 501(c) of the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011, which declared the final environmental impact statement issued by the secretary of state on Aug. 26, 2011, satisfies all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) and section 106 of the National Historical Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f) and that no further federal environmental review shall be required.

(c) If, following the review required by Subsection 1(a), the secretary of state determines that the Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest, she shall grant a presidential permit for the project.

Section 2. General Provisions

(a) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations

(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right, benefit or privilege, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies or entities, its officers, employees or agents, or any other person.