WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Senate this afternoon is beginning amendment votes on a bill to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project, which President Barack Obama has already vowed to veto.
But Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, thinks there's a middle ground here by linking the project to the "Black Lives Matter" movement. Here is his House floor speech on the matter.
The Senate is attempting an open amendment process, as opposed to the more regimented House, so Scott has been working Senate Democrats to find a sponsor for his amendment. It would encourage the hiring of more young black men to work on the pipeline, through existing apprenticeship programs and without spending more federal money.
Here's the text of the amendment Scott is shopping in the upper chamber:
These Labor Union Apprenticeship programs will be conducted in conjunction with the National Electrical Contractors Association, under the auspices of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) which allows apprentices to "Earn While You Learn."
According to a Scott aide, he has met with a lead Senate sponsor for the amendment, but nothing is final yet.
About the Author
