NABTU: With Opposition to Jordan Cove Project, Senator Jeff Merkley Abandons Economic Interests of Oregon Working Families

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement was released today in response to U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley's public opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal project in Coos Bay, Oregon:

"By publicly proclaiming his opposition to the Jordan Cove LNG Terminal project, US Senator Jeff Merkley has demonstrated a callous lack of concern for the economic prospects of Oregon's working families.

"There are thousands of skilled craft construction professionals across Oregon today who are outraged at the action taken by Senator Merkley to oppose this project.  Once again, they have been betrayed by a lawmaker willing to sacrifice good-paying middle-class jobs in one of the most economically challenged regions of their state in favor of words and policy rhetoric.  Senator Merkley needs reminding that supporting Jordan Cove and fighting global climate change is not an either/or proposition. U.S. liquefied natural gas exports will allow countries such as India, South Korea and China to abandon dirty coal and fuel oil and switch to cleaner burning fuels.

"NABTU and its 14 national and international unions strongly urge Oregon Governor Kate Brown to discount and discard Senator Merkley's ill-advised and ill-informed opinion, and respect the approval process and move forward with this project.

"The actions taken by Senator Merkley is a stunning reversal and the latest example of elected officials abandoning working class voters who have repeatedly been disappointed by political elites."

ABOUT NORTH AMERICA'S BUILDING TRADES UNIONS
North America's Building Trades Unions is an alliance of 14 national and international unions in the building and construction industry that collectively represent over 3 million skilled craft professionals in the United States and Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $1 billion in private sector money to fund and operate over 1,900 apprenticeship training and education facilities across North America that produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world.

www.NABTU.org
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@BldgTrds

SOURCE North America's Building Trades Unions