RELEASE: Statement from House GOP Leader Daudt on Line 3 protests

ST. PAUL, MN—House Republican Leader Kurt Daudt, R-Crown, issued the following statement regarding protests today in the Governor's reception room by a group calling themselves "Science for the People" calling on Governor Walz to stop the Line 3 replacement pipeline.

"The science behind Line 3 is crystal clear; we have an aging pipeline that is in desperate need of replacement, and pipelines are far and away the safest way to transport oil," Daudt said. "If you care about science, and care about protecting our waters and natural resources, you should support the Line 3 replacement."

The Line 3 replacement project was ordered replaced by the Obama administration, and is expected to generate more than $3 billion in private investment across northern Minnesota—the equivalent of three Vikings stadiums. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (PUC) unanimously approved the certificate of need for the project, and has voted down motions brought by environmentalist groups to appeal the decision.

"The PUC has done its due diligence on this project, and unanimously voted to allow it to move forward. I hope Governor Walz will trust the process and respect the work the PUC has done and not interfere or throw up unnecessary roadblocks for this critical project," Daudt concluded.

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