**Update: At 6:54pm on Monday, groups hit the 500,000 Americans telling the US Senate no pipeline riders! Best news yet is the 500,000th person was a Nebraskan. More on that person soon! We are blowing by that goal and now hoping for 600,000, sign the petition and pass it around!**
Congressional Republicans’ attempts to revive the Keystone XL pipeline are driving massive public opposition. Almost 40 environmental, labor and progressive organizations have banded together to collect 500,000 signatures in 24 hours on a petition opposing the pipeline that will be delivered to Senate leaders.
Just 5 hours into the campaign, over 1,000 Nebraskans so far have signed the open letter. The concerns of Nebraskans are being magnified by over 370,000 Americans. Groups have already met 75% of their goal and still have 21 hours to go.
The massive action coincided with Senate Republicans, led by Senator Hoeven (R-ND), introducing an amendment to the transportation funding bill that will reverse President Obama’s denial of the pipeline permit.
“If there was ever any doubt that Congressional Republicans are out of touch with Nebraskans and the American public, this is it,” said Jane Kleeb, Executive Director of Bold Nebraska. “I hope Senator Johanns is paying attention, given his previous support of Hoeven’s push to resurrect the dead pipeline without knowing a route in Nebraska and with the aquifer still at risk.”
