As a longtime union worker, I would like to state my support for the Dakota Access Pipeline. As many people may know, the company building this pipeline has committed to using local union halls to find the men and women to construct this important infrastructure project. Many of the folks that will working on this project will be friends and neighbors from right here in Newton.
Unions help ensure a safe workplace, good benefits, and equal opportunity. Projects built by union labor such as the Dakota Access Pipeline should be encouraged in our state. The paychecks earned by these men and women will be reinvested into the local business here, and the millions of dollars in tax revenue collected by the state during and after construction will help our economy grow, while helping Americans secure energy independence. I urge the IUB to review and approve this project.