WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) today issued the following response to the U.S. State Department’s decision to indefinitely delay the process for approving the Keystone XL pipeline project:

“The administration's choice to delay indefinitely a decision on extending the Keystone XL pipeline is nothing short of a stunning act of political cowardice. And the timing of this announcement – waiting until a Friday afternoon during the holy Passover holiday in the hope that most Americans would be too busy with their families to notice – only adds further insult,” Murkowski said. “The world is too dangerous and our energy security too important, for President Obama not to have an opinion on such important matters. This administration’s cavalier attitude toward our historic alliance with Canada, the free flow of commerce with our friends, the development of a North American energy partnership and American jobs is irresponsible and inexcusable.”

Murkowski is the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.