Ken Salazar, President Obama's former Secretary of the Interior, today added his support with conditions to the construction of the proposed, $7 billion Keystone XL Pipeline. He called the pipeline a "win-win" but suggested that the operator fund environmental and conservation projects along its route. Earlier this week, Steven Chu, President Obama's former Secretary of Energy, said that the decision to build the pipeline was a "political one." 

Last week, the State Department released a long awaited report of the proposed pipeline in which it cited no major environmental objections to its construction. The Final Supplement Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is being hailed by proponents of the pipeline as evidence that there is no longer a reason to delay construction. 

Congressional Republicans have pointed to the State Department review and former cabinet secretaries' remarks as they continue to request that the Administration approve the deadline.