WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement Tuesday after President Donald Trump signed an executive orders to advance the construction of the Keystone XL and Dakota Access oil pipelines: 

“Millions of people came together all over this country to stop the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines and say we must transform our energy system away from fossil fuels to renewable energy. Today, President Trump ignored the voices of millions and put the short-term profits of the fossil fuel industry ahead of the future of our planet. 

“At a time when the scientific community is virtually unanimous in telling us that climate change is real, it is caused by human activity and it is already causing devastating problems, we cannot afford to build new oil pipelines that lock us into burning fossil fuels for years to come. I will do everything I can to stop these pipelines and protect our planet for future generations.”