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(CNSNews.com) - Continuing his "America first" blitz on Tuesday, President Donald Trump signed five executive orders dealing with oil pipelines, the pipe itself, and "regulatory burdens" he plans to lift.
"With regard to construction of the Keystone pipeline, something that's been in dispute--and is subject to a renegotiation of terms by us--we are going to renegotiate some of the terms, and if they'd like--we're going to see if we can get that pipeline built," Trump said.
"A lot of jobs--28,000 jobs. Great construction jobs," he said, as he signed executive order number one, holding it up for all to see.
Next up: "This is with respect to the construction of the Dakota Access pipeline." Trump said, "subject to terms and conditions to be negotiated by us," that pipeline also will be built.
The third order deals with the actual pipelines: "I am very insistent that if we're going to build pipelines in the United States, the pipe should be built in the United States. So unless there's difficulty with that because companies are going to have to gear up...from now on we're going to start making pipeline in the United States," Trump said.
"Going to put a lot of steelworkers back to work," he said as he signed the document. "Okay, we will build our own pipeline. We will build our own pipes...like we used to in the old days."
Trump said the fourth executive order will streamline "the incredibly cumbersome, long, horrible permitting process" and reduce regulatory burdens for domestic manufacturers.
Trump said many of the business leaders with whom he's been meeting have complained about the length of time it takes to get the permits necessary to conduct their business. "Sometimes it takes many, many years, and we don't want that to happen."
The president said either way, yes or no, the regulatory process will move much faster than it does now.
The final executive order expedites environmental reviews for high-priority construction projects. "If we're going to fix our country, our bridges, our roadways, we can't be in an environmental process for 15 years if a bridge is going to be falling down, or if a highway is crumbling. So we're expediting environmental reviews and approvals."
"Thank you very much," the president told the press, refusing to take questions.