House votes in favor of Keystone XL pipeline
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation to force approval of the controversial Keystone XL tar sands pipeline by a vote of 266-153, today. The Senate is expected to take up Keystone XL legislation early next week.
Friends of the Earth’s Climate and energy associate Luísa Abbott Galvão issued the following statement:
Today, House Republican leadership celebrated their “New Year” in charge of both Houses of Congress by paying back the oil industry that put them in office with approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. Republican leadership chose to ignore long-standing laws and procedures to rush the construction of a disastrous project with no redeeming value.
President Obama recognizes the travesty that is this bill, and has already threatened to veto it and others like it. Today’s vote reaffirmed that pipeline proponents do not have enough votes to override a veto. President Obama should put an end to this nonsense once and for all because the pipeline fails his climate test and is not in the country’s interest.
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Expert Contact: Luísa Abbott-Galvão, (202) 222-0716, [email protected]
Communications Contact: EA Dyson, (202) 222-0730, [email protected]