Leadership christens new Senate with attack on environment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tonight, the Senate voted on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed on S.1, a bill to force approval of the Keystone XL pipeline. New Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made Keystone XL the first order of business for the Senate this Congress.

Friend of the Earth’s Climate and energy associate Luísa Abbott Galvão issued the following statement:

The first bill of a new Congress is highly symbolic. It is no surprise the Republican leadership started the session with a reward for their oil backers.

The leadership should be proposing legislation to help drive clean energy policies and create sustainable jobs for Americans. Instead they have decided to engage in more cynical political theatre.

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Expert Contact: Luísa Abbott-Galvão, (202) 222-0716, [email protected]
Communications Contact: Kate Colwell, (202) 222-0744, [email protected]