Landrieu, Cassidy push separate Keystone XL bills toward votes

US Sen. Mary L. Landrieu (D-La.) and US Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who face a Dec. 6 runoff for her seat, presented separate bills to approve the proposed Keystone XL crude oil pipeline’s crossborder permit, on Nov. 12. House Republican leaders immediately scheduled a vote on Cassidy’s bill for the following day.

“Today, it is crystal clear,” said Landrieu, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, in a floor speech urging prompt consideration of S. 2280, which she cosponsored with Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) last spring. “There is no guarantee that next week, or next month, or when the Republicans take the majority, that the path could be as clear as it is today.”

She urged, “Let us not miss this opportunity. Let us get our work done on the Keystone XL Pipeline, an important project in this country, and send a message that we have heard the voters and show that trust with us begins today on their behalf.”

Cassidy, meanwhile, introduced his bill, HR 5682, which he said was “identical to the bill the Senate is said to consider to push this issue forward.” He said, “If the Senate also passes the bill it can go straight to [US President Barack Obama’s] desk for signature.”

Cassidy noted, “It is easy to wonder if the Senate is only considering this because of politics. Even so, I hope the Senate and the president do the right thing and pass this legislation creating thousands of jobs.” Cassidy said he also would serve on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee if he beats Landrieu in the runoff.

‘Now is our chance’

House Energy and Commerce Committee Fred Upton (R-Mich.) said Cassidy’s bill would come to a vote before the full House on Nov. 14. “We can no longer afford the president’s delays; now is our chance to finally get Keystone across the finish line,” he said. “The House has already had several bipartisan votes to approve this landmark project, and we will continue this fight until we get the job done.”

The timetable for Senate action on the Hoeven-Landrieu bill appeared less certain, but could come before the lame-duck session ends next week.

Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) previously resisted bringing such measures to the floor in support of the White House’s position that the US Department of State review of Keystone XL sponsor TransCanada Corp.’s crossborder permit application should be allowed to proceed.

That could change if Senate Democrats decide allowing a vote on, and possibly approving, the Hoeven-Landrieu bill would help her keep her seat. The measure has enough cosponsors from both sides of the aisle to pass, but not enough to overturn a presidential veto.

‘Voters will be heard’

The prospect that Congress could send a Keystone XL permit approval bill to Obama’s desk delighted oil and gas and other business trade associations. “American voters will finally be heard with tomorrow’s congressional action to move forward on Keystone XL,” American Petroleum Institute Pres. Jack N. Gerard said.

Business Roundtable Pres. John Engler, meanwhile, said, “The Keystone XL pipeline extension would be good for the US economy, and we encourage members of the House and Senate to approve it without delay.”

Environmental organizations said congressional action now would be a mistake. “Congress is not set up to be a permitting authority, and this pipeline doesn’t even have an approved route,” Danielle Droitsch, director of the Canada Project at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said.

“The ongoing review process should continue, and the decades-long precedent of having the Executive Branch make decisions on crossborder projects should not be overturned,” she said.

Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].