WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Senate passed the Keystone XL pipeline bill Thursday. The bipartisan bill would clear construction for the pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.
Both U.S. senators from West Virginia, Sen. Joe Manchin and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, voted in favor of the bill. It passed 62-36.
“I am so pleased that bipartisan legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline has finally passed in the Senate, especially after we had the opportunity to extensively debate this issue and add dozens of amendments,” Sen. Manchin said in a statement from his office. “As I’ve said again and again, we must address the critical issues of moving America toward energy independence, while continuing to foster job growth and economic prosperity.”
Sen. Capito said she was glad to be able to co-sponsor the bill.
“I was proud to see it come to fruition today. Construction of the Keystone XL pipeline will bring thousands of jobs and a big boost to America’s economy. If President Obama is serious about being a defender of the middle-class, I urge him to carry out the will of the American people and support this commonsense, job-creating project,” Capito said, also in a statement.
The bill has already passed the U.S. House. The White House has made a veto threat.