Bipartisan Bill Approves Pipeline Construction

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate supporters of the long-delayed Keystone XL pipeline have introduced legislation authorizing its immediate construction and say they expect the measure will come to a vote in the coming days. The legislation was introduced by Democratic Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Republican Sen. John Hoeven North Dakota. In a statement, they said it has the support of all 45 Senate Republicans and 11 Democrats. The legislation is the latest response in Congress to the Obama administration’s recent announcement that it was delaying a decision on the pipeline indefinitely, citing a Nebraska court case relating to the project. The House has voted previously to approve construction of the pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to the United States, where it eventually would reach Gulf Coast states. The pipeline is scheduled to run through eastern Smith County.