Washington: Long-stalled legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas is on track to pass in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Friday, and the Senate may follow next week.
The legislation got new life after Senate Democrats suddenly abandoned efforts to block the measure in hopes of winning the last unresolved Senate race from the midterm elections.
The bill marks the ninth attempt by the House to approve the pipeline, which has been delayed by environmental reviews, legal challenges to its route and politics. Prior votes in the Senate have failed to get enough votes, but supporters said Thursday they were close to reaching that threshold.
Senate passage of the bill as early as next Tuesday would force President Barack Obama to either sign it into law or veto the measure just weeks after devastating Democratic losses in the Nov. 4 elections. Obama has delayed a decision on the pipeline, which environmentalists maintain would have a negative impact and contribute to climate change.
Sen. Mary Landrieu of energy-rich Louisiana, facing an uphill fight to hold her seat in a Dec. 6 runoff, called for the vote on approving the pipeline project. Republicans responded swiftly, scheduling the vote in the House on an identical bill sponsored by her Republican rival, Rep. Bill Cassidy.
Republicans and several moderate Democrats insist that construction of the pipeline would create tens of thousands of jobs.
Supporters there say the pipeline is critical to Canada, which needs infrastructure in place to export its growing oil sands production, and the Obama administration's delays have caused friction between the two countries.
The White House stopped short of directly threatening a veto but President Barack Obama takes looks down on legislative efforts to force action on the project. Obama prefers to evaluate the pipeline through a long-stalled State Department review.
It was unclear what impact the votes would have on Louisiana's Senate race.
Republicans swept the midterm congressional elections, wresting control of the Senate and expanding their majority in the House. The Republicans are assured of 53 of the 100 Senate seats when the new Congress takes office in January. Louisiana would make it 54.
Landrieu has spoken of bipartisanship and a willingness to work with Republicans and has pressed for a speedy vote on Keystone.
Echoing Landrieu's plea were moderate Democrats from Republican states, who argued for the project that would carry oil from Canada south to the Gulf Coast.
The southern leg of the pipeline between Oklahoma and Texas is already operational.
