THE DAILY WHIP: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014

Complete Consideration of H.R. 5682 – To approve the Keystone XL Pipeline (Rep. Cassidy – Transportation & Infrastructure/Energy & Commerce) (One Hour of Debate). This bill would declare TransCanada’s revised proposal for the Keystone XL pipeline to be Congressionally approved and would allow construction of the pipeline across the U.S.-Canadian border to proceed. It would also permit subsequent revisions to the pipeline’s route by the State of Nebraska. The pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for further delivery to Gulf Coast refineries.

Under the bill, final environmental impact statements (FEIS) issued in August 2011 by the State Department would be deemed sufficient to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. The bill also makes the DC Circuit Court of Appeals the sole lower court of judicial review for the pipeline project. Lastly, the bill includes a savings clause that seeks to assure private property owners whose land may need to be accessed in order to construct the pipeline that the bill does not override other federal, state or local laws protecting their property.

As of last night, the House had completed all debate, including debate on the motion to recommit.  Today, the House will vote on the motion to recommit and passage of H.R. 5682.

Bill Text for H.R. 5682:
PDF Version