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senate Bill S. 1

Approving the Keystone XL Oil Pipeline

Argument in favor

Creates jobs. Reduces gas prices. Reduces overseas oil imports. Private businesses should be free to act in ways they deem profitable free of government interference.

ScottWalker's Opinion
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04/26/2015
"Tell Obama to build #KeystoneXL today... We've been waiting for 2262 days #ItsTimeToBuild"
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EricRevell's Opinion
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02/23/2015
Shipping oil by pipeline is safer than by rail or by tanker truck - resulting in fewer emissions and spills. Standing in the way of this legislation isn't stopping the production of tar sands oil, and our economy could use the boost.
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Scythan's Opinion
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04/05/2015
Already 30 similar pipelines. Not really an environmental win. There are better ways to fight. Let this be a win and owe one later.
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Argument opposed

Potentially devastating environmental impact. Creates no more than 100 permanent jobs in the United States, according to the State Department.

BarackObama's Opinion
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02/25/2015
"We should be setting our sights higher. This pipeline will not create a lot of permanent jobs. We should look towards other areas such as improving the infrastructure."
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ebolaza's Opinion
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05/07/2015
NO!!! No keystone pipeline! We cannot afford the devastation it WILL cause on our precious earth. Native people's deserve self-determination in this matter as well. They say no, we should all say no!
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Jared's Opinion
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04/18/2016
This is obviously a terrible idea. The Keystone pipeline in South Dakota was just discovered to have leaked thousands of gallons of oil before it was ever detected
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What is Senate Bill S. 1?

This bill would provide Canadian energy company, Transcanada, with Congressional approval of a permit to begin construction on 1,700 miles of expansions to an existing oil pipeline.


The Obama administration has delayed a decision on the project following a February Nebraska state court ruling that made a portion of the pipeline route invalid. This bill seeks to bypass the President's delay; however, the pipeline crosses an international border, and therefore authority falls to the State Department (part of the administration) to approve or deny the project. The project's cost is $5.4 billion. Numbers vary widely on job creation, depending on the source.  

Impact

Would create jobs, but estimates here vary greatly, with Transcanada — the firm building the pipeline — offering the number of jobs created at 20,000, while President Obama has stated that the pipeline extension would create roughly 2,000 temporary construction jobs and 50 to 100 permanent U.S. jobs. On January 31st, 2014, the State Department issued a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Report for the Keystone XL that stated in part that the project would have no significant impact on climate change because tar sands oil will be extracted regardless of transportation method (pipeline or railcar). Some environmental groups have raised concern about the high level of corrosiveness in the type of oil being transported, and that such a level of corrosiveness could translate to a higher possibility of a spill.

Cost of Senate Bill S. 1

A CBO estimate is unavailable

More Information

Of Note: 

  • The pipeline would cross six states: Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. 
  • To clarify: 
    •    The main pipeline is known as the Keystone Pipeline, and already exists;
    •    The proposed expansions are known as the Keystone XL Pipeline. 
  • The existing pipeline runs from Alberta, Canada, to refineries in Illinois. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline is comprised of two extensions to the existing pipeline: the southern leg, and the northern leg. The southern leg of the extension connects Cushing, Oklahoma with Port Arthur, Texas and Houston, Texas, where oil refineries are in abundance. This southern leg is already up and running. 
  • The northern leg of the pipeline has encountered a six-year delay. In February, a Nebraska judge found that a 2012 law improperly gave authority over the pipeline route to Nebraska's governor, stating that route authority actually belongs to the Nebraska Public Service Commission.


Media: 

Washington Post TV: The Keystone XL Pipeline, Explained

Senate Democrats (Opposed)

U.S. Energy and Commerce Committee (In Favor)

The Washington Post

(Photo Credit: Flickr user shannonpatrick17)

AKA

Keystone XL Pipeline Approval Act

Official Title

A bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline.

bill Progress

  • Vetoed
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The house Passed February 11th, 2015
    Roll Call Vote 270 Yea / 152 Nay
  • The senate Passed January 29th, 2015
    Roll Call Vote 62 Yea / 36 Nay
    IntroducedJanuary 6th, 2015
Log in or create an account to see how your Reps voted!
    ScottWalker's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    04/26/2015
    "Tell Obama to build #KeystoneXL today... We've been waiting for 2262 days #ItsTimeToBuild"
    Like (11)
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    Share
    BarackObama's Opinion Against
    ···
    02/25/2015
    "We should be setting our sights higher. This pipeline will not create a lot of permanent jobs. We should look towards other areas such as improving the infrastructure."
    Like (79)
    Follow
    Share
    EricRevell's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    02/23/2015
    Shipping oil by pipeline is safer than by rail or by tanker truck - resulting in fewer emissions and spills. Standing in the way of this legislation isn't stopping the production of tar sands oil, and our economy could use the boost.
    Like (9)
    Follow
    Share
    ebolaza's Opinion Against
    ···
    05/07/2015
    NO!!! No keystone pipeline! We cannot afford the devastation it WILL cause on our precious earth. Native people's deserve self-determination in this matter as well. They say no, we should all say no!
    Like (9)
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    Moni's Opinion Against
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    04/14/2016
    This pipe crosses into indigenous American territory and we must respect their sovereignty. This pipe will only have temporary construction jobs then only 30 or so permanent positions that will go to technicians. Also when this pipe fails and/or bursts it won't be the company tabbing the clean-up but our tax dollars.
    Like (5)
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    Jared's Opinion Against
    ···
    04/18/2016
    This is obviously a terrible idea. The Keystone pipeline in South Dakota was just discovered to have leaked thousands of gallons of oil before it was ever detected
    Like (5)
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    Jamie's Opinion Against
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    11/10/2016
    This creates further health problems and land conservation issues. We have already torn up way more than our share of vital ecosystem that helps to regulate our air quality. Creating a few hundred jobs is not worth giving a few hundred more people exposure to harmful byproducts of a business endeavor.
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    Cj's Opinion Against
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    08/07/2015
    What a terrible idea. This is a prime example of how there is too much big business running our government. If Republicans voted with their own minds and not with a group of people with check books behind them, we could do what is right. Also, it's a Canadian company... The only jobs created are temporary ones to build the giant pipeline of OIL running through the continental United States. Nobody needs or wants that, honestly.
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    Rachael 's Opinion Against
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    01/26/2017
    There's so many other ways to get energy, and yes these ways will also bring jobs. Jobs won't matter if we don't have a planet to live on!
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    Connor's Opinion Against
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    01/08/2017
    This would have a horrible impact on the environment!!! Say no to the keystone pipeline!
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    BullrockNY's Opinion Against
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    05/15/2016
    Dirtiest oil on the planet and belonging to the Koch brothers..No thanks! Beyond time to be fully invested in sustainable energy and moving away from fossil fuels
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    Samie's Opinion Against
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    03/07/2016
    The Earth we live on, and need to survive as humans is more important than saving a few bucks.
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    craigkeller's Opinion Against
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    11/11/2016
    These are not full time jobs. The reward is not worth the risk.
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    AndrewGVN's Opinion Against
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    04/14/2016
    The creation of the pipeline will most likely result in many eminent domain cases that will hurt Americans that have established businesses and property along the projected path for the pipeline.
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    Joshua's Opinion Against
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    12/09/2015
    It seems to me that this decision lies with the governor of Nebraska. But I'm not sure it's a good thing either way.
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    Diana's Opinion Against
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    01/25/2017
    Given the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and other cities, I think our country needs to do more to ensure the water quality for all of its citizens. Devastating environmental impacts from this pipeline could affect the water supply of communities for generations to come. For that reason, I ask that you reject the construction of the Keystone pipeline.
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    Bridget's Opinion Against
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    01/25/2017
    This pipeline usurps land from US citizens and will reek havoc on our natural resources.
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    Molly's Opinion Against
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    01/25/2017
    Save sacred lands and protect the water!
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    Casandra's Opinion Against
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    03/04/2017
    I would like our government to invest in more green energy. If our government made it easily accessible for most Americans to have power from solar energy or wind energy most people will go for it and would stop using so much oil. Look at all the people who have protested all the pipelines all over the United States We the People are trying to let you know we are against the pipelines and want clean air clean water and clean energy. Please answer this question what will we do when the water is too toxic to drink
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    Lorena's Opinion Against
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    02/03/2017
    Horrible consequences to the environment ! Vote NO
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