McConnell: If Keystone fails Tuesday, next Congress will pass it

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) vowed that Republicans would approve the Keystone XL pipeline if Democrats fail to get the 60 votes needed on Tuesday.

Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) spearheaded the effort, but she could be one vote short of the 60 needed to ensure passage. 

{mosads}Last week, the House passed the same legislative language from Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). The two lawmakers are battling in a runoff election for the Senate seat.

“Republicans are committed to getting Keystone approved,” McConnell said on the Senate floor Tuesday. “So I urge a yes vote on the legislation to send Congressman Cassidy’s Keystone bill to the president and create more American jobs. And if not, then a new majority is committed to acting next year.”

The Keystone XL pipeline would transport oil from Canada through the United States to Gulf Coast refineries. Environmentalists oppose the project, but McConnell has said it would be a jobs bill.

“Keystone XL is just common sense,” McConnell said. “It’s a shovel-ready jobs project that would help thousands of Americans find work. It would increase our supply of North American energy. And it would do all that with minimal net climate impact. That’s why the American people support it. That’s why Republicans support it.”