The House will vote next week on Senate-passed legislation authorizing the Keystone XL pipeline, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Tuesday.
The bill is expected to pass the House, even with a handful of bipartisan, fairly innocuous amendments tacked onto the upper chamber’s version. It would then go to President Obama’s desk, where it faces a veto threat.
The White House issued a veto threat because it said the legislation would circumvent a federal review. Boosters of the $8 billion project contend the Obama administration has had enough time, noting the 1,700-mile pipeline has been under review for more than six years.
Republicans and centrist Democrats who support the Canada-to-Texas project say it will increase jobs — the State Department said it would add 42,100 direct and indirect jobs during a two-year construction phase — and strengthen energy security.
Opponents have downplayed the jobs argument, noting the State Department said the pipeline would support 35 permanent posts. They are concerned Keystone XL will contribute to climate change.
Obama has said he would reject the pipeline if it significantly “exacerbates the problem of carbon pollution” that contributes to climate change. A final State environmental analysis said it wouldn’t.
