The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation – H.R. 5682 – to approve the application for the Keystone XL pipeline. The landmark energy project is estimated to support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and provide for the delivery of affordable North American energy supplies. But despite the untold economic benefits and the environmental “green light” from the U.S. Department of State, the project has remained tied up in red tape for more than six years. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, praised today’s bipartisan vote of 252 to 161. A vote on the legislation is expected in the U.S. Senate next week.

“President Obama famously proclaimed in January 2013 that he would do ‘whatever it takes’ to create jobs and 2014 was renamed the President's so-called ‘Year of Action.’ But when the chips are down, President Obama is incapable of saying ‘yes’ to a project that would create thousands of American jobs and advance our energy security. But despite the President’s excuses, we haven’t given up on finding a bipartisan solution,” said Upton. “Hopefully, this ninth vote is the charm, and the Senate and President will finally agree that after six years, it’s time to say yes to energy and yes to jobs.”

The Keystone XL project has been exhaustively studied with more than 22,000 pages of federal environmental review. It is also expected to be one of the safest pipelines ever built, adhering to the new pipeline safety standards that were advanced by Upton and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and signed into law by the President in January 2012.