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The Senate voted 63-32 on a measure to allow
debate and the offering of amendments on the bill.
"This evening's vote means it will now advance to the floor for
open debate and every member will have an opportunity to offer
amendments they believe will strengthen the bill," said Senator
John Hoeven, a North Dakota Republican, who is sponsoring the
bill with Democrat Joe Manchin of West Virginia.
Backers of TransCanada Corp's project also have 63 supporters,
including all 54 Republicans, to take approval of the project
out of the hands of the Obama administration and allow Congress
to approve it. They are four short of the 67 needed to overcome
any Obama veto, which the White House has threatened.
The final vote on the measure is expected to be held during the
last week of January.
Supporters of the pipeline to carry Canadian oil to Nebraska en
route to refineries along the Gulf Coast say it would increase
U.S. energy security and weaken countries such as Venezuela,
Iran and Russia that are on unfriendly terms with Washington.
Critics of the bill including environmentalists who are an
important part of Obama's base say it would lead to an increase
in emissions linked to climate change.
The Keystone bill will be the first test of Senate Majority
Leader Mitch McConnell's promise to hold open debates on
amendments in the full Senate. Democrats plan to offer several
amendments that could prolong the debate, such as one that would
prevent oil transported by the pipeline, which will carry
830,000 barrels per day, from being exported.
The Obama administration has been considering Keystone for six
years. After a Nebraska court ruled on Friday that the
pipeline's route through the state will stand, supporters of the
project say it is time for Obama to work with Congress.
But the president, who has said he would not approve the project
if it significantly boosted emissions, has said the State
Department must complete its review. He has also raised
questions about the project recently, saying it would do nothing
to lower gasoline prices for U.S. consumers.
(Reporting by Timothy Gardner; Editing by John Whitesides, Dan
Grebler and Lisa Shumaker)
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