Congressional Roll Call Votes on the Keystone
XL Pipeline
Lynn J. Cunningham
Information Research Specialist
Beth Cook
Information Research Specialist
January 22, 2015
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R43870

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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Summary
TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and
shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for further delivery
to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline would consist of 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the
capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) receives frequent requests for congressional votes
taken on Keystone XL Pipeline legislation. This report provides roll call vote data on Keystone
XL Pipeline legislation identified by CRS using CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database as well
as the Congress.gov legislative database.
Roll call votes listed in the tables are broken down by chamber, Congress, and type of
legislation—substantive votes (i.e., votes on amendments or passage of bills) versus procedural
votes (e.g., votes to recommit the bill to a committee or to provide for the consideration of a bill).
Votes are also listed in chronological order for each Congress.
This report will be updated as events warrant.






Congressional Research Service

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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Contents
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 1
House Roll Call Votes: 112th Congress-Present ............................................................................... 1
Senate Roll Call Votes: 112th Congress-Present ............................................................................. 10

Tables
Table 1. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-112th Congress ...................................... 1
Table 2. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-112th Congress .................... 4
Table 3. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline – 113th Congress ................................... 5
Table 4. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-113th Congress .................... 8
Table 5. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-114th Congress ...................................... 9
Table 6. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-114th Congress .................... 9
Table 7. Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-112th Congress ...................................... 10
Table 8. Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-113th Congress ...................................... 11
Table 9. Procedural Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline-114th Congress .................... 12

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 12

Congressional Research Service

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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Introduction
TransCanada’s proposed Keystone XL Pipeline would transport oil sands crude from Canada and
shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for further delivery
to Gulf Coast refineries. The pipeline would consist of 875 miles of 36-inch pipe with the
capacity to transport 830,000 barrels per day.1
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) receives frequent requests for congressional votes
taken on Keystone XL Pipeline legislation. This report provides roll call vote data on Keystone
XL Pipeline legislation identified by CRS using CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database as well
as the Congress.gov legislative database.
Roll call votes listed in the following tables are broken down by chamber, Congress, and type of
legislation—substantive votes (i.e., votes on amendments or passage of bills) versus procedural
votes (e.g., votes to recommit the bill to a committee or to provide for the consideration of a bill).
Votes are also listed in chronological order for each Congress.
House Roll Call Votes: 112th Congress-Present
According to both CQ.com and Congress.gov, the House of Representatives first introduced
Keystone XL Pipeline legislation in the 112th Congress. The first recorded votes in the House also
took place in that Congress.
Table 1. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—112th Congress
House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Amdt. 720 to H.R.
Amendment sought to add language describing
Roll no. 640
Failed (164-260)
1938
an environmental finding, which states that the
Keystone XL Pipeline would run through the
7/26/2011
Ogal ala Aquifer and which would explain the
risks involved with the proposed route.
H.Amdt. 721 to H.R.
Amendment sought to strike paragraph 15 of
Roll no. 641
Failed (164-261)
1938
the findings section, which says that analysis
using EPA models shows that the Keystone XL
7/26/2011
Pipeline wil result in no significant change in
total United States or global greenhouse gas
emissions.

1 For more information about the Keystone XL Pipeline, see CRS Report R43787, Keystone XL Pipeline: Overview and
Recent Developments, by Paul W. Parfomak et al.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Amdt. 722 to H.R.
Amendment sought to include a finding stating
Roll no. 642
Failed (163-264)
1938
that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration (PHMSA) Administrator testified
7/26/2011
at a congressional hearing and said that PHMSA
had not done a study analyzing the risks
associated with transporting diluted bitumen.
The amendment also sought to require PHMSA
to complete a review of the risks associated
with transporting diluted bitumen, and whether
current pipeline regulations are sufficient.
H.Amdt. 724 to H.R.
Amendment sought to strike language in the
Roll no. 643
Failed (155-272)
1938
findings section of the bill describing the
pipeline’s safety standards and replace it with
7/26/2011
language declaring that another pipeline
operated by the applicant has leaked more than
a dozen times in the United States and 21 times
in Canada in less than one year of operation.
H.Amdt. 725 to H.R.
Amendment sought to strike language in the
Roll no. 644
Failed (152-275)
1938
findings section of the bill declaring that
increased Canadian exports of oil to China
7/26/2011
would increase U.S. reliance on oil from other
foreign sources, especial y the Middle East. The
amendment would replace it with language that
would highlight conclusions by Canadian oil
consultants saying the pipeline would allow
crude oil from the Canadian tar-sands to be
exported to other countries, particularly China.
H.Amdt. 726 to H.R.
Amendment sought to al ow for 120 days after
Roll no. 645
Failed (161-265)
1938
the final environmental impact statement or no
later than January 1, 2012, for the President to
7/26/2011
issue a final decision on the Keystone XL
Pipeline.
H.Amdt. 727 to H.R.
Amendment sought to allow a Presidential
Roll no. 646
Failed (168-260)
1938
permit approving the pipeline to be issued only
if the applicant has received a certification from
7/26/2011
the Energy Secretary and the Pipeline and
Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
stating that the applicant is prepared to respond
to a “worst-case oil spill scenario."
H.Amdt. 728 to H.R.
Amendment sought to require a study on the
Roll no. 647
Failed (163-263)
1938
health impacts of increased air pollution in
communities surrounding the refineries that will
7/26/2011
process oil transported through the proposed
Keystone XL Pipeline before any approval of the
pipeline could be granted.
H.Amdt. 730 to H.R.
Amendment sought to block the President from
Roll. no. 648
Failed (164-261)
1938
issuing or denying a permit for the pipeline until
the Energy Secretary, in consultation with the
7/26/2011
Federal Trade Commission, certified that
permitting of the pipeline would not lead to
manipulation of the U.S. oil market.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.R. 1938
Passage of the bill that would require the
Roll no. 650
Passed (279-147)
Administration to make a permitting decision on
the Keystone XL Pipeline within 30 days after
7/26/2011
the final environmental impact statement is
issued or by Nov. 1, whichever is earlier. It
would direct the President, working through the
Energy Secretary, to coordinate with federal
agencies to make sure necessary review stages
are expedited.
H.R. 3630
In part, the bill would require the President to
Roll no. 923
Passed (234-193)
approve the Keystone XL Pipeline permit
application within 60 days of the bill’s enactment
12/13/2011
unless it is determined that the pipeline is not in
the national interest.
H.Res. 501
In part, the resolution expresses the sense of
Roll no. 949
Passed (226-185)
the House that that any final measure to extend
the payroll tax holiday, extend federally funded
12/20/2011
unemployment insurance benefits, or prevent
decreases in reimbursement for physicians who
provide care to Medicare beneficiaries should
include final approval of the Keystone XL oil
pipeline.
H.Amdt. 932 to H.R.
Amendment sought to require the Federal
Roll no. 55
Failed (173-249)
3408
Energy Regulatory Commission to review the
results of the PHMSA study, as required by the
2/15/2012
bipartisan pipeline safety bill (P.L. 112-90),
before issuing a permit for the Keystone XL
Pipeline.
H.Amdt. 933 to H.R.
Amendment sought to ensure that if the
Roll no. 56
Failed (173-254)
3408
Keystone XL Pipeline is built, the oil that it
transports to the Gulf of Mexico and the fuels
2/15/2012
made from that oil remain in this country for
use in domestic commerce. The amendment
allows the President to waive this requirement if
it can be shown that an export of the oil or
fuels will not increase U.S. dependence on oil or
fuels the U.S. buys from hostile nations; that
prices for refiners and consumers will not go up
if the export occurs; or if an export is needed
to comply with any international treaties or
other U.S. agreements have to export oil or
fuels.
H.Amdt. 934 to H.R.
Amendment sought to prohibit the issuance of a Roll no. 57
Failed (149-276)
3408
permit absent conditions that restrict the ability
of the permit recipient from initiating or
2/15/2012
threatening to initiate proceedings to invoke the
power of eminent domain against the will of a
property’s owner for the purposes of
constructing or operating the Keystone XL
Pipeline.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Amdt. 935 to H.R.
Amendment sought to require that a permit for
Roll no. 58
Failed (193-234)
3408
the Keystone XL Pipeline is not to be issued or
deemed issued unless the permit applicant can
2/15/2012)
certify and provide adequate documentation to
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
that at least 75% of the iron and steel to be
used in domestic portion of the pipeline is
produced in North America.
H.R. 3408
Passage of the bill would, in part, provide for
Roll no. 71
Passed (237-187)
approval of the 1,700-mile Keystone XL Pipeline
and shift permitting authority for the project
2/16/2012
from the State Department to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission.
H.R. 4348
Passage of the bill to extend the authorization
Roll no. 170
Passed (293-127)
for surface transportation programs would, in
part, transfer authority to approve the Keystone
4/18/2012
XL pipeline project from the State Department
to the FERC, which would be required to issue
the permit within 30 days of receiving an
application.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
Table 2. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—112th Congress
House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Res. 370
Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.
Roll no. 637
Passed (246-171)
1938) to direct the President to expedite the
consideration and approval of the construction
7/26/2011
and operation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline,
and for other purposes.
H.R. 1938
Motion to recommit the bill to the Energy and
Roll no. 649
Failed (181-248)
Commerce Committee with instructions that it
be reported back immediately with an
7/26/2011
amendment that would direct the President to
ensure federal agencies take any feasible step to
prevent an increase in gas prices and limit
seizures of American farm and ranch land. It
also would add language to the findings section
of the bill declaring that the applicant has
threatened to condemn the land of farmers and
ranchers along the pipeline route and has
projected that the pipeline will increase oil
prices.
H.R. 3630
Motion to disagree with the Senate
Roll no. 946
Passed (229-193)
amendments and request a conference on a bill
(H.R. 3630) that would, in part, require the
12/20/2011
President to approve the Keystone XL oil
pipeline within 60 days of the bill’s enactment
unless he certifies that doing so is not in the
national interest.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.R. 4348
Motion to instruct House conferees to insist on
Roll no. 292
Passed (261-152)
House-passed provisions that would transfer
authority to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline
5/18/2012
project from the State Department to FERC,
and provide that if FERC does not approve the
pipeline within 30 days that it be deemed
approved.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
Table 3. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—113th Congress
House Roll
Vote Results/Date
Call Vote
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Amdt. 66 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to add language to the
Roll no. 169
Passed (246-168)
findings section of the bill regarding the impact
of the Keystone XL Pipeline on the
5/22/2013
development of crude oil, the projected
increase in greenhouse gases, the impact to land
and water resources, an assessment of the spill
risk, and the projected safety of the pipeline.
H.Amdt. 67 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to add a finding that the
Roll no. 170
Failed (146-269)
reliance on oil sands crudes for transportation
fuels would likely result in an increase in
5/22/2013
incremental greenhouse gas emissions in the
United States equivalent to approximately that
of 4.3 million passenger vehicles. The
amendment also sought to provide that the bill
would not go into effect unless the President
found that TransCanada or oil sands producers
could ful y offset the additional greenhouse gas
emissions produced annual y.
H.Amdt. 68 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to prohibit final approval
Roll no. 171
Failed (177-239)
and construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline
until a study of the health impacts of increased
5/22/2013
air pol ution in communities surrounding the
refineries has been completed.
H.Amdt. 69 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to require that the Pipeline
Roll no. 172
Failed (176-239)
and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration,
in consultation with the Department of
5/22/2013
Homeland Security, conduct a study of the
vulnerabilities of the Keystone XL Pipeline to a
terrorist attack and certify that necessary
protections have been put in place.
H.Amdt. 70 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to strike Section 3 of the
Roll no. 173
Failed (177-238)
bill (Keystone XL Permit Approval), which
states that the Keystone XL Pipeline does not
5/22/2013
require a permit to cross the international
border between Canada and the United States.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Amdt. 71 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to remove the mandate to
Roll no. 174
Failed (182-234)
allow one specifically named company
[TransCanada] to never receive appropriate
5/22/2013
oversight through the permit process for
operation and/or maintenance—in perpetuity,
while allowing construction permit fast-track.
H.Amdt. 72 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to lengthen the time period
Roll no. 175
Failed (182-234)
for a person to file a claim against pipeline
operators from 60 days to one year.
5/22/2013
H.Amdt. 73 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to require the Government
Roll. no. 176
Failed (185-231)
Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study
and prepare a report of the Keystone XL
5/22/2103
Pipeline to determine the total projected costs
of pipeline spill cleanup, including the potential
impacts of a petroleum spill on public health and
the environment and the quantity and quality of
water available for agricultural and municipal
purposes.
H.Amdt. 75 to H.R. 3
Amendment sought to require that al oil and
Roll no. 177
Failed (162-255)
refined fuels transported through the Keystone
XL Pipeline be used in the United States and not
5/22/2013
exported, unless the President finds that an
exception is required by law or in the national
interest.
H.R. 3
Passage of the bill sought to declare that a
Roll no. 179
Passed (241-175)
Presidential permit is not required for approval
of the Keystone XL Pipeline’s northern route
5/22/2013
from the Canadian border through Nebraska.
Under the bill, environmental impact statements
issued to date would be considered sufficient to
satisfy all requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act and the National
Historic Preservation Act, and the Interior
Department, and the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers would be deemed to have granted all
the necessary permits. It would grant the U.S.
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
exclusive jurisdiction regarding pipeline legal
disputes. Claims would have to be brought
within 60 days of the action that gives rise to
the claim. As amended it would require
TransCanada to submit its oil spill response plan
and any updates to the governors of each state
where the pipeline operates.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.R. 2
Passage of the bill that would al ow for
Roll no. 515
Passed (226-191)
construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline and
require that more federal lands and offshore
9/18/2014
areas be made available each year for oil and gas
leasing. It also would streamline the process for
approving drilling permits and limit the
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA's)
ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions
from fossil-fueled power plants under the Clean
Air Act. It would prohibit the EPA from
finalizing energy-related regulations estimated to
cost more than $1 billion if the Energy
Department determines that the regulations will
cause significant adverse effects to the economy.
It would block federal rules related to hydraulic
fracturing for natural gas and set statutory
deadlines for FERC and other federal agencies
to act when considering certification or permits
for the construction or expansion of natural gas
pipelines. It also would require the Energy
Department to expedite decisions on
applications to export liquefied natural gas and
establish a new system for the approval and
permitting of oil and gas pipelines and electrical
transmission lines that cross the U.S. border
into Canada and Mexico.
H.R. 5682
Passage of the bill sought to immediately allow
Roll No. 519
Passed (252-161)
TransCanada to construct, connect, operate,
and maintain the pipeline and cross-border
11/14/2014
facilities known as the Keystone XL Pipeline,
including any revision to the pipeline route
within Nebraska as required or authorized by
the state. It also would consider the January
2014 environmental impact statement issued by
the State Department sufficient to satisfy all
requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. It
also would grant the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction
regarding legal disputes over the pipeline or the
constitutionality of the bill.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Table 4. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—113th Congress
House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
(yeas-nays)
H.Res. 228
Motion to order the previous question (thus
Roll no. 167
Passed (223-194)
ending debate and the possibility of amendment)
on the rule (H.Res. 228) that would provide for
5/22/2013
House floor consideration of the bill (H.R. 3)
that would declare a Presidential permit is not
required for approval of the Keystone XL
Pipeline’s northern route from the Canadian
border through Nebraska.
H.Res. 228
Adoption of the rule (H.Res. 228) that would
Roll no. 168
Passed (228-185)
provide for House floor consideration of the bill
(H.R. 3) that would declare a Presidential permit
5/22/2013
is not required for approval of the Keystone XL
Pipeline’s northern route from the Canadian
border through Nebraska.
H.R. 3
Motion to recommit the bill to the House
Roll no.178
Failed (194-223)
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
and report it back immediately with an
5/22/2013
amendment that would require TransCanada to
pay for cleanup of oil spills on U.S. soil.
H.Res. 748
Adoption of the rule (H.Res. 748) that sought
Roll no. 517
Passed (233-185)
to provide for House floor consideration of a
bill (H.R. 5682) to immediately allow
11/13/2014
TransCanada to construct, connect, operate,
and maintain the pipeline and cross-border
facilities known as the Keystone XL Pipeline,
including any revision to the pipeline route
within Nebraska as required or authorized by
the state. It also would consider sufficient the
January 2014 environmental impact statement
issued by the State Department to satisfy all
requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. It
also would grant the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction
regarding legal disputes over the pipeline or the
constitutionality of this bill.
H.R. 5682
Motion to recommit the bill to the House
Roll no. 518
Failed (192-224)
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
and report it back immediately with an
11/14/2014
amendment that would require that oil
transported by the TransCanada Keystone
Pipeline be considered crude oil for the
purposes of determining its contributions to the
Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Table 5. House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—114th Congress
House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
(yeas-nays)
H.R. 3
Passage of the bill sought to immediately allow
Roll no. 16
Passed (266-153)
TransCanada to construct, connect, operate,
and maintain the pipeline and cross-border
1/9/2015
facilities known as the Keystone XL Pipeline,
including any revision to the pipeline route
within Nebraska as required or authorized by
the state. It also would consider the January
2014 environmental impact statement issued by
the State Department sufficient to satisfy all
requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act. It
also would grant the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia exclusive jurisdiction
regarding legal disputes over the pipeline or the
constitutionality of the bill.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
Table 6. Procedural House Roll Call Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—114th Congress
House Roll
Call Vote
Vote Results/Date
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
No.
H.Res. 19
Motion to order the previous question (thus
Roll no. 11
Passed (240-180)
ending debate and possibility of amendment) on
the rule (H.Res. 19) that would provide for
1/8/2015
House floor consideration on the bill (H.R. 3)
that would allow for the construction of the
cross-border Keystone XL Pipeline.
H.Res. 19
Adoption of the rule (H.Res. 19) that would
Roll no. 12
Passed (244-181)
provide for House floor consideration of the bill
(H.R. 3) that would al ow for the construction
1/8/2015
of the cross-border Keystone XL Pipeline.
H.R. 3
Motion to recommit the bill to the House
Roll no. 15
Failed (180-237)
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
and report it back immediately with an
1/9/2015
amendment that would require TransCanada
Keystone Pipeline, L.P., to certify to the
president that diluted bitumen and other
materials derived from oil sands transported
through the Keystone XL Pipeline will be
treated as crude oil for the purposes of
determining contributions for the Oil Spill
Liability Trust Fund.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.

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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Senate Roll Call Votes: 112th Congress-Present
Similar to the House of Representatives, both CQ.com and Congress.gov indicate that the Senate
first introduced Keystone XL Pipeline legislation during the 112th Congress. The chamber’s first
recorded votes on Keystone XL took place in that Congress as well.
Table 7. Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—112th Congress
Senate
Vote Results/Date
Record
(yeas-nays)
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
Vote No.
S.Amdt. 1537 to S. 1813 Amendment sought to provide for approval of
Vote no. 34
Failed (56-42)
the Keystone XL Pipeline between Canada and
the United States. It would require that the
3/8/2012
route for the pipeline in Nebraska be submitted
by the state of Nebraska. It also would provide
for certain environmental protections.
Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed
to raise the majority requirement for adoption
of the amendment to 60 votes.
S.Amdt. 1817 to S. 1813 Amendment sought to prohibit the export of
Vote no. 33
Failed (33-65)
crude oil transported by the Keystone XL
Pipeline and related facilities unless the
3/8/2012
prohibition is waived by the president, and
require the use of U.S. iron, steel, and
manufactured goods in the construction of the
pipeline, with certain exceptions.
Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed
to raise the majority requirement for adoption
of the amendment to 60 votes.
S.Amdt. 1826 to S. 1813 Amendment sought to extend energy tax credit
Vote no. 38
Failed (41-57)
programs, excluding the production credit and
the stimulus grant program that expired in
3/13/2012
2011. It also would approve the Keystone XL
Pipeline and expand oil and gas drilling in new
areas, including the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge in Alaska. Provisions would be partially
offset by extending the federal employee pay
freeze through 2013.
Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed
to raise the majority requirement for adoption
of the amendment to 60 votes
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.

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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Table 8. Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—113th Congress
Senate
Record
Vote Results/Date
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
Vote No.
(yeas-nays)
S.Amdt. 622 to
Amendment sought to create a deficit-neutral
Vote no. 60
Failed (33-66)
S.Con.Res. 8
reserve fund to allow for legislation to provide
for an analysis of the impact of approving the
3/22/21013
Keystone XL Pipeline, including whether it
would raise oil prices, harm domestic energy
security, use material not manufactured in the
United States, or adversely affect individual
property rights, job creation, or national
security.
S.Amdt. 494 to
Amendment sought to create a deficit-neutral
Vote no. 61
Passed (62-37)
S.Con.Res. 8
reserve fund to allow for legislation that would
provide for the approval and construction of the
3/22/2013
Keystone XL Pipeline as long as the legislation’s
costs are offset without raising revenue.
S. 2280
Passage of the bill would immediately allow
Vote no. 280
Failed (59-41)
TransCanada to construct, connect, operate,
and maintain the pipeline and cross-border
11/18/2014
facilities known as the Keystone XL Pipeline,
including any revision to the pipeline route
within Nebraska as required or authorized by
the state. The 2014 environmental impact
statement issued by the State Department
would be declared sufficient to satisfy all
requirements for review under the National
Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered
Species Act. It would grant the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the District of Columbia exclusive
jurisdiction regarding legal disputes over the
pipeline or the constitutionality of the bill.
Note: By unanimous consent, the Senate agreed
to raise the majority requirement for passage of
the bill to 60 votes.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.
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Congressional Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Table 9. Procedural Senate Record Votes on Keystone XL Pipeline—114th Congress
Senate
Record
Vote Results/Date
Bill/Amendment No.
Vote Summary
Vote No.
(yeas-nays)
S. 1
Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate)
Vote no. 3
Passed (63-32)
on the motion to proceed to the bill that would
immediately allow TransCanada to construct,
1/12/2015
connect, operate, and maintain the pipeline and
cross-border facilities known as the Keystone
XL Pipeline.
S. 1
Motion to table amendment no. 13 to the
Vote no. 4
Passed (57-42
substitute amendment no. 2. Amendment no. 13
would ban the export of crude oil, bitumen, or
1/20/2015
refined petroleum fuel products transported in
the United States by the operation of the
Keystone XL pipeline, unless a presidential
waiver is obtained. The substitute amendment
would immediately al ow TransCanada to
construct, connect, operate, and maintain the
pipeline and cross-border facilities known as the
Keystone XL Pipeline.
S. 1
Motion to table amendment no. 17 to the
Vote no. 5
Passed (53-46)
substitute amendment no. 2. Amendment no. 17
would require that the iron, steel, or
1/20/2015
manufactured goods used in the construction of
the Keystone XL Pipeline originate in the
United States, unless such products are not
sufficiently available with satisfactory quality or
the use of such products would increase the
cost of construction by more than 25%. The
substitute amendment would immediately allow
TransCanada to construct, connect, operate,
and maintain the pipeline and cross-border
facilities known as the Keystone XL Pipeline.
Source: Congress.gov; CQ.com’s Roll Call Vote Report database.


Author Contact Information

Lynn J. Cunningham
Beth Cook
Information Research Specialist
Information Research Specialist
lcunningham@crs.loc.gov, 7-8971
ecook@crs.loc.gov, 7-9090


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