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WASHINGTON – Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C., today praised passage of legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline. S. 1 passed the House by a vote of 270 to 152 and now goes to President Obama who has threatened to veto the bill.

“For more than six years, supporters of the Keystone XL pipeline have been fighting to secure the necessary approval that would allow the U.S. to take advantage of vital oil production in Canada and the northern United States,” said Foxx. “It is the most studied pipeline in our nation’s history, and thousands of pages prove its worth to our economy and national interest and further document its safety. It will spur job creation, help us on our way to energy security and increase access to affordable North American oil.”

This is the 11th time that the House has passed legislation to authorize building the pipeline. 

“The president claims he just wants to let the State Department review process conclude and was waiting for the resolution of a lawsuit challenging the pipeline’s route through Nebraska. Well the State Department has already determined that the Keystone project would have a minimal impact on the environment, and Nebraska’s Supreme Court has tossed that lawsuit and upheld Keystone’s proposed path,” said Foxx. “It is my hope that the strong bipartisan support for the project encourages President Obama to change his mind and finally act in America’s energy interests.”

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U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx represents North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District and is the elected Republican Conference Secretary. Dr. Foxx is the chair of the House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and serves as Vice Chair of the House Rules Committee.