U.S. Representatives from Texas React to Keystone XL Pipeline Vote

The U.S. House passed the controversial Keystone XL pipeline bill Friday, January 9, 266-163 despite President Barack Obama’s vows to veto the measure mere hours after Nebraska’s Supreme Court tossed a case concerning the pipeline.

Texas Representatives to the House Randy Neugebauer and Mac Thornberry voted in favor of the bill. Thornberry said approving the bill was common sense and lambasted opponents as radical environmentalists.

“The only thing standing in the way of building this pipeline, creating thousands of jobs, and gaining greater energy security is President Obama and radical environmentalists. And that is unacceptable,”

The proposed pipeline would pump crude oil from Canada in the north to refineries in the south and requires presidential approval because the pipeline crosses international borders.

Representative Neugebauer said the president was putting politics ahead of American jobs and energy security.

“It is clear that the Obama administration is running out of excuses to further delay construction. The president should rescind his veto threat and listen to the will of the 19th District of Texas and the American people. It is long past time to build the Keystone XL pipeline.”

The bill will now move into the republican-controlled Senate in the coming weeks.