On Wednesday 37 Republican Senators introduced a bill that would require President Obama's administration to approve TransCanada's Keystone XL pipeline expansion within 60 days. The expansion could be denied, however, if the President Obama declares the project to be against US national interests. Republicans are pushing a decision on the project because of the estimated 20,000 jobs that would be created directly and indirectly, and construction is ready to begin at a moment's notice once it's approved.
The pipeline, which would stretch from the Canadian oil sands to Houston, Texas, has been met with stiff opposition from environmentalists. SteelOrbis previously reported that on November 10 the US State Department decided to delay a decision on the project until 2013 elections because of concern that the pipeline would pass through Nebraska's sandhills, which are in close proximity to major water supply lines.