Kansas House Adopts Keystone Resolution

Kansas House members are pressing the White House and the U.S. State Department to approve a permit for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to Texas.

The House of Representatives voted 108-11 on Tuesday to adopt a nonbinding resolution urging President Barack Obama and the State Department to approve permits to allow construction to begin. Federal approval is required because the pipeline crosses international boundaries.

Opponents have delayed the project for four years over concerns that extracting oil from Alberta tar sands would increase global warming. The project was further delayed when Nebraska officials objected to the proposed route through the state.

A recent State Department report raised no major objections to the project, which has already been constructed through Kansas.

The House resolution goes to the Senate.