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By: LWV Staff

U.S. Senate Fails to Override Veto of Keystone XL Pipeline

Press Release / Last Updated:

Washington, DC - “We are pleased that today the U.S. Senate was unable to override the President’s veto on the Keystone XL pipeline legislation,” said Elisabeth MacNamara, President of the League of Women Voters of the U.S.

“The Keystone XL pipeline is not in the best interests of our nation,” said MacNamara. “It is unsound energy policy: It threatens the safety of our drinking water and increases greenhouse gases which contribute to climate change.”

“It was necessary to veto this legislation and stop the construction of the pipeline in order to protect the health of Americans and the health of our planet,” MacNamara said. Earlier this week the League thanked the President for using the veto on this misguided legislation.

“Congress was taking inappropriate steps to override the executive review process. This process has been in place for decades under administrations of both political parties. It is the job of the executive branch to finalize the pipeline permit. We hope that President Obama will side with the thousands of League activists who have urged him to take the next historic step in this process and fully reject the pipeline after a complete review is finalized by the State Department.”

“The Keystone XL Pipeline is all risk and no reward,” MacNamara said. “It is time to end our nation’s reliance on fossil fuels at the expense of the health and well-being of Americans and our environment.”

“President Obama: Put people not polluters at the center of this vital decision,” concluded MacNamara.

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Contact: Kelly Ceballos, 202-263-1331, [email protected].

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The League of Women Voters is celebrating 95 years of Making Democracy Work® at every level of government. In 1920, the League was founded as an outgrowth of the movement that secured women the right to vote to help new voters engage with their government. Today the League empowers all voters to improve their local, state and national government. Learn more about the League of Women Voters and join our celebration!

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