January 2015

This week, during consideration of bill to authorize the Keystone oil pipeline, the Senate considered a series of non-binding votes on climate change. The Senate voted 98-1 that climate change is "real and not a hoax." Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) was the sole opposing vote.

The Senate considered a second climate resolution that stated, " 1) climate change is real, and 2) human activity significantly contributes to climate change" which passed by a vote of 50-49, however a 60 vote majority was needed to adopted the resolution. All Democratic Senators supported the resolution and were joined by Republican Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Kelly Ayotte (NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Mark Kirk (R-IL).

The Senate also considered a third amendment, offered by Senator John Hoeven (R-ND) stating that human activity does contribute to climate change but that the Keystone pipeline would not contribute significantly to climate change. The Hoeven amendment received 59 votes, to include 15 Republican Senators, however it fell short of the 60 majority needed to adopt the amendment.

The Keystone pipeline bill expected to pass the House and Senate. President Obama has indicated he will veto the bill.