WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., voted today in favor of a bill to approve the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

“There are 2.6 million miles of pipeline infrastructure in place in the United States today,” said Wicker. “Adding another 1,179 miles is minute in comparison and would reap immense economic benefits, while having little or no effect on the environment. I am disappointed Senate Democrats continue to put politics and special interests above creating thousands of American jobs; however, I am optimistic that the Senate will approve the project next year under the new Republican majority.”

Advantages of the Keystone pipeline’s construction include:

• Creating more than 42,000 jobs, according to the State Department;
• Minimal effects to environment based on five exhaustive environmental reviews; and
• Increased supply of North American energy through the shipment of more than 800,000 barrels of crude oil per day. 

The House version of the bill passed by a vote of 252-161. The bipartisan measure failed to garner the 60 votes necessary to pass in the Senate.