How Did Hawaii Senators Vote in Narrow Defeat of Keystone XL Pipeline?

The Keystone XL pipeline was denied congressional approval for construction in 2014 by the margin of a single Senate vote, narrowly defeating Senate bill 2280 in what was a mostly partisan effort.

According to a complete Senate roll call, 59 members voted to pass the measure, S.2280, and 41 voted to fail it. Of those "Yea" votes, 45 were cast by Republicans and 14 were cast by Democrats. The "Nay" votes consisted of 39 Democrats and two independents.

VOTE NOW: Are You Concerned About Global Warming?

The votes were cast on Nov. 18, 2014. The bill was introduced May 1, 2014, by North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven and had 55 co-sponsors.

Approval of the bill would have allowed TransCanada Keystone Pipeline to construct and operate a pipeline from Canada through the Midwest to Gulf Coast refineries waiting for crude oil pumped from the Canadian tar sands.

Hawaii's Democratic Sens. Mazie Hirono and Brian Schatz sided with the majority of their party against the mainland pipeline, citing climate change as the reason for their opposition.

“Climate change ... threatens our islands' economy, our national security, and our very way of life. Fast-tracking the Keystone Pipeline would only further our country's addiction to fossil fuels instead of developing a long-term strategy to address sustainable energy practices,” Hirono said in a statement.

Sen. Schatz is one of the Senate's most outpoken critics of climate deniers, and he testified against the bill on the Senate floor prior to the roll call.



URGENT: Do You Think Global Warming Is a Hoax? Vote Here Now!

Related Stories:

• Global Warming: 5 Arguments For Building the Keystone XL Pipeline
• Global Warming: 8 Quotes From the Oil Industry on the Heated Debate of the Keystone XL Pipeline