A measure to allow construction of the Keystone XL pipeline failed Tuesday in the Senate with Delaware’s senior Senator voting in favor of the controversial project.
Senator Tom Carper (D-Delaware) was one of 14 Democrats who supported the pipeline bill.
In a statement, Carper said “the application process for Keystone XL started more than six years ago and I voted in favor of bipartisan legislation to move that process forward. Over the last several years, indecision over Keystone has impeded the Senate's ability to work together and make progress, even on issues where Democrats and Republicans can find consensus.”
Despite his support, the bill fell one vote shy of the 60 needed for passage.
Senator Chris Coons (D-Delaware) opposed the bill and Rep. John Carney (D-Delaware) voted against it in the House Friday.
In his statement, Carper also defended his record on environmental issues and said his vote was based on a report by the State Department that the pipeline project would be safe.
