The Republican-controlled House voted 237-187 to approve H.R.3408, the Protecting Investment in Oil Shale the Next Generation of Environmental, Energy, and Resource Security Act, on Thursday.

The bill forces approval of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline. Tribes in the U.S. and First Nations in Canada oppose the project, saying it will harm water resources and the environment.

The bill also opens the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling. Alaska Native corporations that own surface and subsurface rights in the refuge support development.

The bill has no chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate, according to news reports.

Get the Story:
Bill forces decision on pipeline, expands drilling to pay for transportation projects (AP 2/16)
House approves opening ANWR — again (The Alaska Journal of Commerce 2/16)
House OKs bill opening ANWR to oil drilling (The Anchorage Daily News 2/17)

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Native Sun News: Oglala Sioux Tribe rallies against Keystone XL (2/16)
Probe finds no wrongdoing for Keystone XL Pipeline review (2/10)