Tester Sponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Override President Biden’s Decision to Cancel Keystone Pipeline

Senator has pushed consistently for more than a decade to get project built

Following the Senate’s refusal to adopt his bipartisan amendment to the COVID-19 relief package that would override President Biden’s decision to cancel the permit for the Keystone Pipeline, U.S. Senator Jon Tester today cosponsored legislation that would allow the project to move forward.

“I’m not going to stop defending this project, or the jobs and tax revenue that this pipeline would provide to folks who live and work in rural Montana,” said Tester. “I’m sponsoring this bipartisan legislation because President Biden’s decision to cancel the Keystone permit is wrong, and I’m working with Montanans who want to see this pipeline built. I’m going to continue to defend Montana by working closely with Republicans, Democrats, and all stakeholders to move this project forward.”

Tester, who has been a strong supporter of the Keystone pipeline and its job and tax benefits to Eastern Montana for more than a decade, has pushed the Biden Administration to reverse their decision to cancel the permit and come back to the table to sit down with stakeholders-including TC Energy and Montana’s Tribes-to chart a path forward together on the job-creating project.

Tester today offered a bipartisan amendment to the COVID-19 relief bill currently making its way through the Senate that would allow TC Energy to construct and operate their border-crossing facilities without a presidential permit. Tester’s amendment was the only direct vote on the Keystone Pipeline during Senate consideration of the COVID-19 relief package. A majority of the Senate, including both Montana senators, voted for the amendment, but it did not meet the 60 vote threshold to move forward.

Senator Tester has tirelessly supported the Keystone pipeline during his time in elected office. He broke with his party to approve the pipeline’s construction in 2015, and when former President Obama canceled the project, Tester voted to override the veto later that year.