Senators John Hoeven (R-ND) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA) sponsored S. 2280, a bill to automatically approve the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, which would transport the world’s dirtiest oil through the American heartland to an international shipping port on the Gulf Coast where it would be exported. Keystone XL would lead to a significant expansion of tar sands development, unleashing massive amounts of carbon pollution and threatening surrounding communities, ecosystems, and watersheds including the Ogallala aquifer, which provides drinking water for millions of Americans. Despite these threats, Keystone XL would create just 35 permanent jobs and would not enhance American energy independence. S.2280 would short circuit the federal approval process, eliminating the State Department’s ability to assess whether the pipeline is in the national interest and the President’s authority to ultimately approve or reject the project. On November 18, the Senate rejected S. 2280 by a vote of 59-41 (60 votes were needed for passage; Senate roll call vote 280). NO IS THE PRO-ENVIRONMENT VOTE.