BREAKING: Keystone XL Pipeline Passes Senate, 62-36

Daniel Doherty | January 29, 2015 4:30 PM

After years of lobbying for its passage -- and significant setbacks along the way -- the Keystone XL Pipeline has finally passed the upper chamber:

Sizable support @McConnellPress: U.S. Senate passes #KeystoneXL 62-36.
— SalenaZito (@SalenaZitoTrib) January 29, 2015

The bill needed 60 votes to pass. It is now heading to the White House. Stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE: This victory will be short-lived:

The White House promptly declared that Mr. Obama would veto the measure — which would force the approval of a proposed 1,179-mile oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico — in a stroke of the pen that is expected to be the opening shot in a series of vetoes of Republican measures.

UPDATE: The legislation earned bipartisan support:

Nine Democrats joined with Republicans to support the bill despite President Barack Obama's promise to veto it because he thinks the decision should remain up to the executive branch.

UPDATE: Senate Republicans are already putting pressure on the White House to sign the bill:

The President should reconsider his veto threat of #KeystoneXL after today’s bipartisan vote. Bill includes provisions he already supports.
— Rob Portman (@senrobportman) January 29, 2015