Congress started the 114th Congress with consideration of the Keystone pipeline. The House of Representatives passed legislation that would require the administration to approve the construction of the pipeline in the United States. The Senate began consideration of the bill last week and is debating a number of amendments that will take some time to finish.

Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) have introduced an amendment that would end the corn ethanol mandate to the Renewable Fuels Standard. President Barack Obama has threatened to veto the bill. The House vote margin was below the necessary number to override a veto.