"Bills to take approval of the contentious Keystone XL pipeline from Canada out of the hands of the Obama administration could be headed for votes in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Democrat Mary Landrieu, chair of the Senate Energy Committee, said she would propose debate later on Wednesday and a vote on Thursday on a bill floated in May to approve the project, which would deliver heavy Canadian oil sands crude to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Landrieu of Louisiana, who faces a runoff election in December against Representative Bill Cassidy to retain her seat, said on the Senate floor she was "confident" she has the votes to pass a bill on TransCanada Corp's $8 billion project.

Republican Cassidy immediately countered by introducing an identical bill in the House, H.R. 5682."

Ros Krasny, Timothy Gardner, and Rick Cowan report for Reuters November 13, 2014. [2]

SEE ALSO:

"White House Hints at Veto of Keystone Bill" (The Hill) [3]

"House To Vote on Keystone Bill Thursday" (The Hill) [4]