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Northern Route Approval Act

Introduced: March 15, 2013 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 113th Congress ended
It never became law before the 113th Congress (2013–2014) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 49 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Apr 24, 2014
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs Discharged.
Apr 24, 2014
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation Discharged.
Jun 3, 2013
Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 81.
May 23, 2013
Received in the Senate, read the first time.
May 22, 2013
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
May 22, 2013
On passage Passed by recorded vote: 241 - 175, 1 Present (Roll no. 179).
May 22, 2013
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 194 - 223 (Roll no. 178).
May 22, 2013
The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H2893)
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Bishop (NY) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the House to report the same back with an amendment requiring TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to certify to the President that diluted bitumen and other materials derived from tar sands or oils sands that are transported through the Keystone XL pipeline be treated as crude oil for the purposes of determining contributions that fund the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund.
May 22, 2013
Mr. Bishop (NY) moved to recommit with instructions to Transportation. (consideration: CR H2892-2893; text: CR H2892)
May 22, 2013
The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H2875-2876)
May 22, 2013
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H2892)
May 22, 2013
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment No. 10.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cohen amendment No. 9.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Chu amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Chu demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Chu amendment No. 8.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Jackson Lee demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Rahall amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Rahall demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Jackson Lee amendment No. 7.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Esty amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Esty demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Esty amendment No. 6.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Rahall amendment No. 5.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Connolly amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Connolly demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Connolly amendment No. 4.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Johnson (GA) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Johnson (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Johnson(GA) amendment No. 3.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Waxman amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Waxman demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Waxman amendment No. 2.
May 22, 2013
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Weber amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Weber demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
May 22, 2013
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 228, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Weber(TX) amendment No. 1.
May 22, 2013
GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with 90 minutes of general debate on H.R. 3.
May 22, 2013
The Speaker designated the Honorable Steve Womack to act as Chairman of the Committee.
May 22, 2013
House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 228 and Rule XVIII.
May 22, 2013
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3 with 1 hour and 30 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
May 22, 2013
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 228. (consideration: CR H2862-2895)
May 22, 2013
Rule H. Res. 228 passed House.
May 21, 2013
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 228 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3 with 1 hour and 30 minutes of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order.
May 17, 2013
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 40.
May 17, 2013
Reported by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. H. Rept. 113-61, Part III.
May 17, 2013
Reported by the Committee on Natural Resources. H. Rept. 113-61, Part II.
May 17, 2013
Reported by the Committee on Energy and Commerce. H. Rept. 113-61, Part I.
May 16, 2013
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 33 - 24.
May 16, 2013
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 24, 2013
Ordered to be Reported by the Yeas and Nays: 24 - 17.
Apr 24, 2013
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 24, 2013
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Apr 24, 2013
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources Discharged.
 Votes taken on this bill 2
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
May 22, 2013 House · vote #179 On Passage Passed 241–175 See who voted →
May 22, 2013 House · vote #178 On Motion to Recommit with Instructions Failed 194–223 See who voted →
 Amendments to this bill 10

Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.

2 agreed to 8 failed

AmendmentSponsorPurposeStatusLatest action
HAMDT 75 — Amendment sought to require that all oil and refined fuels transported through the Keystone XL Pipeline be us… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 74 Cohen, Steve Amendment requires TransCanada to submit its oil spill response plan and any updates to the plan, to the Gove… Agreed to May 22, 2013
HAMDT 73 Chu, Judy Amendment sought to require the GAO to conduct a study and prepare a report of the Keystone XL pipeline to de… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 72 — Amendment sought to lengthen the time period for filing a claim under the Act from 60 days to 1 year. Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 71 — Amendment sought to remove the mandate to allow one specifically named company to never receive appropriate o… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 70 — Amendment sought to strike section 3 of the bill (Keystone XL Permit Approval) which states that the Keystone… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 69 — Amendment sought to require that the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, in consultation … Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 68 Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" Amendment sought to require the completion of a study on the health impacts of increased air pollution in com… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 67 — Amendment sought to add a finding that the reliance on oil sands crudes for transportation fuels would likely… Failed May 22, 2013
HAMDT 66 Weber, Randy K. Sr. Amendment adds to the findings in Section 2 highlighting the State Department's scientific and environmental … Agreed to May 22, 2013
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Northern Route Approval Act - (Sec. 1) Declares that a presidential permit shall not be required for the pipeline described in the application filed on May 4, 2012, by TransCanada Keystone Pipeline, L.P. to the Department of State for the Keystone XL pipeline, including the Nebraska reroute evaluated in the Final Evaluation Report issued by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in January 2013 and approved by the Nebraska governor.

(Sec. 3) Deems the final environmental impact statement issued by the Secretary of State on August 26, 2011, coupled with such Final Evaluation Report, to satisfy all requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and of the National Historic Preservation Act.

(Sec. 4) Grants original and exclusive jurisdiction to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to determine specified issues (except for review by the Supreme Court on writ of certiorari).

(Sec. 5) Deems the Secretary of the Interior to have issued a written statement setting forth the Secretary's opinion that the Keystone XL pipeline project will not jeopardize the continued existence of the American burying beetle or destroy or adversely modify American burying beetle critical habitat.

States that any taking of the American burying beetle that is incidental to the construction or operation and maintenance of the Keystone XL pipeline shall not be considered a prohibited taking of such species under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

(Sec. 6) Deems the Secretary to have issued a grant of right-of-way and temporary use permit pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.

(Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary of the Army, within 90 days after receipt of an application, to issue certain permits under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Rivers and Harbors Appropriations Act of 1899 which are necessary for pipeline construction, operation, and maintenance described in the May 4, 2012, application, as supplemented by the Nebraska reroute. Deems such a permit issued on the 91st day if the Secretary has not issued them within 90 days after receipt of a permit application.

Authorizes such Secretary to waive any procedural requirement of law or regulation that the Secretary considers desirable to waive in order to accomplish the purposes of this Act.

Prohibits the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from prohibiting or restricting an activity or use of an area authorized under this Act.

(Sec. 8) Deems the Secretary to have issued a special purpose permit under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as described in the application filed with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the Keystone XL pipeline on January 11, 2013.

(Sec. 9) Requires a pipeline owner or operator required under federal law to develop an oil spill response plan for the Keystone XL pipeline to make such plan available to the governor of each state in which the pipeline operates. Requires a plan update to be submitted to the governor within seven days after it is made.

What's happening now April 24, 2014

Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans, and Insular Affairs Discharged.

 Related & companion bills 2
  • HR 2674 Related bill Job Creation Act of 2013
  • HRES 228 Procedurally related Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3) to approve the construction, operation, and maintenance of the Keyston…
 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 7
 Cosponsors 73
All 73 Republican 32
R
Lankford, James
Oklahoma · May 17, 2013
SMITH, LAMAR
· May 16, 2013
Denham, Jeff
· May 15, 2013
Rothfus, Keith
· May 15, 2013
Farenthold, Blake
· May 14, 2013
 R
Webster, Daniel
Florida · May 9, 2013
 R
Williams, Roger
Texas · May 9, 2013
Black, Diane
· May 7, 2013
 R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · May 7, 2013
ROYCE, ED
· May 7, 2013
Woodall, Rob
· May 7, 2013
Barletta, Lou
· May 6, 2013
 R
Fleischmann, Charles J. "Chuck"
Tennessee · May 6, 2013
Jenkins, Lynn
· May 6, 2013
DeSantis, Ron
· May 3, 2013
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · May 3, 2013
Brooks, Susan
· Apr 16, 2013
Tipton, Scott
· Apr 16, 2013
 R
Walberg, Tim
Michigan · Apr 16, 2013
Graves, Tom
· Apr 15, 2013
Pittenger, Robert
· Apr 15, 2013
THORNBERRY, WILLIAM
· Apr 15, 2013
 R
Wilson, Joe
South Carolina · Apr 15, 2013
ROHRABACHER, DANA
· Apr 11, 2013
 R
Gosar, Paul A.
Arizona · Apr 10, 2013
 R
McClintock, Tom
California · Apr 9, 2013
 R
Wagner, Ann
Missouri · Apr 9, 2013
Roby, Martha
· Mar 21, 2013
Rokita, Todd
· Mar 18, 2013
BARTON, JOE
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Bilirakis, Gus M.
Florida · Mar 15, 2013
Bishop, Rob
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Blackburn, Marsha
Tennessee · Mar 15, 2013
Bridenstine, Jim
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Capito, Shelley Moore
West Virginia · Mar 15, 2013
 R
Carter, John R.
Texas · Mar 15, 2013
 R
Cassidy, Bill
Louisiana · Mar 15, 2013
Coffman, Mike
· Mar 15, 2013
Conaway, K.
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Mar 15, 2013
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Mar 15, 2013
CULBERSON, JOHN
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Daines, Steve
Montana · Mar 15, 2013
Flores, Bill
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Foxx, Virginia
North Carolina · Mar 15, 2013
Franks, Trent
· Mar 15, 2013
Granger, Kay
· Mar 15, 2013
 R
Graves, Sam
Missouri · Mar 15, 2013
 R
Griffith, H. Morgan
Virginia · Mar 15, 2013
 R
Guthrie, Brett
Kentucky · Mar 15, 2013
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Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3: Northern Route Approval Act. 113th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3/
MLA
"H.R. 3: Northern Route Approval Act." 113th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3, 113th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3: Northern Route Approval Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/113-HR-3/)
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