Senators hope to amend Keystone XL bill with statement on climate change

Science : The first bill under discussion by the Senate in the 114th Congress concerns the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which would bring oil from Canada to the US. The controversial bill is supported by the new Republican majority. Those senators who oppose it say the pipeline will exacerbate global warming and are pushing for amendments affirming that climate change is happening, that human activity is driving it, and that Congress should take action to address the issue. The goal of the amendments, says Charles Schumer (D-NY), is to put climate-change-denying senators in an awkward position. If they block the amendments, they could be accused of dodging the issue. If they let the amendments go to a vote, they will be forced to take an actual position on climate change, which could damage their standing with their constituencies.