The Senate voted down an amendment that would have given immediate approval to the Keystone XL export pipeline. Jane Kleeb, our Executive Director, made the following statement:

"Today's vote is an official record of who sides with Nebraskans, our land and water and who sides with TransCanada and their Big Oil allies.

Update: At 1:30pm CT, March 8, the debate and votes begin on the various Keystone XL amendments. Some will do great things like demand TransCanada uses American steel and not imported steel from India and ensure the oil stays in the United States. Other amendments will reverse the President's denial and approve the KXL pipeline for immediate construction.

Watch the US Senate floor debate at 1:30pm CT, click here.

In a 24-hour period beginning at 11am CT yesterday, a coalition of over 40 organizations and businesses -- from CREDO Mobile to Bold Nebraska to Patagonia -- launched a 24 hour “signature bomb” with the goal of sending the Senate over 500,000 messages opposing Keystone XL and urging Senators to block any amendments that would reverse the President's pipeline rejection. The goal was surpassed with a total number reaching over 770,000.  Those signatures are being hand-delivered to Senator Reid and Senator McConnell today.

"Congressional Republicans might make sweetheart deals with Big Oil," said Jane Kleeb, Director of BOLD Nebraska and a leader of the movement against Keystone XL. "But folks in the Heartland and across America are focused on keeping this pipeline from risking Americans water supply, our climate, and our clean energy future."

**Update: At 6:54pm on Monday, groups hit the 500,000 Americans telling the US Senate no pipeline riders! Best news yet is the 500,000th person was a Nebraskan. More on that person soon! We are blowing by that goal and now hoping for 600,000, sign the petition and pass it around!**

Congressional Republicans' attempts to revive the Keystone XL pipeline are driving massive public opposition. Almost 40 environmental, labor and progressive organizations have banded together to collect 500,000 signatures in 24 hours on a petition opposing the pipeline that will be delivered to Senate leaders.

Sign the Petition

Bold is joining almost 40 national and state advocacy organizations and businesses that are planning a massive online day of action on Monday to oppose efforts to overturn President's Obama's decision and resurrect the Keystone XL pipeline.

Update 2/14: After lots of calls and grassroots actions, Sen. Schumer has confirmed he will oppose any KXL ammendments! "Senator Schumer will be voting against the proposed amendment that includes Keystone XL and is working with Majority Leader Reid to defeat the amendment." --Martin Brennan, state director, Sen. Schumer

We need the Senate to stand strong against back door deals to ramrod Keystone XL through. With critical bills like transportation and another extension of the payroll tax cut coming up, we cannot afford political games that put our land and water at risk.

Nebraskans know the Congressional Republicans are trying to use the KXL pipeline against President Obama. Nebraskans know better and know the President did the right thing by denying the Keystone XL pipeline.

Using false arguments about jobs and energy security, Congressional Republicans think they can take Obama down a notch or cost him the whole election. However, a new poll shows the GOP's failed strategy.

Randy Thompson, a Nebraska landowner, and retired Brigadier General Steven Anderson will testify before the House Energy & Power Subcommittee about the Keystone XL pipeline, Friday at 9am CT.

We'll be livetweeting the hearing @BoldNebraska.

Editor's note: this piece originally appeared in the National Wildlife Federation's blog and was written by Peter LaFontaine, the NWF Energy Polic Advocate.

The Keystone XL pipeline has achieved the improbable: making Congress look even more dysfunctional than usual. Big Oil’s friends on Capitol Hill, eager to start the flow of dirty tar sands oil to the Gulf coast, have already forced President Obama to make a “yes or no” decision on KXL by late February. But now, having realized that Obama will probably say no to this disaster-in-waiting, they’re trying to rig the system and make the call themselves. From Reuters:

Today Sen. Ben Nelson announced his retirement from the Senate. Nelson's departure is being celebrated by the Republican party who think Nelson's seat is now a lock.

We'd challenge the entire GOP field not to get too cocky. If we've proven anything this year, it's that Nebraskans have a strong populist streak that the existing political parties simply don't get.