Approving Keystone XL will be at top of U.S. Senate agenda in 2015

WASHINGTON—Republican United States Senate leader Mitch McConnell says approving the Keystone XL pipeline will top the house’s agenda in January.

The issue could set up an early 2015 veto confrontation with President Barack Obama.

Congressional Republicans have been pushing for approval of the pipeline for years.

Obama has resisted because of environmental concerns.

The pipeline would carry oil from Canada into the U.S. and eventually to the Texas Gulf Coast.

The Republican-led House has repeatedly passed legislation approving the pipeline.

But the bills have died in the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Republicans will take control of the Senate in January, and McConnell said approving the pipeline will be the first issue on the agenda.

McConnell said the pipeline would create jobs.