WASHINGTON — Democrats plan to use Senate consideration of the Keystone XL oil pipeline to get Republicans on the record about climate change and to resurrect parts of a bipartisan energy efficiency bill doomed by pipeline politics last year.
But Republicans readied additions of their own, such as lifting a ban on crude oil exports.
Other possible tweaks could attempt to ban exports of oil sent through the pipeline or force the pipeline's builders to use American-made steel.
Full-blown debate on the bill was expected to continue Tuesday after the Senate agreed 63-32 Monday to begin deliberating the measure.
Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, the lead Republican sponsor of the measure, said before the vote that the additions will "help us build the right kind of energy plan for our country."
"This is an opportunity for all the members of this body to come forward," he said.
The 1,179-mile pipeline would carry an estimated 800,000 barrels of crude oil a day from Canada to Nebraska, where it would connect with existing pipelines on its way to Gulf Coast refineries.
The bipartisan 63-32 vote was 3 more than the 60 required, and well above the level the highly controversial measure ever gained in recent years when Democrats controlled the Senate. But Republicans will need to secure more Democratic support to override a veto, as has been repeatedly threatened by the White House.
