U.S. Rep.

Jason Altmire, D-4th, on Wednesday voted for legislation that would extend the nation’s surface transportation programs through Sept. 30.Included in the extension, he noted, is language that seeks to transfer the authority to approve the Keystone XL pipeline project from the Department of State to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.Under the provisions of the extension, FERC would be required to issue a permit for the Keystone XL pipeline within 30 days of receiving an application. If no action is taken, the application would be deemed approved after the 30-day period.“The Keystone pipeline will create thousands of jobs, and is one of the most important economic investments we can make,” Altmire said.“Western Pennsylvania is doing its part to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources, but we cannot do it alone. The construction of the Keystone pipeline will lower the cost of fuel for millions of American families. This is a vital project and we must work to get construction under way.”The legislation, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II, passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 293 to 127.———U.S. Rep.

Mike Kelly, R-3rd, voted Thursday in support of the Small Business Tax Cut Act, which would provide all qualified small businesses with fewer than 500 employees a 20 percent deduction against active business income for tax year 2012:“Right now, many of our small businesses are paying one of the highest corporate tax rates in the world, putting American firms at a tremendous disadvantage in an increasingly global economy,” Kelly said.“This tax cut will level the playing field and create a truly stimulative effect that will help grow our economy and create opportunity for the millions of Americans.”The measure passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives in a largely party line vote, 235-173.While GOP lawmakers argued the bill would allow businesses to show a smaller income before determining the taxes they owe, Democrats countered that it was too generous to wealthy individuals owning small firms and to extremely successful businesses.———Legislation sponsored by state Sen.

Mary Jo White, R-21st, requiring that the state post its air quality plans online, was signed into law last week by Gov.

Tom Corbett.The law requires the state Department of Environmental Protection to post and maintain all clean air State Implementation Plans on its website, and to provide the same information to the Senate and House of Representatives oversight committees.A State Implementation Plan is the state’s official outline of how it will meet air quality standards mandated by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for specific emissions.“While the EPA sets clean air standards, each state is able to craft a plan to meet them through their State Implementation Plans,” White said.“The plan affects everything from industry to power plants to the gasoline you put in your car. Any document that has such a broad impact on the public should be made readily available to citizens and lawmakers.The measure covers any proposed State Implementation Plan made by DEP or any other state or local agency, as well as all revisions to it. The law will take effect in 60 days.