Washington ( CNN ) Defying a presidential veto threat , the House of Representatives passed a bill approving the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline . The vote was 266-153 , with more than two dozen Democrats joining nearly all Republicans to pass the measure . It was the first time the legislation passed in the new session of Congress which began Tuesday , but the tenth time the GOP-controlled House has sent a bill approving the pipeline to the Senate . Rep. Justin Amash , of Michigan , was the only Republican to vote `` present , '' and 28 Democrats voted to approve the measure . Congressional Republicans have made the pipeline one of their first priorities in the new session , arguing it would created tens of thousands of jobs , and pointing out the measure has received Democratic support . A Senate committee passed its Keystone legislation on Thursday , and the bill is scheduled for a vote later this month . Senate GOP leaders are confident they have enough votes to overcome a Democratic filibuster on the bill , but they do not believe they can sustain a veto . The White House says it 's waiting on the State Department to review a new court ruling that effectively removes a major block to the building of the Keystone XL pipeline . `` The State Department is examining the court 's decision as part of its process to evaluate whether the Keystone XL Pipeline project serves the national interest . As we have made clear , we are going to let that process play out , '' Eric Schultz , White House principal deputy press secretary , said Friday . His statement comes after the Nebraska Supreme Court vacated a lower court ruling that was stalling construction of the pipeline , which would run through several states and carry oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico . Read the ruling . President Barack Obama has said he was awaiting final word by the Nebraska court before determining whether to grant TransCanada , the firm building the pipeline , a presidential permit to move forward with remaining construction . The decision reverses a lower court decision that had ruled the pipeline unconstitutional . While a majority of the court 's seven justices sided with landowners who were fighting Gov . Dave Heineman 's plans to OK the pipeline 's construction , a super majority of five justices were needed in order to rule his decision unconstitutional and block the pipeline 's development . Keystone XL pipeline debate : What do I need to know ? Opponents say the pipeline would run a significant risk to the environment , while proponents argue it will boost jobs and lessen American dependence on Middle Eastern oil . The State Department earlier this year released a long-anticipated report saying the completion of the pipeline would have little impact on carbon emissions . `` President Obama is now out of excuses for blocking the Keystone pipeline and the thousands of American jobs it would create . Finally , it 's time to start building , '' House Speaker John Boehner said in a statement . Schultz reiterated that Obama would veto the House bill , saying it `` conflicts with longstanding Executive branch procedures regarding the authority of the President and prevents the thorough consideration of complex issues that could bear on U.S. national interests . With Republicans now in control of the Senate , they 've pledged to make the issue a priority in the new Congress . The Senate Energy Committee approved legislation to complete the project on Thursday , and a procedural vote is expected on the measure Monday in the full Senate . Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged Obama Friday in a statement to reconsider his veto threat and said the Senate would soon pass a proposal to approve the project . `` The president now has every reason to sign it , '' McConnell said . Obama on Keystone : 'My position has n't changed ' TransCanada is waiting for U.S. approval to finish construction on 1,200 miles of pipeline known as Keystone XL , which would complete a partially built pipeline network that runs 3,800 miles . The incomplete part of the pipeline would run through Montana , South Dakota , Nebraska , Kansas , Oklahoma and Texas . CNN 's Ted Barrett , Joe Johns , Jedd Rosche and Jeremy Diamond contributed to this report .
The The Nebraska Supreme Court approved a measure approving the Keystone pipeline with a vote 266 -153 . Keystone removed a hurdle for the The Nebraska Supreme Court XL pipeline project . Keystone says it 's waiting on The White House to review the decision .