Story highlights The House approved a measure approving the Keystone pipeline with a vote 266-153

The Nebraska Supreme Court removed a hurdle for the Keystone XL pipeline project

The White House says it's waiting on the State Department to review the decision

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.

Read More