Congress Defies Obama, Approves Keystone Bill

House Republicans have approved the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Undaunted by the president's threat of a veto, lawmakers passed the measure Wednesday in a 270-152 vote.

The bill endorses changes made by the Senate stating that climate change was not a hoax, and oil sands should no longer be exempt from a tax used to cleanup oil spills.

Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota, the chief Republican sponsor of the bill, said President Barack Obama "needs to work with Congress in a bipartisan way and approve the Keystone XL pipeline project for the American people."

Meanwhile, the bill's supporters are trying to find ways to get the pipeline approved through other legislative means.

"We will continue to press for approval by attaching an approval measure to another bill, perhaps an energy bill or must-pass appropriations legislation," Hoeven said.