House Passes Bill to Speed Keystone Approval

House Republicans attempted to push through approval of the Keystone XL oil pipeline Wednesday, passing a bill that would circumvent the need for a special permit from President Barack Obama.

The bill, which passed by a vote of 241 to 175, marks the latest GOP effort to expedite approval for the 1,200-mile pipeline, which has been under review by the U.S. government since 2008.

The bill, largely symbolic, has little chance of becoming law. Senate Democrats are expected to oppose any measure that disrupts an ongoing review of Keystone and...