After winning control of both chambers of Congress earlier this week, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a bill to construct the controversial Keystone Pipeline XL. The Senate is likely to follow suit immediately, which, as previously reported, President Obama is expected to veto the legislation when it crosses his desk.

Clearly one of the most contentious issues between the Obama administration and the Republican party, the legislation passed today is not so much a surprising one in terms of substance, but is in terms of timing. White House spokesperson Josh Earnest said earlier this week that such a bill was a bit farfetched given the ongoing legal issues in the state of Nebraska regarding pipeline routing. Today however, the state of Nebraska dismissed a case that would have obstructed the construction of the pipeline.

Extending out at a about 1,180 miles (almost 1,900 km) from a preexisting piece of pipeline, the polemic nature of the Keystone XL is how it transports dirty, un-renewable tar sands from Alberta, Canada all the way down through the Gulf of Mexico where refineries will convert the product into consumable petrol. The project is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $5.4 billion in tax payer dollars.

As expected, the bill was the first one introduced and passed under new Congressional leadership. The vote passed by a count of 266-153, with 28 Democrats supporting the motion. The bill was first introduced back in 2008.

Despite passing in the house today, it did not do so by the requisite two-thirds majority that would enable the Congress to supersede President Obama’s potential veto power. By all accounts, the legislation will not go beyond President Obama’s desk even if the Senate follows suit and passes the bill, which is expected to happen very soon. In the Senate however, like the House, a two-thirds vote in support of the bill is not an expected outcome.

The primary point of contention over the bill in the first place has to do with the pollutive nature of the crude tar sands extracted for potential transport. Most experts agree the tar sand oil is far dirtier than most other forms of extractable oil. However, an official environmental update released last year voiced no serious concerns over the construction of the pipeline. Moreover, many Republicans and like-minded union bosses support the Keystone XL in belief it will create more jobs and uplift the economic growth.

Since the Keystone XL would cross international borders, it still needs permit approval from the State Department. However, in the voting session held today, Republicans announced they have plans to forgo the review process and fast-track the construction to begin immediately. In addition to the Supreme Court of Nebraska today dismissing the lawsuit which has heretofore proved a major obstacle to the bill, the Republicans are ready to move fast.

Of the Nebraska Court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said today that the president now has every reason to stop the posturing, stop the threats to veto and sign the bill.