The Republican-controlled House has easily passed a bill designed to expedite the approval of natural gas pipelines.
The House on Wednesday cleared legislation setting a one-year deadline for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve new applications to build gas pipelines.
The 253-169 House vote comes as the Senate continues debate on a bill to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The House has already passed a bill to approve that pipeline's construction.
Republicans say the gas pipeline bill was needed to ensure that the gas being produced gets to market.
Democrats say the bill short-circuits a well-established process. A federal report issued in February 2013 found that on average it took less than a year to a year-and-a-half for pipelines to get approved.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.