US Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) (R) and Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) (L)respond to Republicans at a Democrat response news conference after voting on amendments on the Keystone XL pipeline bill on Capitol Hill in Washington January 29, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - The US Senate passed a bill on Thursday to approve the long-pending Keystone XL oil pipeline, despite the White House saying earlier in the day that President Barack Obama would veto the measure.

The Republican-led Senate passed the bill that would approve TransCanada Corp's project to carry 800,000 barrels per day of heavy Canadian crude to Nebraska on the way to Gulf Coast refineries and ports.

The House has passed its own pipeline bill and will work with the Senate to send the bill to the Obama's desk. After the potential veto, Obama is expected to make his own decision on the pipeline after the State Department finishes a review in coming weeks.