WASHINGTON (AP) — Legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline cleared an initial Senate hurdle Monday, a victory for newly empowered Republicans.

The bipartisan 63-32 vote was three more than required, and well above the level the highly controversial measure ever gained in recent years when Democrats controlled the Senate.

The measure has sparked intense debate over the Canada-to-Texas pipeline’s potential impact on employment and the environment. While the project was proposed six years ago, the White House opposes the legislation as long as the administration is still conducting its formal review and has repeatedly threatened a veto.

If Obama follows through, it will become the first of what are expected to be numerous clashes with the Republican majorities now in control of both houses of Congress.