The House Judiciary Committee split along partisan lines Wednesday to approve legislation requiring more judicial and congressional oversight of foreign intelligence surveillance.

The vote was 20-14.

The measure faces an almost certain presidential veto unless it is changed further along in the legislative process.

The House Intelligence Committee also was expected to approve the bill (HR 3773), also along partisan lines. The measure is expected on the House floor next week.

Democratic leaders want to move quickly on the legislation, which is intended to replace a six-month intelligence surveillance law (PL 110-55) lawmakers passed before the August recess.

But President Bush said the Democratic-sponsored bill would “take us backward” and “would be a grave mistake.”

“While the House bill is not final, my administration has serious concerns about some of its provisions,” he said.

The Intelligence Committee met in closed session, although ranking Republican Peter Hoekstra of Michigan released his opening statement, which echoed Bush, calling the bill “beyond repair.”

But the Judiciary debate was open and lively, and focused early on something that was not in the bill — a provision sought by the White House to provide retroactive liability protection for communications firms that might have aided government surveillance efforts.

A substitute amendment by J. Randy Forbes, R-Va., that would have, among other things, provided retroactive liability, was defeated 14-21.

House aides said the Intelligence Committee also rejected an amendment pressed by Republicans to provide retroactive legal immunity.