The House Energy and Commerce Committee, racing a rapidly shrinking legislative calendar, on Wednesday approved legislation designed to promote faster adoption of electronic medical records.

After considering amendments from members of both parties, the committee approved the bill by voice vote. The measure seeks to spur a shift to electronic records by hospitals, doctors and other health care providers through loans and grants. It also would set up privacy protections for patient data.

Before the bill was approved, the committee adopted, by voice vote, a substitute amendment by Chairman John D. Dingell, D-Mich., that embodied a bipartisan compromise between committee leaders.

Committee ranking Republican Joe L. Barton of Texas called the bill “a good faith effort by all parties.”

Committee members debated a series of amendments, largely dealing with patient privacy issues. Most were withdrawn with a promise from Dingell to work with their authors, though several amendments were adopted by voice vote.

“What we’re trying to do here is balance out the protection of privacy but also make sure the system moves,” Dingell said.

The House Ways and Means Committee has partial jurisdiction over the bill, and will hold a hearing Thursday on the topic. Energy and Commerce members were optimistic about their bill’s chances this year, despite the few remaining legislative days.