The Korean government welcomed a milestone legislation passed in Virginia that requires the use of the term “East Sea” when labeling the body of water between Korea and Japan in state textbooks.

Despite Tokyo’s efforts to block the law establishing the simultaneous use of “East Sea” and “Sea of Japan,” Virginia’s House of Delegates approved the bill on Thursday with overwhelming support in an 81 to 15 vote.

The bill states that all Virginia school textbooks approved by the Board of Education “when referring to the Sea of Japan, shall note that it is also called the East Sea.”

The Senate of Virginia already passed the measure last month, with bipartisan support led by lawmakers including Democratic Senator David W. Marsden.

Governor Terry McAuliffe has the authority to veto the bill, though he has pledged to support it. With his signature, the measure is expected to take effect on July 1.