The U.S. Senate approved four amendments to a bipartisan energy overhaul bill on Thursday, just one day after debate began over the country's first wideranging energy legislation in more than eight years.

Under the bill, a number of policy provisions would be implemented that include speeding up the export of liquefied natural gas, expanding a conservation fund and protecting the electricity grid against cyber-attacks among other reform measures.

According to Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, who chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the senators had offered 89 amendments to the legislation by Thursday morning.

"It is the beginning of a series of steps that we will take to modernize our nation's energy, as well as our mineral policies," said the Alaska senator, who co-sponsored the bill, reports The Hill.

An overwhelming number of senators voted to pass the first amendment, which aims to boost research into advanced nuclear reactor technology. After being presented by Republican Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho and Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, it passed in an 87-4 vote.

"This bill is a strong signal to the rest of the world that we intend to maintain the U.S.'s leadership in nuclear technology," Crapo said during a floor speech.

The Senate also approved in a 62-29 vote an amendment filed by Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts that requires a report on the impact of crude oil exports on U.S. consumers, refiners and shippers.

In addition, senators used voice votes to approve an amendment relating to carbon capture technology and another about manufacturing.

Meanwhile, Senate Democrats proposed to spur legislative action on the Flint water crisis in Michigan. Under the measure, $400 million in new emergency federal funding would be allocated to replace and fix the lead-contaminated pipes responsible for transferring polluted water to Flint residents. It also authorizes $20 million a year to monitor lead exposure in Flint.

Democrats argued that Michigan officials still have a primary responsibility to fix the crisis "because they made a number of irresponsible decisions that caused it."

The measure also requires the federal government to take action if a state fails to warn the public about unsafe water.

"The water crisis in Flint is an immense failure on the part of the state of Michigan to protect the health and safety of the city's residents," said Democratic Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, one of the bill's co-sponsors, in a statement, according to ABC News. "While the state must accept full responsibility, the federal government can leverage investments the state needs to make."

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, another cosponsor, added that the "legislation puts the attention and focus where it needs to be - helping the children and families of Flint."

Although the White House sent a note to the Senate on Wednesday expressing some "concerns" over many of the provisions in the bill, it did not give any sign of a veto threat to the legislation.

"The administration appreciates the bipartisan support for addressing key energy and conservation priorities," the White House wrote. "Modernizing the nation's energy system and the policies that govern it has been a central focus of the administration's efforts to combat climate change, strengthen energy security and resilience, and enhance our economic competitiveness," it added.

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