Use of the name East Sea in textbooks won approval Monday from a Virginia legislative committee, leaving just two steps before a longtime dream of the local Korean-American community comes true.

The House of Delegates education panel passed it in a 18-3 vote. The House floor is expected to vote Thursday on the bill, which requires new school textbooks to name the body of water between Korea and Japan the East Sea as well as the Sea of Japan.

Chances are high that it will pass the floor, given the level of support in the chamber. Since the legislation was already approved by the Senate, its fate will likely be decided by Gov. Terry McAuliffe, who has the power to veto legislative measures.

On the campaign trail, the Democratic governor, known to be close to Hillary Clinton, promised to support the East Sea name campaign.

He has apparently come under pressure from Japan, which has large business investments in Virginia.

Aides to McAuliffe, however, said he will sign it into law if it is passed by the legislature.

"He has been very clear in his statements that if the legislation passes the General Assembly, he will sign it," his spokesman, Brian Coy, said in an email to Yonhap News Agency. (Yonhap News)