Senate backs Fischer for Fed board

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved Stanley Fischer's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, adding a potentially influential voice to the developing debate over Fed policy in the post-crisis era.

A separate vote, still unscheduled, must be held to confirm his appointment as vice chairman of the U.S. central bank.

(Reporting by Howard Schneider and Richard Cowan; Writing by Howard Schneider; Editing by Andrea Ricci)