Reject and Protect: The Cowboy Indian Alliance held a series of protests in Washington, D.C., in April. Everything is Illuminated/Pool Photos

The House could vote as early as today on H.R.5682, a bill to approve the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline.

After the House takes action, the Senate is also expected to vote on the bill, possibly next week. S.2554 is the version in that chamber.

The bill will play heavily into the run-off race for the Senate seat in energy-friendly Louisiana. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D), the sponsor of S.2554, is facing a strong challenge from Rep. Bill Cassidy (R), the sponsor of H.R.5682. The election takes place on December 6.

President Barack Obama has delayed a decision on the pipeline, which would run through eight states, including Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska and Oklahoma. He doesn't appear to be adamantly opposed to a Keystone approval bill, if a report in The New York Times on Tuesday is to be believed.

Tribes in the U.S. and Canada are fighting the project due to concerns about treaty rights, sacred sites and the environment. Some landowners and ranchers along the route, mainly in Nebraska and South Dakota, are also opposed to the pipeline.

Get the Story:
House, Senate to vote on Keystone XL pipeline (The Washington Post 11/12)
Keystone XL is now a rallying point to save Mary Landrieu’s career (The Washington Post 11/12)
Keystone pipeline approval bills advance in Congress (Reuters 11/13)
Congress Returns After 6 Weeks Away, but Immediate Actions Are Few (The New York Times 11/13)
In Control, Republican Lawmakers See Budget as Way to Push Agenda (The New York Times 11/13)

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Republican lawmakers vow to approve Keystone XL Pipeline (11/11)