Two hot issues on the energy and environmental front are prompting a new round of political activity targeting members of Congress.

The National Republican Congressional Committee launched a series of robocalls today in five Democratic districts, painting lawmakers who oppose a measure to fast-track the Keystone XL pipeline as blocking jobs in their union-heavy districts.

The House is expect to pass a measure today that would force an Obama administration decision within 60 days on the 1,700-mile oil pipeline, which would carry oil sands crude from Alberta to the Gulf Coast. The Obama administration delayed a decision on the pipeline until after the 2012 elections while its studies alternative routes.

Robocalls to voters in the districts of potentially vulnerable Reps. Jason Altmire (D-Pa.), Mark Critz (D-Pa.), Collin Peterson (D-Minn.), Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) and Betty Sutton (D-Ohio) link support for the fast-track measure to the creation of an estimated 130,000 union jobs. House GOP leaders have tied approval for the pipeline to a payroll tax and an unemployment insurance benefit bill.

A script of the call to homes in Rahall's district identifies the NRCC, then states: "This week, [Rahall] has a chance to vote for a bipartisan jobs bill that would create up to 130,000 union-backed jobs at a pipeline that would bring oil from Canada to the U.S. However, Rahall's strongest ally in Washington, President Obama, is pressuring him to vote against bringing these jobs to America."

"If Rahall follows Obama's lead, as he usually does, that oil and those jobs will go to China," the telephone call continues. "Call Nick Rahall at 202-225-3452. Ask him to join labor unions like the Teamsters and segments of the AFL-CIO and support new jobs, instead of supporting Obama."

The NRCC has also put up online ads with a similar theme, accusing the same five Democrats of "waiting" to create new jobs.

Each of the ads opens with a narrator asking: "Remember when President Obama said this about passing new jobs legislation?" before showing a clip of the president stating: "We can no longer wait."

The ad then switches to images of pipelines and asserts that if Congress fails to fast-track the Keystone XL project, that "oil and those jobs will go to China."

"Congress has a chance to pass the pipeline jobs law before Christmas. The law has support of labor unions like the Teamsters and segments of the AFL-CIO," the narrator continues. "But Betty Sutton is on the fence. Tell Sutton to support new jobs, instead of supporting Obama."

The NRCC likewise issued a news release today praising retiring Rep. Dan Boren (D-Okla.), who announced he would vote for the fast-track measure Monday. Republicans are planning to attach the Keystone language to a bill to extend payroll tax cuts that Obama and Democrats are anxious to pass.

Mercury a 'pro-life' issue

Meanwhile, the Evangelical Environmental Network launched a new multi-state television campaign today, urging senators to support U.S. EPA regulations on mercury and air toxics.

The 30-second spots will air in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Massachusetts, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, New Hampshire and the Washington, D.C., media markets, praising Sens. Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), David Pryor (D-Ark.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.).

In the ads, Tracey Bianchi, a Chicago-area pastor, tells viewers: "I believe every life is a precious gift from God. I expect members of Congress to protect the unborn, and coal-burning power plants in our region have helped raise mercury levels in our waters, threatening the unborn with permanent brain damage."

The campaign follows a similar radio campaign earlier this month that targeted some of the same senators and House lawmakers.