House and Senate lawmakers today urged President Obama to approve the controversial Keystone XL pipeline.

A decision on the pipeline is expected in the first three months of next year, and supporters in Congress are reiterating their arguments that it would improve U.S. energy security and create jobs along the pipeline's path from Alberta to Texas.

Sens. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) led more than a dozen colleagues from both parties in writing to Obama requesting a meeting on the Keystone decision.

"Setting politics aside: Nothing has changed about the thousands of jobs that Keystone XL will create. Nothing has changed about the energy security to be gained through an important addition to the existing pipeline network built with sound environmental stewardship and the best modern technology," the senators wrote today in a letter to Obama. "Nothing has changed about the security to be gained from using more fuel produced at home and by a close and stable ally. And nothing has changed about the need for America to remain a place where businesses can still build things."

Separately, Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), who has been a leading Keystone advocate in the House, wrote to Obama to express dismay at the delays that have confronted the pipeline and to urge its approval.

"The Canadian government is moving forward extracting the oil. The question is will the United States be a partner and recipient or will the vast majority of the resource be sold to China or some other country," Terry wrote. "If it is the latter, then America will again be threatened with a lack of energy independence."

Environmentalists continue to oppose the pipeline over concerns about Alberta's oil sands' contribution to climate change and local environmental effects; a protest is planned at the White House on Sunday.

Both sides see the decision as a key test for Obama's second term and an indicator of how he is likely to proceed on environmental and energy issues over the next four years.