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Republicans turned back efforts Tuesday to force all oil shipped through the prospective Keystone XL pipeline to be sold in the U.S., as the Senate began the first real work on the biggest bill of the new Congress.

They were the first votes on amendments that the Senate has held since July 29 or nearly six months ago, when Democrats were in control of the chamber and routinely shut down debate on most bills.

Republicans, who took control of the chamber earlier this year, have promised a more open process that would allow both sides to offer amendments and to get votes on them.

SEE ALSO: Canada disses Obama, postpones meeting with U.S. over Keystone pipeline: report

Democrats plan to use those amendments force the GOP to make tough choices, and two of those came Tuesday on the proposal to restrict Keystone oil to the U.S., and another to require the pipeline be built using only American-produced steel.

Republicans, joined by three Democrats, tabled the oil amendment 57-42, and tabled the steel amendment 53-46, with one Republican defecting to vote with Democrats.

Lets get this process moving, said Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska Republican and chairwoman of the Senate Energy Committee.

SEE ALSO: John Cornyn, Senates No. 2 Republican: Overriding veto on Keystone a work in progress

The amendments were part of a GOP push to approve construction of the Keystone pipeline, which would carry tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada, to refineries on the U.S. coast of the Gulf of Mexico.

A bill has already cleared the House and needs only Senate approval to go to President Obama though Mr. Obama has vowed a veto, saying he is still trying to make a final decision on approval and doesnt want his authority short-circuited.

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Democrats' Keystone amendments rejected by Republicans