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The third-ranking Senate Democrat predicted Sunday that his caucus could sustain a presidential veto of a bill to authorize construction of the Keystone XL pipeline.

Speaking on CBS's "Face the Nation" on Sunday, Sen. Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Democrats plan to introduce amendments to the Republican-backed bill in the new Congress. But even so, he plans to oppose it.

"These amendments will make it better but certainly not good enough at this point in time, and I think there will be enough Democratic votes to sustain the presidents veto," he said.

Republicans are set to take control of the Senate when the new Congress is sworn in this week. The soon-to-be majority leader, Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), announced last month that passing a Keystone bill would be an immediate priority.

Environmental groups and many Democrats oppose the oil pipeline, which would run from Canadas oil sands to the Texas Gulf Coast. President Obama has raised doubts about its environmental effects.

If Obama were to veto the bill once it was passed by both the House and the Senate, two-thirds of the lawmakers in each chamber would have to override him for the bill to become law. Veto overrides have been very rare occurrences.

Republicans have billed the Keystone XL pipeline as a job creator. A State Department review concluded it would support about 42,000 direct and indirect jobs. Once built, the pipeline would support 50 jobs, according to the review.

Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," Sen. John Thune (S.D.), who serves in Republican leadership, said the Keystone debate will test how far to the left Senate Democrats are leaning.

"We're going to find out whether or not there are moderate Democrats in the Senate," he said.

But Thune was uncertain about whether Republicans could override a presidential veto.

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Schumer predicts Democrats could sustain Keystone veto