Congress is hoping to make progress next week on the Keystone pipeline, student loans and the farm bill before leaving for the Memorial Day break.

House Republicans are looking to end the work session with a vote pressuring the Obama administration on the Keystone XL oil pipeline. The GOP has said for years now that the administration has had plenty of time to approve the pipeline, which they say will create jobs and help make the U.S. more energy independent.

The Senate Finance Committee will begin to examine how the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) determines tax-exempt status.

Lawmakers started calling for investigations after reports that the IRS targeted politically conservative groups.

House committees will hear testimony next week on a wide range of topics, from controversial issues of the day like immigration and healthcare, to forward-looking issues like traveling to Mars.

The House Judiciary Committee holds two hearings Wednesday — one on lessons learned from the 1986 immigration law, and another on protecting constitutional rights during the war on terror.

Under the bill, the SEC would have to ensure the benefits of new rules outweigh their costs. 

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) introduced a bill Thursday that would prohibit the Treasury Secretary and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) from enforcing ObamaCare.

Cornyn introduced the Keep the IRS Off Your Health Care Act, S. 983, on Thursday. Lawmakers have been calling for investigations and limitations on the IRS since it admitted to applying extra scrutiny to conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

“I do not support ObamaCare, and after the events of last week, I cannot support giving the IRS any more responsibility or taxpayer dollars to implement a broken law,” Cornyn said.

The House on Friday morning took a step toward passing a bill that would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct strict cost-benefit analyses of its regulations.

Members approved a rule for H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, in a 223-180 vote. Passage of the rule will let the House approve the bill later Friday.

The House will vote next week to allow construction of the northern portion of the Keystone XL oilsands pipeline.

The House will finish out the week by passing a bill that would force the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to more closely examine its regulations and their effect on the economy.

Members will consider H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act. This bill requires the SEC to conduct more detailed cost-benefit analyses of their regulations, and to make sure the benefits of each rule outweigh the costs.

Only two Democrats sided with Republicans in the party-line 229-195 vote.