Browse Policy Library

Congressional Court Watcher: Circuit Splits from October 2024

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Posts · 966 words · PDF available

The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the thirteen “circuits” issue thousands of precedential decisions each year. Because relatively few of these decisions are ultimately reviewed by the Supreme Court, the ...

Permanent Legal Immigration to the United States: Policy Overview

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 11,978 words · PDF available

Four major principles underlie current U.S. legal permanent immigration policy: allowing families to reunify, admitting needed skilled workers, providing humanitarian protection, and fostering geograp...

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Overview and Issues for Congress

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 8,879 words · PDF available

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) aims to understand earthquake hazards and reduce earthquake risks in the United States. Portions of all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories...

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education: FY2024 Appropriations

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 35,398 words · PDF available

This report offers an overview of the FY2024 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS) appropriations bill. This bill includes all accounts funded thr...

Pensions and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): Investment Issues

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 19,268 words · PDF available

Employer-sponsored pensions and individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are important sources of income security in retirement for many American households. Recent congressional interest in retirement p...

Defense Primer: Emerging Technologies

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,576 words · PDF available

Both the 2022 National Defense Strategy and senior U.S. defense and intelligence officials have identified a number of emerging technologies that could have a disruptive impact on U.S. national securi...

Reinstatement of Removal Orders: An Introduction

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,883 words · PDF available

Federal immigration laws establish removal processes for different categories of aliens who do not meet requirements governing their entry or continued presence in the United States. Many removable al...

Defense Primer: Quantum Technology

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,619 words · PDF available

Quantum technology translates the principles of quantum physics into technological applications. In general, quantum technology has not yet reached maturity; however, it could hold significant implica...

Defense Primer: Directed-Energy Weapons

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,549 words · PDF available

Both the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the House Armed Services Committee’s bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force Report have identified directed energy as a technology that could have a signif...

FEMA’s Individuals and Households Program (IHP)

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,489 words · PDF available

Following an incident, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may assist individuals with their recovery through the Individual Assistance (IA) program if the President authorizes such assista...

Disaster Survivor FAQ: FEMA Individuals and Households Program

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 5,100 words · PDF available

Member offices frequently have questions about the recovery process when working to support constituents following a presidential declaration of emergency or major disaster under the Robert T. Staffor...

Defense Implications of Challenges at Boeing

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Posts · 1,036 words · PDF available

The Boeing Company (Boeing), a supplier of equipment and services to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), has since 2018 faced challenges including labor actions, production delays, quality control p...

Bangladesh

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Resources · 1,561 words · PDF available

Bangladesh (East Pakistan until 1971) is a Muslim-majority South Asian nation bordering India and Burma (Myanmar) on the Bay of Bengal. The world’s eighth most populous country, with approximately 169...

Veterans Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 1,044 words · PDF available

This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Veterans Day. It contains a brief history, CRS reports, selected speeches and recognitions, presidential proclamations,...

FEMA and SBA Disaster Assistance for Individuals and Households: Application Processes, Determinations, and Appeals

Congressional Research Service · 2024-11-04 · Reports · 9,244 words · PDF available

The Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Disaster Loan Program and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Individual Assistance (IA)-Individuals and Households Program (IHP) are the fed...