Policy Library

6,587 documents

The President’s Authority to Withdraw the United States from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Without Further Congressional Action
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-05 · Reports · 13,912 words · PDF available
NAFTA is an international trade agreement among the United States, Canada, and Mexico that became effective on January 1, 1994. The agreement includes market-opening provisions that remove tariff and ...
The State and Local Role in Election Administration: Duties and Structures
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Reports · 12,571 words
The administration of elections in the United States is highly decentralized. Elections are primarily administered by thousands of state and local systems rather than a single, unified national system...
Grazing Fees: Overview and Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Reports · 7,182 words · PDF available
Charging fees for grazing private livestock on federal lands is a long-standing but contentious practice. Generally, livestock producers who use federal lands want to keep fees low, whereas conservati...
Changes to House Rules Affecting the Congressional Budget Process Included in H.Res. 6 (116th Congress)
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Reports · 3,402 words · PDF available
On January 3, 2019, the House adopted Title I of H.Res. 6, the standing rules for the House of Representatives for the 116th Congress. In addition to the standing rules, H.Res. 6 included a separate o...
Title IX and Sexual Harassment: Education Department Proposes New Regulations
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Posts · 3,078 words
This past November, the U.S. Department of Education (ED) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend current regulations that implement Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). Ti...
The First Step Act of 2018: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Reports · 11,211 words · PDF available
On December 21, 2018, President Trump signed into law the First Step Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-391). The act was the culmination of several years of congressional debate about what Congress might do to re...
Statutory Canon Aimed at International Organization Immunity
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Posts · 1,380 words
Update: The Supreme Court on February 27 issued its 7-1 opinion in Jam v. International Finance Corp, holding in favor of the petitioners and reversing the decision below. Chief Justice Roberts wrote ...
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations for FY2019: In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-04 · Reports · 1,518 words · PDF available
Final FY2019 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) appropriations were enacted on February 15, 2019 as a part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2019 (P.L. 11...
Definition of National Emergency under the National Emergencies Act
Congressional Research Service · 2019-03-01 · Posts · 1,985 words
States and various organizations have filed a number of lawsuits challenging President Trump’s proclamation of a national emergency in order to secure funding for the construction of physical barrier ...
Suspension of the Rules: House Practice in the 114th Congress (2015-2016)
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-28 · Reports · 6,105 words · PDF available
Suspension of the rules is the most commonly used procedure to call up measures on the floor of the House of Representatives. As the name suggests, the procedure allows the House to suspend its standi...
Budget Issues That Shaped the 2018 Farm Bill
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-28 · Reports · 12,867 words · PDF available
The farm bill is an omnibus, multiyear law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs. The farm bill has typically undergone reauthorization about every five years. The current farm bill—...
Effects of Vacancies at the Merit Systems Protection Board
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-28 · Testimony · 8,743 words · PDF available
Appointments, Vacancies, Merit Systems Protection Board
Stock Buybacks: Background and Reform Proposals
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-27 · Posts · 1,994 words
In 2018, U.S. corporations announced plans to buyback a record $1.08 trillion of their own stock—a trend that has attracted scrutiny and generated a number of legislative proposals designed to curb th...
International Illegal Logging: Background and Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-26 · Resources · 1,615 words · PDF available
Background Illegal logging is a pervasive problem throughout the world and generally is defined as the harvest, transport, purchase, or sale of timber in violation of national laws. Illegal logging ca...
Redirecting Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Resources During National Emergencies
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-26 · Resources · 1,714 words
In January 2019, news outlets reported that the Trump Administration was investigating redirecting U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) civil works funds to construct physical barriers along the U.S.-...
Federal Records: Types and Treatments
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-26 · Resources · 1,553 words · PDF available
The Federal Records Act The Federal Records Act (FRA; 44 U.S.C. Chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33), enacted in 1950 and amended since, governs the collection, retention, and preservation of federal agency r...
Overview of Legal Challenges to the FCC’s 5G Order on Small Cell Siting
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-25 · Posts · 2,295 words · PDF available
On September 26, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order, titled “Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to I...
Nexstar-Tribune Merger: Potential Competition Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-22 · Resources · 1,582 words
On December 3, 2018, Nexstar Media Group and Tribune Media Company announced a merger agreement that would create the largest broadcast television station owner in the United States. Nexstar values Tr...
Google Fined for Violation of EU Data Protection Law
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-22 · Posts · 1,544 words · PDF available
In a decision testing what it means to give informed consent to online data collection, a French regulatory body recently fined Google LLC (Google) 50 million euro (approximately 56 million U.S. dolla...
Are Excessive Fines Fundamentally Unfair?
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-20 · Posts · 733 words
UPDATE 2/20/2019: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Timbs v. Indiana that the Eighth Amendment’s Excessive Fines Clause is incorporated in the Due Process Clause of the Fourth Amendment and is the...
Department of Education Funding: Key Concepts and FAQ
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-19 · Reports · 10,981 words · PDF available
Like most federal agencies, the Department of Education (ED) receives funds in support of its mission through various federal budget and appropriations processes. While not unique, the mechanisms by w...
Can the Department of Defense Build the Border Wall?
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-18 · Posts · 3,616 words · PDF available
UPDATE: On February 15, 2019, President Trump issued a proclamation declaring a national emergency at the southern border of the United States, and invoking, among other authorities, the military cons...
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-15 · Reports · 7,262 words · PDF available
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, administered by the Department of Transportation’s Build America Bureau, provides long-term, low-interest loans and other ...
Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-13 · Testimony · 6,570 words · PDF available
Controlled Substances Act (CSA); Bank Secrecy Act; Anti-Money Laundering Laws; SAFE Banking Act; money laundering; BSA/AML; controlled substances; asset forfeiture; asset forfeiture proceedings; crimi...
Receipt of $4.7 Billion Is Not Always a Benefit
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-12 · Posts · 1,572 words
According to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (First Circuit) in United States v. Bravo-Fernández, evidence that Puerto Rico received $4.7 billion in federal assistance is not ...
Salton Sea Management and Restoration Efforts
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-12 · Resources · 1,598 words
The Salton Sea in Southern California is the state’s largest inland body of water. The Salton Sea was created when a canal gate broke in 1905, allowing Colorado River water into the basin. It is now s...
Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-11 · Reports · 21,356 words · PDF available
The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the courts pause. Nevertheless, prosecutions in their name have brought to an end schemes that have bilked ...
Mail and Wire Fraud: An Abbreviated Overview of Federal Criminal Law
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-11 · Reports · 6,038 words
The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the courts pause. Nevertheless, prosecutions in their name have brought to an end schemes that have bilked ...
Transportation Security: Issues for the 116th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-11 · Reports · 11,816 words · PDF available
The nation’s air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the transpor...
President Encourages Agencies to Buy American-Produced Goods & Materials
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-08 · Posts · 1,467 words
On January 31, 2019, the President signed the Strengthening Buy-American Preferences for Infrastructure Projects, Executive Order 13858 (EO 13858), which is designed to encourage federal agencies to u...
House Offset Amendments to Appropriations Bills: Procedural Considerations
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-06 · Reports · 7,500 words · PDF available
One of the most common methods for changing spending priorities in appropriations bills on the House floor is through offset amendments. House offset amendments may generally change spending prioritie...
Title Transfer for Bureau of Reclamation Facilities
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-06 · Resources · 1,620 words
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), was established to implement the Reclamation Act of 1902. As amended, this act authorizes the constructi...
Science and Technology Issues in the 116th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-06 · Reports · 23,914 words
Science and technology (S&T) have a pervasive influence over a wide range of issues confronting the nation. Public and private research and development spur scientific and technological advancement. S...
LNG as a Maritime Fuel: Prospects and Policy
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-05 · Reports · 12,744 words · PDF available
The combination of growing liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies and new requirements for less polluting fuels in the maritime shipping industry has heightened interest in LNG as a maritime fuel. The u...
Foodborne Illnesses and Outbreaks from Fresh Produce
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-04 · Resources · 1,613 words · PDF available
The produce industry continues to be associated with a series of foodborne illness outbreaks across multiple U.S. states and Canada, resulting in hundreds of illnesses and hospitalizations, as well as...
2018 Farm Bill Primer: Veteran Farmers and Ranchers
Congressional Research Service · 2019-02-04 · Resources · 1,659 words
The enacted 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) provides additional support for U.S. military veterans transitioning into agriculture by expanding on programs authorized...
“Affirmative Action” and Equal Protection in Higher Education
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-31 · Reports · 30,634 words · PDF available
When federal courts have analyzed and addressed “affirmative action” in higher education, they have done so in two distinct but related senses, both under the Fourteenth Amendment’s guarantee of “equa...
Fifth-Generation (5G) Telecommunications Technologies: Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-30 · Reports · 16,213 words
Since the first mobile phones were made available in the 1980s, telecommunication providers have been investing in mobile networks to expand coverage, improve services, and attract more users. First-g...
2018 Farm Bill Primer: Hemp Cultivation and Processing
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-30 · Resources · 1,827 words
The enacted 2018 farm bill (Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, P.L. 115-334) includes a number of provisions that facilitate the commercial cultivation, processing, marketing, and sale of industrial...
The Role of the House Minority Leader: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-25 · Reports · 6,920 words · PDF available
The House minority leader, the head of the “loyal opposition,” is elected every two years by secret ballot of his or her party caucus or conference. The minority leader occupies a number of important ...
Economics of Federal User Fees
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-22 · Reports · 6,093 words · PDF available
The federal government collects various fees from businesses and households. Choosing to raise public funds via user fees, as opposed to other means such as taxes, has important administrative and eco...
FDA and Drug Prices: Facilitating Access to Generic Drugs
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-17 · Resources · 1,862 words · PDF available
A variety of proposals to address high drug prices have been introduced in legislation and by the Trump Administration in its blueprint to lower drug prices. According to a Food and Drug Administratio...
Freight Issues in Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-16 · Reports · 8,311 words · PDF available
Economic growth and expanded global trade have led to substantial increases in goods movement over the past few decades. The growth in freight transportation demand, along with growing passenger deman...
Are DACA Recipients Eligible for Federal Employment?
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-15 · Posts · 1,300 words
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) prohibits employers, including federal agencies, from knowingly hiring non-U.S. nationals (aliens) who are not authorized to work in the United States. By sta...
Federal Crop Insurance: Specialty Crops
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-14 · Reports · 11,177 words · PDF available
The federal crop insurance program offers subsidized crop insurance policies to farmers. Farmers can purchase policies that pay indemnities when their yields or revenues fall below guaranteed levels. ...
How a Government Shutdown Affects Government Contracts
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-10 · Posts · 1,347 words · PDF available
On December 22, 2018, funding lapsed on annual appropriations for certain government agencies, causing a partial government shutdown. This has prompted questions about how the FY2019 partial governmen...
Federal Grand Jury Secrecy: Legal Principles and Implications for Congressional Oversight
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-10 · Reports · 32,168 words · PDF available
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that “[n]o person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury.” This p...
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) FY2018 Audit Opinion
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-10 · Resources · 1,512 words
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is the cabinet-level federal agency responsible for national housing and community development policy and programs. As required by the Chief Finan...
China’s Status as a Nonmarket Economy (NME)
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-10 · Resources · 1,735 words · PDF available
When China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, it agreed to allow other WTO members to continue to use an alternative (surrogate country) methodology for assessing prices and costs on p...
Defense Primer: FY2018 Department of Defense Audit Results
Congressional Research Service · 2019-01-09 · Resources · 1,535 words · PDF available
The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act, P.L. 101-576) requires annual audits of financial statements for federal agencies. Under the CFO Act, audits of federal agencies are the responsibili...