Policy Library

7,020 documents

The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-11 · Posts · 2,488 words · PDF available
Amid increased legislative and public attention to issues relating to harassment, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (CAA Reform Act) passed both chambers of Congress by unanimous...
Medicaid Eligibility: Older Adults and Individuals with Disabilities
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-09 · Reports · 20,512 words · PDF available
Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that finances the delivery of primary and acute medical services, as well as long-term services and supports (LTSS), to a diverse low-income population. In ge...
Demand for Broadband in Rural Areas: Implications for Universal Access
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-09 · Reports · 12,847 words · PDF available
As of 2019, over 20 million Americans—predominantly those living in rural areas—lacked access to high speed broadband service according to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Federal subsidie...
Repurchase Agreements (Repos): A Primer
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-09 · Resources · 1,735 words · PDF available
Repurchase agreements (repos) are a major source of short-term funding for financial institutions. Repos are a policy concern because they have long been identified as a potential source of systemic r...
What can we learn from the escalating Israeli raids in Syria?
Brookings Institution · 2019-12-06 · Article · 1,871 words
While Israel has reportedly carried out thousands of strikes in Syria and neighboring Iraq in recent years, the frequency, intensity, and toll of these recent attacks are unprecedented.
Farm Policy: USDA’s 2018 Trade Aid Package
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-05 · Reports · 9,761 words · PDF available
In early 2018, the Trump Administration—citing concerns over national security and unfair trade practices—imposed increased tariffs on certain imported products in general and on U.S. imports from Chi...
Supreme Court Criminal Law Decisions: 2019
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-05 · Reports · 21,133 words · PDF available
In 2019, the Supreme Court issued a sizeable number of criminal law decisions, which addressed several topics, including sentencing, pretrial, statutory construction, and ineffective assistance of cou...
Head Start: Overview and Current Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-05 · Resources · 1,774 words · PDF available
Introduction The Head Start program has provided comprehensive early childhood education and development services to low-income children since 1965. The program seeks to promote school readiness throu...
Leveraged Lending and Collateralized Loan Obligations: Frequently Asked Questions
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-04 · Reports · 10,167 words · PDF available
Leveraged lending generally refers to loans made to businesses that are highly indebted or have a low credit rating. Most leveraged loans are syndicated, meaning a group of bank or nonbank lenders col...
Congressional Subpoenas of Presidential Advisers: The Impact of Committee on the Judiciary v. McGahn
The House of Representatives obtained another judicial victory last week in the continued confrontation with the Trump Administration over the scope of Congress’s investigative powers. In Committee on...
Qualified Charitable Distributions from Individual Retirement Accounts
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-03 · Resources · 1,463 words · PDF available
Summary Congress created incentives for charitable giving through qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from individual retirement accounts (IRAs). The 2017 tax law (P.L. 115-97) may promote great...
Veterans Health Administration: Behavioral Health Services
Congressional Research Service · 2019-12-03 · Resources · 1,536 words · PDF available
Introduction The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides health care and health-related services through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), one of the largest integrated health care system...
The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission of the United States
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-29 · Resources · 1,737 words · PDF available
The Foreign Claims Settlement Commission (FCSC or Commission) offers an avenue to provide compensation to Americans who suffered harm due to the acts of foreign governments. U.S. nationals (citizens, ...
The CASE Act of 2019: Establishing a Small-Claims Process for Copyright Disputes
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-27 · Posts · 3,331 words · PDF available
On October 22, 2019, the House passed H.R. 2426, the Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act of 2019 by a vote of 410-6. Several Members have introduced an identical bill (S. 1273...
Department of Defense First Agency-wide Financial Audit (FY2018): Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-27 · Reports · 11,475 words · PDF available
The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act, P.L. 101-576) requires annual financial audits of federal agencies’ financial statements to “assure the issuance of reliable financial information ...
Uranium Enrichment Decontamination and Decommissioning Fund: Status and Funding Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-27 · Resources · 1,466 words · PDF available
Decades of uranium enrichment by the federal government resulted in the contamination of buildings and structures, generated substantial volumes of radioactive and other hazardous wastes, and resulted...
Financial Services for Marijuana Businesses
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-27 · Resources · 1,669 words · PDF available
A number of states have adopted laws permitting marijuana sales and other marijuana-related activities, even though those same activities remain unlawful under federal drug and financial laws. Because...
Reducing Harm or Enabling Substance Abuse? Supervised Injection Sites Under Federal Drug Law
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-22 · Posts · 2,402 words · PDF available
To mitigate the effects of the opioid crisis in Philadelphia, in 2018 a nonprofit called Safehouse announced plans to open a supervised injection site where illicit drug users could consume opioids un...
Firearms-Related Appropriations Riders
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-22 · Resources · 1,700 words · PDF available
Congress’s spending power gives it substantial control over the activities of executive branch agencies. For instance, through appropriations riders, Congress can direct agencies to engage, or to refr...
Shipping Under the Jones Act: Legislative and Regulatory Background
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-21 · Reports · 15,016 words · PDF available
The Jones Act, which refers to Section 27 of the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-261), requires that vessels transporting cargo from one U.S. point to another U.S. point be U.S.-built, and owned ...
Expansion of Benefits to Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-20 · Resources · 1,564 words · PDF available
Legislative History The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019 (P.L. 116-23) is the most recent action taken by Congress to grant disability compensation benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Or...
Health and Pension Benefits for United Mine Workers of America Retirees: Recent Legislation
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-20 · Resources · 1,449 words · PDF available
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) is a labor union that primarily represents coal mine workers. Eligible UMWA members receive postretirement health and pension benefits from one of three multi...
Is a TSA Screener a “Law Enforcement Officer”? Court Allows Lawsuit Against United States to Proceed
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-19 · Posts · 2,286 words · PDF available
According to a complaint that air traveler Nadine Pellegrino filed in 2009 against the United States in federal court, several Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) working for the Transportation Se...
Processing Aliens at the U.S.-Mexico Border: Recent Policy Changes
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-15 · Resources · 1,807 words · PDF available
Since FY2017, a growing share of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border request asylum, some at official U.S. ports of entry and others after entering the country “without insp...
Net Metering: In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-14 · Reports · 6,539 words · PDF available
Net metering is a policy that allows electricity customers with their own generation capacity to be financially compensated for the energy they produce. Net metering is widely regarded as having an im...
Presidential Directives: An Introduction
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-13 · Resources · 1,549 words · PDF available
Presidential directives, such as proclamations and executive orders, are a tool used by Presidents to announce official policy and make declarations in their roles as leader of the executive branch, c...
Applicability of Federal Requirements to Selected Health Coverage Arrangements: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-13 · Resources · 1,495 words · PDF available
Introduction A majority of individuals in the United States have private health insurance coverage. In general, health plans sold in the private health insurance market (i.e., individual coverage, sma...
Applicability of Federal Requirements to Selected Health Coverage Arrangements
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-13 · Reports · 12,339 words · PDF available
Federal health insurance requirements generally apply to health plans sold in the private health insurance market in the United States (i.e., individual coverage, small- and large-group coverage, and ...
Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Benefits and Financing
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-13 · Reports · 10,230 words · PDF available
Most civilian federal employees who were hired before 1984 are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Federal employees hired in 1984 or later are covered by the Federal Employees’ Ret...
Think Tanks Must Accept the Power of the Public
Heritage Foundation · 2019-11-12 · Commentary · 1,029 words
Many observers would have you believe that the United States is cracking into pieces, with the best predictor of political viewpoints being demographic factors.Thomas Barwick/Getty ImagesKey Takeaways...
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) FY2020 President’s Budget Request and Agency Funding History: In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-12 · Reports · 3,197 words · PDF available
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides health care to individuals who are geographically isolated and/or economically...
Congressional Participation in Litigation: Article III and Legislative Standing
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-08 · Reports · 32,503 words · PDF available
Houses, committees, and Members of Congress periodically seek to initiate or participate in litigation for various purposes, such as advancing their legislative objectives, challenging alleged transgr...
Department of Energy Appliance and Equipment Standards Program
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-08 · Resources · 1,487 words · PDF available
Congress continues to consider the extent and effectiveness of energy efficiency standards. One focus is energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment. Overview The Department of Energy’s (...
Legalization Framework Under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-05 · Reports · 23,466 words · PDF available
The population of unlawfully present aliens in the United States numbers between 10 million and 12 million, according to recent estimates. The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) takes three primary...
Federal Land Management Agencies’ Mandatory Appropriations Accounts
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-05 · Reports · 19,505 words · PDF available
Management of lands and resources is a principal mission for four federal agencies—the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Forest Service (FS), and National Park Service ...
Unemployment Compensation (UC): Issues Related to Drug Testing
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-04 · Reports · 18,415 words · PDF available
Recent interest in Unemployment Compensation (UC) drug testing has grown at both the federal and state levels. The policy interest in mandatory drug testing of individuals who are applying for or rece...
Social Security: Demographic Trends and the Funding Shortfall
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-04 · Reports · 12,513 words · PDF available
The Social Security program pays monthly benefits to retired or disabled workers and their families and to the family members of deceased workers. Social Security, or Old-Age, Survivors, and Disabilit...
Using the Power of the Purse to Change Policy: SCOTUS Case on ACA Risk Corridors Asks Important Appropriations Law Question
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-01 · Posts · 1,884 words · PDF available
In the world of recent litigation involving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), most attention has focused on the ongoing litigation in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circui...
Impact of Commercial Space Launch Activities on Aviation
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-01 · Resources · 1,395 words · PDF available
Introduction Congress has encouraged the growth of commercial space activities by requiring federal agencies to use private launch services and establishing offices to oversee commercial activity. In ...
Quantum Information Science: Applications, Global Research and Development, and Policy Considerations
Congressional Research Service · 2019-11-01 · Reports · 5,960 words · PDF available
Quantum information science (QIS) combines elements of mathematics, computer science, engineering, and physical sciences, and has the potential to provide capabilities far beyond what is possible with...
Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs)
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-31 · Infographics · 498 words · PDF available
/ Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs) Throughout the U.S., there are geographic areas, populations, and facilities with too few primary care, dental, and mental health providers. As part of eff...
This Land Is Your Land? Eminent Domain Under the Natural Gas Act and State Sovereign Immunity
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-30 · Posts · 1,462 words · PDF available
In passing the Natural Gas Act of 1938, Congress acknowledged that interstate natural gas pipelines and other natural gas transmission facilities serve the public interest. To facilitate the land acqu...
U.S. Natural Gas: Becoming Dominant
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-30 · Reports · 3,605 words · PDF available
In the beginning of the 21st century, natural gas prices were increasing and the United States was viewed as a growing natural gas importer. Multiple liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminals were ...
“Things of Value” and the Foreign Contribution Ban
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-28 · Posts · 2,271 words · PDF available
The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), as amended, prohibits foreign nationals from contributing money “or other thing[s] of value” in connection with a federal, state, or local election. A “thing,...
Video Broadcasting from the Federal Courts: Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-28 · Reports · 19,678 words · PDF available
Members of Congress, along with the legal community, journalists, and the public, have long considered the potential merits and drawbacks of using video cameras to record and/or broadcast courtroom pr...
Congressional Access to Information in an Impeachment Investigation
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-25 · Reports · 26,322 words · PDF available
Committee investigations in the House of Representatives can serve several objectives. Most often, an investigation seeks to gather information either to review past legislation or develop future legi...
Financial Inclusion and Credit Access Policy Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-24 · Reports · 12,331 words · PDF available
Access to basic financial products and services is generally considered foundational for households to manage their financial affairs, improve their financial well-being, and graduate to wealth buildi...
Unemployment Insurance: Consequences of Changes in State Unemployment Compensation Laws
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-23 · Reports · 10,165 words · PDF available
This report analyzes recent changes to state Unemployment Compensation (UC) programs. Two categories of UC state law issues are considered: (1) changes in the duration of state UC unemployment benefit...
Waters of the United States (WOTUS): Repealing and Revising the 2015 Clean Water Rule
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-23 · Resources · 1,619 words · PDF available
Background: What Is WOTUS? Congress passed the Clean Water Act (CWA) to restore and protect the quality of the nation’s surface waters (33 U.S.C. §1251 et seq.). The statute protects “navigable waters...
The Outdoor Recreation Economy
Congressional Research Service · 2019-10-22 · Reports · 8,760 words · PDF available
Congress plays an overarching role in shaping outdoor recreation throughout the nation through legislation and oversight. As Congress continues to debate outdoor recreation issues—including provision ...