The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271): Food and Drug Administration and Controlled Substance Provisions
On October 24, 2018, President Trump signed into law H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271; the SUPPO...
Types of Committee Hearings
Congressional committee hearings may be broadly classified into four types: legislative, oversight, investigative, and confirmation. Hearings may be held on Capitol Hill or elsewhere (e.g., a committe...
Impact Aid, Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act: A Primer
The Impact Aid program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and authorized by Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), was originally established in 1950 by P....
Robbery, Extortion, and Bribery in One Place: A Legal Overview of the Hobbs Act
The Hobbs Act proscribes obstructing commerce by means of robbery or extortion or attempting or conspiring to do so. The Act applies to individuals and legal entities alike. It permits prosecutions, a...
Party Leaders in the House: Election, Duties, and Responsibilities
Each major party in the House has a leadership hierarchy. This report summarizes the election, duties, and responsibilities of the Speaker of the House, the majority and minority leaders, and the whip...
VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (VA MISSION Act; P.L.115-182)
On June 6, 2018, the John S. McCain III, Daniel K. Akaka, and Samuel R. Johnson VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018, or the VA MISSION Act of 2018...
California Dreamin’ of Privacy Regulation: The California Consumer Privacy Act and Congress
On June 28, 2018, with subsequent minor amendments, the State of California enacted the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), a law that generally restricts certain businesses’ ability to collect an...
Regulation of Cell-Cultured Meat
Cell-cultured meat (also referred to as lab-grown meat, clean meat, in vitro meat, imitation meat, synthetic meat, and fake meat) is grown in laboratories from animal cell-cultures (Figure 1). A numbe...
Building the Fleets of the Future: Coast Guard and NOAA Fleet Recapitalization
Coast Guard, NOAA, fleet, ship, shipbuilding, recapitalization, acquisition, procurement, budget
Supreme Court October Term 2017: A Review of Selected Major Rulings
On October 2, 2017, the Supreme Court began one of the most notable terms in recent memory. The latest term of the Court was the first full term for Justice Neil Gorsuch, who succeeded Justice Antonin...
Costs of Government Interventions in Response to the Financial Crisis: A Retrospective
In August 2007, asset-backed securities (ABS), particularly those backed by subprime mortgages, suddenly became illiquid and fell sharply in value as an unprecedented housing boom turned into a housin...
Emergency Use Authorization and FDA’s Related Authorities
Under most circumstances, drugs, medical devices, and biologics may only be introduced into interstate commerce if they have been approved, cleared, or licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FD...
Buy America and the Electric Bus Market
Buy America requirements are an integral aspect of federal transportation funding. In a series of statutes, Congress has required that federally funded highway, public transportation, aviation, and in...
Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF): Cartel Lite?
Background on the GECF
From 2013 and 2017, global natural gas production and consumption grew about 9%. However, as part of the overall fuel mix, which rose 5%, the contribution of natural gas has dec...