Disaster Assistance and Federal Subsidies for Municipal Bonds
The destruction caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria to the Gulf Coast and Southeast regions has prompted a discussion of possible ways for federal, state, and local governments to provide ass...
After the Storm: Highway Reconstruction and Resilience
In the immediate aftermath of natural disasters, such as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the first road recovery efforts are focused on clearing roads, establishing detours, erecting temporary bridges, an...
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): FY2018 President’s Budget Request
Since FY2006, Congress has funded the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Title II of Division G of the Consolidated Appropria...
Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: Coast Guard Sea, Air, and Land Capabilities: Part II
Guard, capabilities, acquisition, shipbuilding, FY2018
Options and Considerations for Achieving a 355-Ship Navy
Navy, force structure, force level, shipbuilding, ships, 355, FY2018
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Gulf Coast Restoration Efforts
The explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig on April 20, 2010, which took place 41 miles southeast of the Louisiana coast, resulted in an unprecedented discharge of oil into U.S. wate...
H.R. 23, the Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017 (GROW Act)
In recent years, parts of the American West (i.e., the 17 states west of the Mississippi River) have been subject to prolonged drought conditions, including a severe drought in California that lasted ...
The Federal Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program: Background, Funding, and Activities
In the early 1990s, Congress recognized that several federal agencies had ongoing high-performance computing programs, but no central coordinating body existed to ensure long-term coordination and pla...
Congressional Authorization of New U.S. Circuit and District Court Judgeships
Congress, pursuant to its authority in Article III, Sec. 1 of the U.S. Constitution, determines through legislative action the size and structure of the federal judiciary. Congress first exercised thi...
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Background and Summary
Beginning in 2007, U.S. financial conditions deteriorated, leading to the near-collapse of the U.S. financial system in September 2008. Major commercial banks, insurers, government-sponsored enterpris...
Buy America, Transportation Infrastructure, and American Manufacturing
Congress over the years has passed several domestic content laws that aim to protect American manufacturing and manufacturing jobs. One is known as the Buy America Act, or more simply, Buy America. St...
A Primer on WIC: The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides nutrition-rich foods, nutrition education (including breastfeeding promotion and support), and health care an...
Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Programs
Background on ABLE Programs
On December 19, 2014, President Barack Obama signed into law the Stephen Beck, Jr., Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE Act) of 2014 as part of P.L. 113-295 (Divis...