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...
“Dear Colleague” Letters in the House of Representatives: Past Practices and Issues for Congress
The practice of one Member, committee, or office broadly corresponding to other Members, committee, or officers dates back to at least the 1800s. At least as early as 1913, this correspondence was lab...
An Overview of the Housing Finance System in the United States
When making a decision about housing, a household must choose between renting and owning. Multiple factors, such as a household’s financial status and expectations about the future, influence the deci...
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF): History, Function, and Funding
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) was chartered by Congress in 1984 to aid in the conservation of plants, animals, and ecosystems; many of its projects involve work with federal agencie...