Capital Markets and Securities Regulation: Overview and Policy Issues
Capital markets are where securities (e.g., stocks, bonds, digital asset securities, and shares of investment funds) are issued and traded. As a main segment of the financial system, capital markets p...
Federal Statistical Data for U.S. Territories: Issues and Resources
The United States has plenary authority over five major territories: American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI). Amo...
Preemption in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) directs the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate the sale and use of pesticides in the United States. FIFRA generally ...
Federal Land Ownership: Acquisition and Disposal Authorities
The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, more than a quarter of the land in the United States. Four agencies—the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an...
Healthy Start: Overview and Policy Considerations
The Healthy Start program (42 U.S.C. §254c-8), currently authorized through FY2025, aims to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. The program funds projects in geographic areas ...
The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Outbreak in Poultry, 2022-Present
Avian influenza (i.e., bird flu) is a contagious viral disease of domesticated and wild birds. Depending on the viral strain, the disease can cause little to no signs of illness—referred to as “low pa...
Ethics Pledges and Other Executive Branch Appointee Restrictions Since 1993: Historical Perspective, Current Practices, and Options for Change
In several recent Administrations, the President has issued an executive order (E.O.) on ethics. Each E.O. created an ethics pledge for executive branch appointees and provided for the administration ...
J.G.G. v. Trump: Supreme Court’s Initial Review of Actions Taken Under the Alien Enemy Act
On February 20, 2025, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, designated several international cartels as foreign terrorist organizations (...
Changes to Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Loan Program Policies in Early 2025
On April 22, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced changes to policies and procedures for its two largest small business loan programs, the 7(a) and 504 loan guarantee programs. The ...
Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Issues for Congress
On April 24, 2025, as part of a broader national effort to secure reliable supplies for critical minerals, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14285, “Unleashing America’s Offshore ...
The ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System
Portions of all 50 states, as well as U.S. territories and the District of Columbia, are vulnerable to earthquake hazards (e.g., ground shaking) and associated risks (e.g., exposure of people or prope...
Seabed Mining Interests Across the Pacific Islands
The Pacific Ocean’s seafloor contains mineral-rich deposits of cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, rare earth elements, zinc, and other minerals that may help meet supply demands for energy transition ...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Taxonomy
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Information as of April 25, 2025. Prepared by Laurie Harris, Analyst in Science and Technology Policy; Nora Wells, Analyst in Health Policy; and Juan Pablo Madrid, Visual Information Specialist.
Ex...
Section-by-Section Summary of the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2025 (Division A of P.L. 119-4)
On March 15, 2025, the President signed H.R. 1968—the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025—into law as P.L. 119-4. Division A of the act—the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations...