CrowdStrike IT Outage: Impacts to Public Safety Systems and Considerations for Congress
On July 19, 2024, CrowdStrike, a U.S. cybersecurity firm, released a software update to their customers. The update caused certain computer systems to crash, disrupting services across several industr...
Stun Guns, TASERs, and Other Conducted Energy Devices: Issues for Congress
Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs) are weapons that transmit electroshocks, whether via close contact or projectiles, to incapacitate targeted personnel. Common examples include stun guns and TASERs. Law...
Deficits, Debt, and the Debt Limit in 2025
The Constitution empowers Congress with the authority to manage federal spending, revenues, and borrowing through its “power of the purse.” Deficit outcomes represent the difference between total fede...
The Evolving Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime
Over the past several decades, criminal networks have adapted and evolved, posing challenges for federal law enforcement. Transnational organized crime (TOC) is not a singular crime, but is instead a ...
Marine Debris: NOAA’s Role
Researchers have found marine debris, especially plastic items, to have some effects on humans, wildlife, and the environment, but the extent of these impacts is currently unclear. Congress has direct...
Marginal Effective Tax Rates on Investment and the Expiring 2017 Tax Cuts
P.L. 115-97, commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), made significant changes impacting taxes on new investment. Some provisions enacted by the TCJA, such as a reduction in the corpo...
Disclosure of International Travel by Congress
International travel by Members of Congress and their staffs is an issue of long-standing interest among the public, media outlets, and Members. Questions regarding the purposes, destinations, and cos...