Federal Support for Reproductive Health Services: Frequently Asked Questions
Federal support for reproductive health services—preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to reproductive systems, functions, and processes—is administered in different ways, largely bec...
Israel and Hamas Conflict In Brief: Overview, U.S. Policy, and Options for Congress
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been at war with the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, or FTO), which led an attack that day from the Gaza Str...
Deferred Maintenance and Repair at Civilian Agencies: Causes, Risks, and Policy Options
Federal civilian agencies own more than 285,000 buildings and structures, which have been acquired over time to help the government achieve its objectives. As these assets age, their component systems...
U.S. Marine Corps Force Design Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress
On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) announced a major force design initiative referred to as “Force Design 2030,” which is now known as “Force Design.” As part of this initiative, intended...
Hurricane Helene Recovery: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources
Introduction
Before midnight on September 26, 2024, Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 major hurricane in northwestern Florida in the Big Bend area of the Gulf Coast, later bringing heavy ...
Hydrogen Production: Overview and Issues for Congress
Various hydrogen production methods, or pathways, can use energy to extract hydrogen from feedstocks such as fossil fuels, biomass, and water. Hydrogen molecules can then be used in functional purpose...
Introduction to U.S. Economy: The Business Cycle and Growth
On July 19, 2021, the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), an independent, nonprofit research group, announced that economic activity in the United States reached a post-COVID-19 pandemic onse...
Disaster Recovery Funding for Military Facilities on Guam
Overview
In May 2023, a category-four typhoon struck the U.S. territory of Guam, causing damage to U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force facilities, cutting power lines, and disrupting water supplies for some ...
Blue-Slipping: Enforcing the Origination Clause in the House of Representatives
Article I, Section 7, clause 1, of the U.S. Constitution is known generally as the Origination Clause because it requires that
All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of Representat...
The Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution: Interpretation and Enforcement
Article I, Section 7, clause 1, of the U.S. Constitution is known as the Origination Clause because it provides that “All Bills for raising Revenue shall originate in the House of Representatives.” Th...
The Declare War Clause, Part 1: Overview and Introduction
This Legal Sidebar is the first installment in an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To de...
The Declare War Clause, Part 2: Historical Background, Drafting, and Ratification
This Legal Sidebar is the second part of an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To declare ...
The Declare War Clause, Part 3: Authorizations for Use of Military Force and Debate over Initiating Military Action
This Legal Sidebar is the third part of an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To declare W...
Fact Sheet: Congressional Votes in Response to the Russia-Ukraine War
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In response, Congress has considered legislation related to the conflict, including, for example, funding and assistance to Ukra...
The Declare War Clause, Part 4: Jurisprudence and Practice and Early American Conflicts
This Legal Sidebar is the fourth part of an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To declare ...
The Declare War Clause, Part 5: The Civil War
This Legal Sidebar is the fifth part of an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To declare W...
The Declare War Clause, Part 6: The SpanishAmerican War and First and Second World Wars
This Legal Sidebar is the sixth part of an eight-part series that discusses the Declare War Clause in Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution, which grants Congress the power “To declare W...