Policy Library

7,020 documents

In the presidential election’s most important state, the race is a dead heat
Brookings Institution · 2024-10-01 · Article · 9,343 words · PDF available
In the 2024 presidential election, Pennsylvania is arguably the state neither candidate can afford to lose.
Who Has JD Vance’s Ear on AI and Should We Be Concerned?
Third Way · 2024-10-01 · Memo · 2,085 words
Third Way is a center-left think tank that champions modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US public policy, including the economy, climate and energy, national security, social policy,...
Central America: Policy Options Following Expiration of Targeted Sanctions Authority
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Resources · 1,470 words · PDF available
On December 27, 2023, a targeted sanctions authority created by Congress to respond to corruption and democratic backsliding in four Central American countries (Figure 1) expired along with any visa r...
Disaster Recovery Funding for Military Facilities on Guam
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Posts · 997 words · PDF available
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 ...
FY2025 NDAA: Accelerating Technology Transitions
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Posts · 1,404 words · PDF available
The Defense Department seeks technological advantages to obtain battlefield overmatch, deter potential enemies, and contribute to decisive U.S. military victory. Underpinning U.S. technological advant...
Federal Habeas Corpus: An Abridged Sketch
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 5,886 words · PDF available
Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual’s incarceration. It is most often the stage of the criminal appellate process that follows dir...
Federal Student Loan Forgiveness and Loan Repayment Programs
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 41,698 words · PDF available
Service-contingent student loan forgiveness and loan repayment programs enable borrowers to have all or part of their student loan debt forgiven or repaid in exchange for work or service in specific f...
Blue-Slipping: Enforcing the Origination Clause in the House of Representatives
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 2,683 words · PDF available
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 Port Strike’s Effect on Maritime Commerce
The strike by port dockworkers (commonly called longshoremen) at East and Gulf Coast ports has raised concerns about the economic impact should the strike last more than a few days. The International ...
The Origination Clause of the U.S. Constitution: Interpretation and Enforcement
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 13,361 words · PDF available
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...
Congressional Rules and Practices Concerning User Fees and Other Nonrevenue Collections in the Federal Budget
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 4,026 words · PDF available
The collection of funds to finance the operations of the federal government is a fundamental part of federal budgeting and the policymaking process. Although the power to “lay and collect taxes, dutie...
Federal Habeas Corpus: A Legal Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Reports · 25,446 words · PDF available
Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual’s incarceration. It is most often the stage of the criminal appellate process that follows dir...
Defense Primer: Army Multi-Domain Operations (MDO)
Congressional Research Service · 2024-10-01 · Resources · 1,419 words
As an operational concept, Multi-Domain Operations (MDO) influence what types of weapon systems and equipment the Army procures, what types and numbers of soldiers are needed, the organizational struc...
When will the US presidential candidates talk about teachers?
Brookings Institution · 2024-09-30 · Article · 42,956 words · PDF available
To date, former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris have only shared, well, “concepts of a plan” to improve K-12 schools for students and teachers.
Google’s antitrust troubles demonstrate the need for a digital regulator
Brookings Institution · 2024-09-30 · Article · 3,420 words · PDF available
Mark MacCarthy describes how the logistical complexities of addressing Google's monopoly power require a new, pro-competitive tech agency.
Defining Recession
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Resources · 1,641 words · PDF available
Over time, an economy fluctuates between periods of above- and below-average short-term growth. These fluctuations are referred to as the economy’s “business cycle.” As the economy moves through the b...
The Declare War Clause, Part 1: Overview and Introduction
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,204 words · PDF available
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
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 2,803 words · PDF available
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
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,557 words · PDF available
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
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Reports · 4,289 words · PDF available
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
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,372 words · PDF available
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 ...
FY2025 NDAA: Security Cooperation
Background The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) broadly defines “security cooperation” (also known as SC) as department interactions with foreign security establishments to build security relationship...
The Declare War Clause, Part 5: The Civil War
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,145 words · PDF available
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
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,670 words · PDF available
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...
The Declare War Clause, Part 7: The Cold War and Korean War
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,315 words · PDF available
This Legal Sidebar is the seventh 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 8: Vietnam War Through 21st-Century Conflicts
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,713 words · PDF available
This Legal Sidebar is the last 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 declare War, gr...
Israel Kills Leader of Lebanese Hezbollah
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,026 words · PDF available
On September 27, 2024, an Israeli airstrike in Beirut killed Hassan Nasrallah, the longtime Secretary-General of Lebanese Hezbollah. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the United States was n...
Foreign Entity of Concern Requirements in the Section 30D Clean Vehicle Credit
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Posts · 1,194 words · PDF available
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA; P.L. 117-169) made significant changes to the clean vehicle credit (CVC) in Section 30D of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The CVC allows individuals and businesses ...
Department of Education Support for School Safety Initiatives
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-30 · Resources · 1,504 words · PDF available
Congressional interest in elementary and secondary public school safety and security remains strong. Though public school safety and security is primarily a state and local responsibility, there are f...
Making housing more affordable
Brookings Institution · 2024-09-27 · Article · 10,900 words · PDF available
The high cost of housing is a significant economic pressure for many Americans. Jenny Schuetz and Shira Stein discuss what lawmakers can do to incentivize homebuilding and make housing more affordable...
Kids Online Safety Act
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-27 · Resources · 1,779 words · PDF available
On July 30, 2024, the Senate passed an amended version of S. 2073, titled the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act. Title I of the act includes provisions similar to those in the Kids Online Safety Act ...
Envisioning a more equitable and inclusive Farm Bill
Brookings Institution · 2024-09-26 · Article · 195,620 words · PDF available
TheFarm Billis a critical piece of legislation that reauthorizes the country’s agricultural and nutrition programs about every five years—and the 2024 version is now on legislators’ desks, with some m...
What are AI Agents?
Third Way · 2024-09-26 · Memo · 2,266 words
Third Way is a center-left think tank that champions modern solutions to the most challenging problems in US public policy, including the economy, climate and energy, national security, social policy,...
Intelligence Community Spending Trends
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-26 · Reports · 6,221 words · PDF available
The intelligence budget, as considered separate and distinct from the defense budget, dates to reforms initiated in the 1970s to improve oversight and accountability of the intelligence community. The...
Iran-Supported Groups in the Middle East and U.S. Policy
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-26 · Resources · 1,524 words · PDF available
Iran has long backed a network of armed groups in the Middle East to advance its regional interests. These groups, which include U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) and which someti...
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) Oil and Gas Program: Provisions in P.L. 11597, Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-26 · Resources · 1,354 words
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (P.L. 115-97), enacted in December 2017, included provisions establishing an oil and gas program in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR or the Refuge). Under this progr...
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-25 · Posts · 1,345 words · PDF available
No federal statute or regulation specifically addresses artificial intelligence (AI) in political campaigns. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations ...
Credible Fear and Defensive Asylum Processes: Frequently Asked Questions
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-25 · Reports · 12,361 words · PDF available
Non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal statute and regulation) subject to removal from the United States may seek asylum and other forms of humanitarian protection during formal and expedited remova...
Federal Support for School Safety and Security
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-24 · Reports · 20,138 words · PDF available
In the United States, more than 68 million students are enrolled in public elementary and secondary (K-12) schools or degree-granting postsecondary institutions. School and campus safety and security ...
Defense Primer: Military Infrastructure Funding
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-24 · Resources · 1,492 words · PDF available
The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains military infrastructure to support military missions around the world. This infrastructure includes buildings, roads, airfields, ports, training ranges, barra...
Pakistan’s Domestic Political Setting
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-24 · Resources · 1,720 words · PDF available
Overview Historically, constitutionalism and parliamentary democracy have fared poorly in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, marked by power struggles among presidents, prime ministers (PMs), and army ...
Why Is the Federal Reserve Reducing Interest Rates?
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Posts · 1,010 words · PDF available
On September 18, 2024, the Federal Reserve (Fed) reduced interest rates to a target range of 4.75%-5%. This was the first rate cut since March 2020, and the Fed expects to continue cutting rates this ...
Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) FY2024 Appropriations: Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Reports · 4,779 words · PDF available
The Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill includes funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, the District of Colu...
U.S. Secret Service Protection Mission Funding and Staffing: Fact Sheet
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Reports · 1,743 words · PDF available
Members of Congress periodically focus on the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and its protection mission. The USSS has been protecting Presidents, other specific federal government officials, and their fam...
Connecting Constituents to Health Information and Services: Resources for Congressional Offices
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Reports · 6,723 words · PDF available
As part of their representational activities, Members of Congress and their staffs provide a range of information and services to constituents. Some constituent communications reflect concerns about h...
Social Security Benefit Taxation Highlights
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Resources · 1,543 words · PDF available
At a Glance In August 2024, the Social Security system provided over $121.4 billion in monthly benefits to almost 68.1 million retired or disabled workers and their spouses, survivors, and dependents....
Commemorative Works Act: Siting Memorials in the District of Columbia
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Resources · 1,293 words · PDF available
In 1986, Congress enacted the Commemorative Works Act (CWA) to guide the authorization, design, and placement of memorials in Washington, DC, on property administered by the National Park Service (NPS...
The U.S. Defense Industrial Base: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Reports · 18,560 words · PDF available
The U.S. defense industrial base (DIB) is the network of organizations, facilities, and resources that provides the U.S. government—particularly the Department of Defense (DOD)—with defense-related ma...
Prospects for U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Energy Cooperation
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-23 · Resources · 1,762 words · PDF available
Overview The 118th Congress may engage the Biden Administration with regard to U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia’s National Project for Atomic Energy and the potential for future U.S.-Saudi nuclear ener...
Military Survivor Benefit Plan: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2024-09-20 · Reports · 13,945 words · PDF available
The Department of Defense’s Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), enacted in 1972, provides cash benefits in the form of a lifetime annuity to a surviving spouse or other eligible recipient(s) of a retiree or ...