The Secure the Border Act (H.R. 2): Asylum-Related Reforms
On May 11, 2023, the House passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2). The bill would, among other things, make significant changes to federal immigration laws with respect to border security, ...
FDA Regulation of Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate cosmetic products and their ingredients. This authority was granted by the 1938 Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), which...
School Swatting: Overview of Federal Criminal Law
In September 2023, school districts in several states—including Pennsylvania, New York, Utah, California, and North Carolina—were reportedly subject to threatening hoax communications characterized as...
Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski: Federal Trial Courts Must Halt Proceedings During Arbitration Appeals
In Coinbase, Inc. v. Bielski, the Supreme Court ruled in a 5-to-4 decision that federal district courts must stay pre-trial and trial proceedings when a party appeals an order denying a motion to comp...
Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA): Provisions Related to Climate Change
On August 16, 2022, President Biden signed H.R. 5376 (P.L. 117-169), a budget reconciliation measure commonly referred to as the “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” (IRA). IRA contains eight titles, eac...
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328): Medicaid and CHIP Provisions
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (CAA 2023; P.L. 117-328), enacted on December 29, 2022, provides appropriations to federal agencies for the remainder of FY2023, provides supplemental appropr...
Barriers Along the U.S. Border: Key Authorities and Recent Developments
On October 5, 2023, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas invoked Section 102(c) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), waiving requirements u...
Israel and Hamas October 2023 Conflict: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
On October 7, 2023, the Palestinian Sunni Islamist group Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, or FTO) led surprise attacks against Israel from the Gaza Strip by land, sea, and air....
Azerbaijan’s Retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Displacement of Karabakh Armenians
On September 20, 2023, Azerbaijan reasserted control over Nagorno-Karabakh (also known in Armenian as Artsakh), a predominantly Armenian-populated region at the center of a dispute between Azerbaijan ...
Child Soldiers Prevention Act: Security Assistance Restrictions
The recruitment and use of children in armed conflict is broadly viewed as a human rights problem, a form of trafficking in persons, among the worst forms of child labor, and a war crime. The United N...
Snakes on a Plane, in an Apartment, or at the Supermarket? Assistance Animals Under Three Federal Statutes
People with disabilities commonly request permission to be accompanied by an assistance animal at a range of locations, from airplanes to supermarkets to apartment buildings. The legal requirements th...
The Defense Production Act of 1950: History, Authorities, and Considerations for Congress
The Defense Production Act (DPA) of 1950 (P.L. 81-774, 50 U.S.C. §§4501 et seq.), as amended, confers upon the President a broad set of authorities to influence domestic industry in the interest of na...
Recent Developments in the Federal Multipronged Approach to Solar and Wind Energy
In the opening days of the Biden Administration, the President issued Executive Order 14008, directing the Administration to focus on actions to address climate change. In the wake of this directive, ...