Policy Library

7,020 documents

Import Monitoring Systems: Steel and Aluminum
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-29 · Resources · 1,572 words · PDF available
Background Over the years, several domestic manufacturing industries have sought insulation from import competition—two of particular note include steel and aluminum. Both industries have formally est...
Parents Are Fed Up With Public Schools Secretly Transitioning Children
Heritage Foundation · 2023-03-28 · Commentary · 1,010 words
COMMENTARY BYSarah Parshall PerryFormer Senior Legal Fellow, Meese CenterSarah Parshall Perry was a Senior Legal Fellow in the Edwin Meese III Center for Legal and Judicial Studies at The Heritage Fou...
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Development, Implementation, and Considerations for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-28 · Reports · 19,860 words · PDF available
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) provides federally developed food-based recommendations designed to promote health and prevent disease. As mandated by the National Nutrition Monitoring and ...
FY2023 District of Columbia Budget and Appropriations
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Reports · 4,423 words · PDF available
The District of Columbia (DC) government’s local operating budget and much of its local legislation is subject to congressional approval, pursuant to the plenary legislative authority of Congress over...
Deposit Insurance and the Failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Resources · 1,706 words · PDF available
Congress created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in the wake of the Great Depression to limit the losses depositors would face if their banks failed. It did so to instill confidence i...
Department of Labor Guidance and Regulations on the Exercise of Shareholder Rights by Private-Sector Pension Plans
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Resources · 1,549 words
Introduction The fiduciary standards in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA; P.L. 93-406, as amended) require that individuals who make decisions for private-sector pension plan...
Introduction to the Farm Bill: Videos
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Reports · 1,812 words · PDF available
This report constitutes a guide to a series of video presentations that examine the various programs and policies that comprise omnibus legislation on farm and food policy, commonly known as “the farm...
Federal Procurement: Emergency-Related Acquisition Flexibilities
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Reports · 6,796 words · PDF available
Federal procurement is an essential component of the federal government’s response to disasters, emergencies, and other types of incidents. Procurement data for federal government spending related to ...
Department of Labor Guidance and Regulations on Selecting Private-Sector Pension Plan Investments
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Resources · 1,524 words · PDF available
Introduction The fiduciary standards in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA; P.L. 93-406, as amended) require that individuals who make decisions for private-sector pension plan...
Social Security Taxable Earnings Base: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-27 · Resources · 1,505 words · PDF available
Introduction Social Security payroll taxes are levied on covered earnings up to a maximum level set each year. This maximum is known as the contribution and benefit base and commonly referred to as th...
Perez v. Sturgis Public Schools: the Supreme Court Considers a Futility Exception to IDEA Administrative Exhaustion
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-24 · Posts · 2,848 words · PDF available
The Supreme Court recently considered the interplay between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and other federal laws protecting students with disabilities, particularly the Americ...
The Hydrogen Economy: Putting the Pieces Together
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-24 · Reports · 15,467 words · PDF available
A future economy using hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel has been a topic among policymakers evaluating whether hydrogen could offer an alternative to the current system that provides modern ener...
2022 Nuclear Posture Review: Selected Programmatic Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-24 · Resources · 1,455 words · PDF available
Background The unclassified 2022 Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), a legislatively mandated document (10 U.S.C., Ch. 24), describes the Biden Administration’s plans to continue to modernize U.S. nuclear f...
Middle East and North Africa-China Relations
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Reports · 18,992 words · PDF available
The People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China) has been expanding and strengthening its diplomatic, security, commercial, and cultural ties with countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) re...
Programs for Minority-Serving Institutions Under the Higher Education Act
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Reports · 22,844 words · PDF available
Minority-serving institutions (MSIs) are institutions of higher education that serve high concentrations of minority students who, historically, have been underrepresented in higher education. Many MS...
Transfer of Defense Articles: U.S. Sale and Export of U.S.-Made Arms to Foreign Entities
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Reports · 14,613 words · PDF available
An extensive set of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures govern the sale and export of U.S.-origin weapons to foreign countries (“defense articles and defense services,” officially). Congress h...
Labor Enforcement Issues in U.S. FTAs
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Resources · 1,781 words · PDF available
Background Labor provisions in free trade agreements (FTAs)—both in the United States and globally—were first included in the North American Agreement on Labor Cooperation (NAALC), a side agreement to...
Digital Biology: Implications of Genetic Sequencing
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Resources · 1,495 words · PDF available
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the molecule that carries genetic information of an organism. This genetic code is composed of nucleotide bases (A, T, C, and G). The sequence of these bases encodes inf...
Bank Failures and the FDIC
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Resources · 1,859 words · PDF available
This In Focus provides an introduction to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (FDIC’s) process for resolving failing FDIC-insured banks. It also identifies policy issues Congress may consider ...
Department of Energy Funding for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Programs FY2022
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-23 · Resources · 1,515 words · PDF available
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program, led by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) addresses the deve...
The Role of International Tribunals in the Response to the Invasion of Ukraine
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-22 · Posts · 2,753 words · PDF available
The Ukrainian government and much of the international community contend that actions taken by Russian forces following its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine violate international law. At the outset o...
Social Security Administration (SSA): FY2023 Annual Limitation on Administrative Expenses (LAE) Appropriation: In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-22 · Reports · 2,828 words · PDF available
The Social Security Administration (SSA) is responsible for administering the nation’s primary income support programs for older adults and individuals with disabilities: Social Security and Supplemen...
Noncitizen Eligibility for Employment Authorization and Work-Authorized Social Security Numbers (SSNs)
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-22 · Reports · 7,988 words
While U.S. citizens who are of sufficient age are authorized to work in the United States, noncitizens must have an immigration status that specifically authorizes them to work in the country; this is...
Appropriations Report Language: Overview of Development and Components
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-22 · Reports · 11,369 words · PDF available
Congressional reports accompany appropriations measures when they are reported by the House and Senate Appropriations Committees or when the House and Senate use a conference committee to resolve diff...
The Department of Homeland Security: A Primer
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Reports · 8,536 words · PDF available
Established in early 2003, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the “youngest” cabinet-level department of the U.S. government, and has a broad and complex mission. This report is intended to ...
Common Causes of Economic Recession
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Reports · 7,293 words · PDF available
In the short term, the economy fluctuates between periods of increasing economic activity—expansions—and decreasing economic activity—contractions, or recessions. Recessions are characterized by decre...
HIV/AIDS in the Military
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Resources · 1,371 words · PDF available
In various chapters of Title 10, U.S. Code, Congress has codified a number of broad authorities for the Department of Defense (DOD) to establish certain accession and retention standards for serviceme...
Overview of the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) and Emergency Abortion Services
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Resources · 1,475 words · PDF available
The Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA, largely codified in Section 1867 of the Social Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1395dd) is a federal law that generally compels Medicare-particip...
Extraterritorial Application of American Criminal Law: An Abbreviated Sketch
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Reports · 4,164 words · PDF available
Criminal law is usually territorial. It is a matter of the law of the place where it occurs. Nevertheless, a number of American criminal laws apply extraterritorially outside of the United States. App...
Extraterritorial Application of American Criminal Law
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Reports · 46,723 words · PDF available
Criminal law is usually territorial. It is a matter of the law of the place where it occurs. Nevertheless, a number of American criminal laws apply extraterritorially outside of the United States. App...
Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) and Informal Member Groups: Their Purpose and Activities, History, and Formation
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-21 · Reports · 11,242 words · PDF available
This report examines the historical development and contemporary role of Congressional Member Organizations (CMOs) in the House, as well as informal Member groups in the House, Senate, and across the ...
Agricultural Conservation and the Next Farm Bill
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 7,927 words · PDF available
The agricultural conservation title of omnibus farm bills contains authorizing and amending language to existing and new voluntary resource conservation efforts on productive farm and ranch lands. Mos...
Department of Veterans Affairs: Abortion Policy
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 4,366 words · PDF available
The primary mission of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is to provide health care services to veterans. To accomplish this goal, VA has promulgated r...
The Role of Bridge Banks in FDIC Receiverships
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Posts · 786 words · PDF available
The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Signature Bank (Signature) bring to the fore the function of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) in winding down a failed financial institut...
Supreme Court Rules Against IRS on Foreign Account Reporting Penalties
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Posts · 2,278 words · PDF available
Federal law requires U.S. persons with a financial interest in or signature or other authority over foreign financial accounts totaling more than $10,000 to report these accounts by filing a Report of...
Energy and Water Development: FY2023 Appropriations
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 17,886 words · PDF available
The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations bill funds civil works projects of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE); the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation...
The Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA): A Primer
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 5,470 words · PDF available
This primer summarizes the Education Sciences Reform Act (ESRA), the Educational Technical Assistance Act (ETAA), and the National Assessment of Educational Progress Authorization Act (NAEPAA). The re...
Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Resources · 1,115 words · PDF available
On July 4, the United States celebrates the anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence with a federal holiday called Independence Day. For certain milestone anniversaries (ever...
Voting and Quorum Procedures in the House of Representatives
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 11,940 words · PDF available
The Constitution requires that a quorum, defined as a majority of the House, be present on the floor when the House transacts business. The House, however, always presumes that a quorum is present unl...
EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Resources · 1,453 words · PDF available
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP) requires certain facilities to report their emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In addition, the GHGRP req...
Use of National Statuary Hall: Assignment and Historic Events
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-20 · Reports · 4,875 words · PDF available
Statuary Hall has been used as the setting for a variety of events, including memorial ceremonies and receptions for new Members of Congress, award presentations, and as media space after presidential...
Reauthorization of Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-17 · Reports · 10,142 words · PDF available
Title VII of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) generally addresses electronic surveillance and other methods of acquiring foreign intelligence information that are directed at targets o...
Veterans-Related Education Legislation Enacted in the 117th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-16 · Reports · 15,392 words · PDF available
Veterans’ educational assistance programs provide financial assistance to individuals, whose eligibility is based on their or a family member’s experience in the uniformed services, while they are enr...
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2023 Appropriations
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-16 · Resources · 1,343 words · PDF available
Enacted on December 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) provided funding for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, including funding for the...
Repurposing 3.1-3.55 GHz Spectrum: Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-16 · Resources · 1,688 words · PDF available
Wireless technologies use radio waves, or frequencies, to transmit and receive voice and data signals. The radio spectrum is the range of frequencies used for wireless mobile, satellite, television, A...
Consumer Finance and Financial Technology (Fintech)
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-15 · Reports · 14,689 words · PDF available
Fintech (short for financial technology) refers to advances in technology incorporated into financial products and services. Many companies—both traditional financial firms and new technology-focused ...
Women, Peace, and Security: Global Context and U.S. Policy
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-15 · Resources · 1,741 words · PDF available
In 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. The resolution calls on U.N. member states to, among other things, take steps to ...
Clean Water State Revolving Fund Allotment Formula: Background and Options
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-15 · Reports · 10,604 words · PDF available
In 1987, Congress amended the Clean Water Act (CWA) to establish the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program. For the past 30 years, the CWSRF program has been the principal federal funding p...
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 1: Introduction
This Legal Sidebar post is the first in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents laws that modify Members of Congress’s compensation from takin...
The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 2: The Federal Convention
Congressional Research Service · 2023-03-14 · Posts · 1,201 words · PDF available
This Legal Sidebar post is the second in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents laws that modify Members of Congress’s compensation from taki...