Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2022 Appropriations
The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill—often called the Interior bill—contains funding for about three dozen agencies and entities. They include most of the Department of ...
Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: FY2023
The U.S. government supports a broad range of scientific and engineering research and development (R&D). Its purposes include addressing national defense, health, safety, the environment, and energy s...
Temporary Professional Foreign Workers: Background, Trends, and Policy Issues
Temporary visas have become an increasingly important gateway for foreign professionals to work in the United States. Since 1997, the number of visas issued annually for temporary professional workers...
Social Security: Adjustment Factors for Early or Delayed Benefit Claiming
Social Security is a work-based, federal insurance program that provides monthly cash benefits to insured workers and their eligible family members in the event of the worker’s retirement, disability,...
Removal of Nazi Symbols and Inscriptions on Headstones of Prisoners of War in VA National Cemeteries
Overview
During World War II, hundreds of thousands of German, Italian, and Japanese prisoners of war (POWs) were held in the United States at various military installations. During this time, the U.S...
The Insurrection Bar to Holding Office: Appeals Court Issues Decision on Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment
On May 24, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit issued a decision in Cawthorn v. Amalfi, a case involving Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment (Section 3). That constitutional provi...
2022 Invocation of the Defense Production Act for Large-Capacity Batteries: In Brief
On March 31, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden issued Presidential Determination No. 2022-11, invoking authorities under Section 303 of the Defense Production Act (DPA) and directing the Department of D...
Small Business Administration Trade and Export Promotion Programs
Approximately 166,384 small businesses in the United States currently export, accounting for about 26% of all U.S. exports ($341 billion of $1.32 trillion) and about 96% of all exporters (166,384 of 1...
Guides and Outfitters on Federal Lands: Background and Permitting Processes
Commercial guides and outfitters provide visitors to federal lands with a wide range of outdoor recreational and educational opportunities, such as river rafting, horseback trips, and hiking excursion...