National Infrastructure Bank: Proposals in the 117th Congress
Introduction
The term “infrastructure” generally refers to long-lived, capital-intensive systems and facilities in the areas of transportation, energy, water, and telecommunications. Some broader defi...
USDA Rural Broadband, Electric, and Water Programs: FY2022 Appropriations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs build and enhance infrastructure in rural areas. RUS programs provide grants, loans, loan guarantees, and technical...
Equitable Services for Private School Students and Staff and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
Since the enactment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA, P.L. 89-10, as amended) in 1965, the major programs of aid to elementary and secondary education authorized under it have sough...
Nationwide Injunctions: Law, History, and Proposals for Reform
In recent years, nationwide injunctions have generated significant debate among scholars, advocates, judges, and legislators. Sometimes also called national injunctions, universal injunctions, non-par...
Regular Appropriations Acts: Selected Statutory Interpretation Issues
The Constitution’s Appropriations Clause provides that “No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” Congress, and not another branch of government, th...
Low Earth Orbit Satellites: Potential to Address the Broadband Digital Divide
As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began to unfold, many federal, state, and local governments, in addition to large and small businesses, implemented remote working or distance learn...
Supreme Court Blocks Enforcement of the CDC’s Eviction Moratorium
On August 26, 2021, the Supreme Court blocked enforcement of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) nationwide temporary eviction moratorium issued on August 3, 2021. In granting the...
The “Shadow Docket”: The Supreme Court’s Non-Merits Orders
The evening of Friday, August 20, 2021, saw significant activity on the Supreme Court’s non-merits docket. That evening, the Biden Administration filed an application for stay pending appeal in Biden ...
Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs): Background and Issues for Congress
The federal government supports research and development (R&D) that is conducted by a wide variety of performers, including federally owned and operated laboratories, universities, private companies, ...
Office of National Drug Control Policy and Its Role in Federal Drug Control
The Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) is responsible for creating, implementing, and evaluating U.S. drug control policies to reduce the use, manufacturing, and trafficking of illicit dru...
Federal Information Technology (IT) Budgeting Process in the Executive Branch: An Overview
Information technology (IT) systems serve as a means by which federal agencies interact with citizens, other federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector (such as contractors ...