Supreme Court Revisits Scope of “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) Under the Clean Water Act
On January 24, 2022, the Supreme Court agreed to review Sackett v. EPA, a long-running dispute regarding whether certain wetlands are “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) subject to protection under ...
Supreme Court Nominations, 1789 to 2020: Actions by the Senate, the Judiciary Committee, and the President
The process of appointing Supreme Court Justices has undergone changes over two centuries, but its most basic feature, the sharing of power between the President and Senate, has remained unchanged. To...
Rules and Practices Governing Consideration of Revenue Legislation in the House and Senate
The collection of revenue is a fundamental component of the federal budget, as it provides the government with money to fund agencies, programs, and activities. It is also an important tool in the pol...
Climate Change Risk Disclosures and the Securities and Exchange Commission
Potential risks to the U.S. financial system from climate change have attracted growing attention in government, academia, and media, raising questions about the roles of financial regulators in addre...
Federal Pay: General Schedule (GS) Pay Adjustment Process, Amounts Provided Since 2010, and Issues for Congress
The General Schedule (GS) is the basic pay schedule for federal civilian white-collar employees. The GS governs the establishment and adjustment of salaries for a workforce representing professional, ...
The House Appropriations Process: Opportunities for Member Participation
Each year, Congress produces appropriations legislation that provides discretionary funding for a broad range of government activities related to defense, transportation, education, the environment, h...
Stalking Concerns Raised by Bluetooth Tracking Technologies: In Brief
Recent media reports have raised concerns about the use of Bluetooth tracking technologies (e.g., Apple AirTags, Tile trackers; hereinafter, e-trackers) to facilitate crimes such as motor vehicle thef...
National Spectrum Policy: Interference Issues in the 5G Context
Radio Spectrum as a National Resource
Most wireless technologies, including mobile communications, radionavigation systems (e.g., the Global Positioning System, GPS), radar systems, satellites, and ra...
Reforming the U.S. Postal Service: Background and Issues for Congress
This report provides background information on the financial condition of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). It provides information on mail revenue, volume, and service performance. Additionally, it cov...
The Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA)
During the Cold War, thousands of Americans worked in the development and testing of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile. Some of these workers were exposed to radiation, beryllium, silica, and oth...
FEMA’s Role in the COVID-19 Federal Pandemic Response
On March 13, 2020, President Donald J. Trump declared a nationwide emergency under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Stafford Act, P.L. 93-288 as amended), autho...
Passenger Rail Expansion in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
On November 15, 2021, the President signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58). The law contains a five-year reauthorization of surface transportation programs, inc...
Afghanistan: Humanitarian Crisis, Economic Collapse, and U.S. Sanctions
Humanitarian and economic conditions in Afghanistan, long one of the world’s poorest and most aid-dependent countries, have deteriorated significantly since the Taliban’s August 2021 takeover, creatin...
U.S. Nuclear Plant Shutdowns, State Interventions, and Policy Concerns
The United States has the largest nuclear power plant fleet in the world, with 93 reactors that can generate approximately 95,522 megawatts (MW) of electricity. Nuclear power has accounted for about 2...
Extreme Weather and Lifeline Infrastructure Resilience: Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
On December 10, 2021, deadly tornadoes struck Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois, killing nearly 90 people and causing widespread damage to lifeline infrastructure in the transporta...