Policy Library

6,587 documents

Executive Orders: An Introduction
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-29 · Reports · 13,768 words · PDF available
Executive orders are written instruments through which a President can issue directives to shape policy. Although the U.S. Constitution does not address executive orders and no statute grants the Pres...
“Staying Nuclear”?: Legal Challenges to State Subsidies for Aging Nuclear Power Plants and Related FERC Actions
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-26 · Posts · 1,481 words · PDF available
Nuclear power plants can produce large amounts of electricity with relatively low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, potentially assisting the United States in reducing such emissions. But the U.S. nucle...
Public-Private Partnerships (P3s) in Transportation
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-26 · Reports · 8,200 words · PDF available
Public-private partnerships (P3s) in transportation are contractual relationships typically between a state or local government, which are the owners of most transportation infrastructure, and a priva...
Scholl v. Mnuchin and Economic Impact Payments
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-26 · Posts · 2,235 words · PDF available
Congress established a new temporary refundable tax credit in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Pub. L. No. 116-136, codified in Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 6...
Supreme Court Decision Sheds Light on State Authority to Regulate Health Care Costs
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-26 · Posts · 1,934 words · PDF available
Alongside recent federal efforts to combat escalating prescription drug costs, state governments have sought to address these high costs within their borders. Many state efforts involve restrictions o...
Housing for Former Foster Youth: Federal Support
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-25 · Reports · 19,877 words · PDF available
This report focuses on federal efforts to meet the housing needs of former foster youth as they transition to adulthood. This includes youth who have reached the age of majority in their state and are...
Community Development Block Grants: Funding and Allocation Processes
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-24 · Reports · 9,914 words
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG) is a long-standing program providing flexible federal funding to states and localities t...
Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century: The Viability of Incorporating Natural Infrastructure in Bureau of Reclamation Water Management Systems
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-24 · Testimony · 4,206 words · PDF available
water resource; U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; natural infrastructure; nature-based infrastructure; groundwater storage; aquifer recharge; watershed restoration
Recent White House Actions on Immigration
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-23 · Posts · 2,485 words · PDF available
In the past several weeks, the Biden Administration has engaged in a series of executive actions on a range of issues. Some concern the administration and enforcement of federal immigration laws. The...
Federal Deficits, Growing Debt, and the Economy in the Wake of COVID-19
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-23 · Reports · 8,770 words · PDF available
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a swift and deep economic downturn from which the country has yet to fully recover. In response to COVID-19, the federal government enacted expa...
United Nations Issues: Cabinet Rank of the U.S. Permanent Representative
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-23 · Resources · 1,614 words · PDF available
The U.S. Permanent Representative is the chief representative of the United States to the United Nations. The President appoints the Permanent Representative with the advice and consent of the Senate....
Federal Data on Hate Crimes in the United States
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-22 · Reports · 6,738 words · PDF available
A number of recent and high-profile crimes where the offenders’ actions appeared to be motivated by their bias or animosity towards a particular race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or ...
H.R. 51,the Washington, D.C. Admission Act
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-22 · Testimony · 7,206 words · PDF available
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The Liquidity Coverage Ratio and the Net Stable Funding Ratio
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-22 · Resources · 1,865 words
Issue Overview Federal bank regulators have issued final rules implementing the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) and the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) for large banks. This In Focus explains the ratio...
Federal Resources for State and Local Economic Development
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-22 · Resources · 1,494 words · PDF available
Congress has authorized over 130 economic development programs, which are administered by over 20 departments and agencies. Federal resources for economic development are often delivered to state and ...
Defining a Socially Disadvantaged Farmer or Rancher (SDFR): In Brief
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-19 · Reports · 6,505 words · PDF available
A socially disadvantaged farmer or rancher (SDFR) refers to a farmer or rancher who is a member of a group whose members have been subjected to racial or ethnic discrimination (7 U.S.C. §2279) and in ...
FY2021 Appropriations for Agricultural Conservation
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-19 · Reports · 6,342 words · PDF available
The Agriculture appropriations bill funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) except for the Forest Service. The FY2021 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 116-260, Division A) includes fundin...
Finding Medicare Enrollment Statistics
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-19 · Reports · 2,196 words · PDF available
No single source for Medicare enrollment statistics exists. This report describes various sources that present different breakdowns of enrollment data, including by coverage type (Part A, Part B, Part...
Asylum Processing at the Border: Legal Basics
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-19 · Posts · 2,606 words · PDF available
Recent statistics and reports from the southern border show a sharp increase in the arrival of non-U.S. nationals (called “aliens” under governing law) who lack visas or other valid entry documents. (...
An Overview of Federal Regulations and the Rulemaking Process
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-19 · Resources · 1,443 words · PDF available
Overview of Rulemaking What Is Federal Rulemaking? Congress often grants rulemaking authority to federal agencies to implement statutory programs. The regulations issued pursuant to this authority car...
Supreme Court Considers Standard for Voting Rights Act Claims
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-18 · Posts · 3,518 words · PDF available
In a potentially significant case, the Supreme Court is considering the proper standard for evaluating claims of discriminatory voting laws under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA). On M...
Special Financial Assistance to Multiemployer Plans
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-18 · Resources · 1,489 words
Section 9704 in Title IX, Subtitle H, of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) provides financial assistance to certain financially troubled multiemployer defined benefit (DB) pension plan...
Pension Provisions in the American Rescue Plan of 2021
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-18 · Resources · 1,525 words · PDF available
This In Focus describes all but one of the pension provisions in Title IX, Subtitle H, of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2). Another In Focus details the special financial assistance t...
Department of Justice’s Role in Investigating and Prosecuting Hate Crimes
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-18 · Resources · 1,623 words · PDF available
In 2019, law enforcement agencies reported 7,314 hate crimes involving 8,812 victims and 6,406 known offenders to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Most hate crimes are investigated by local ...
Federal Taxation of Unemployment Insurance Benefits
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-18 · Resources · 1,526 words · PDF available
Unemployment Insurance Benefits Are Taxable Income Unemployment insurance (UI) benefits have been fully subject to federal income taxation since the passage of the Tax Reform Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-514,...
Do Warrantless Searches of Electronic Devices at the Border Violate the Fourth Amendment?
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-17 · Posts · 3,667 words · PDF available
The Fourth Amendment commands that searches and seizures be reasonable, and generally requires the government to secure a warrant based on probable cause before arresting or searching an individual. B...
EU Data Transfer Requirements and U.S. Intelligence Laws: Understanding Schrems II and Its Impact on the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-17 · Reports · 7,566 words · PDF available
On July 16, 2020, in a decision referred to as Schrems II, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) invalidated the EU-U.S. Privacy Shield (Privacy Shield). Privacy Shield is a framework deve...
Unemployment Insurance Provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-17 · Resources · 1,456 words · PDF available
The Unemployment Insurance (UI) provisions in Title IX, Subtitle A, of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2; enacted March 11, 2021) make four significant changes to UI programs and ...
Appointment and Confirmation of Executive Branch Leadership: An Overview
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-17 · Reports · 7,736 words · PDF available
The Constitution divides the responsibility for populating the top positions in the executive branch of the federal government between the President and the Senate. Article II, Section 2 empowers the ...
Community Project Funding: House Rules and Committee Protocols
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-16 · Reports · 3,020 words · PDF available
On February 26, 2021, the House Committee on Appropriations announced that it will accept Member requests for Community Project Funding in appropriations bills for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2022). I...
Expanded Access and Right to Try: Access to Investigational Drugs
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-16 · Reports · 8,933 words · PDF available
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety and effectiveness of drugs and biological products under its authorities in the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and Public Healt...
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2): Title IX, Subtitle G—Tax Provisions Related to Promoting Economic Security
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-16 · Reports · 12,607 words · PDF available
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA; P.L. 117-2) was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, 2021. ARPA is the latest in a series of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related relief a...
U.S. Energy in the 21st Century: A Primer
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-16 · Reports · 20,890 words · PDF available
Since the start of the 21st century, the U.S. energy system has changed tremendously. Technological advances in energy production have driven changes in energy consumption, and the United States has m...
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA): Overview of Workers’ Compensation for Certain Private-Sector Maritime Workers
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-16 · Reports · 5,697 words · PDF available
The Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) is a federal workers’ compensation program that covers certain private-sector maritime workers. Firms that employ these workers are required ...
Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Selected Policy Options
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-15 · Resources · 1,177 words · PDF available
Congress may consider a range of policy options that could be used to limit or remove human-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the atmosphere, including carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous...
Medicaid Work Requirements: An End to the Litigation?
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-12 · Posts · 1,871 words · PDF available
UPDATE: After this Sidebar was published on March 4, 2021, the Supreme Court removed the Medicaid work requirement litigation from its oral argument calendar. The Court has not yet ruled on the Biden ...
Green Building Overview and Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-12 · Reports · 29,849 words · PDF available
Buildings, whether residential, commercial, government, or special-use, are core components of the nation’s infrastructure. Their construction, operation, and demolition are increasingly recognized as...
Liability Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-12 · Resources · 1,645 words · PDF available
The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) (42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.) establishes a framework to remediate certain types of contaminated sites and to hold the ...
The Qualified Mortgage (QM) Rule and Recent Revisions
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-11 · Resources · 1,694 words · PDF available
Background Prior to the 2008 financial crisis, mortgage underwriting standards were relaxed such that the ability of borrowers to repay their loans became linked to the favorable financial conditions...
U.S. Public Health Service: COVID-19 Supplemental Appropriations in the 116th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-11 · Reports · 17,018 words · PDF available
Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), eight agencies and two offices are designated components of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS). Some of these agencies and offices—for examp...
Veterans Health Administration: Gender-Specific Health Care Services for Women Veterans
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-11 · Resources · 1,691 words · PDF available
Introduction VHA had predominately provided general health care and gender-specific services (e.g., prostate exams) that were geared to men, because the demographics of the veteran population had bee...
Airport Privatization: Issues and Options for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-11 · Reports · 7,879 words · PDF available
In 1996, Congress established the Airport Privatization Pilot Program (APPP; Section 149 of the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996, P.L. 104-264) to increase access to sources of private cap...
Earmark Disclosure Rules in the House: Member and Committee Requirements
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-11 · Reports · 2,095 words
Earmark disclosure rules in both the House and Senate establish certain administrative responsibilities that vary by chamber. Under House rules, a Member requesting that an earmark be included in legi...
Antarctica: Overview of Geopolitical and Environmental Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-10 · Reports · 14,626 words · PDF available
Geopolitical and environmental developments are increasing international focus on Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. Stakeholders contend these developments may have political, economic, and security ...
The Application of Internal Revenue Code Section 280E to Marijuana Businesses: Selected Legal Issues
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-10 · Reports · 9,276 words · PDF available
The marijuana industry has grown as an increasing number of states have relaxed state law prohibitions on the use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Under federal law, marijuana rema...
The Digital Divide: What Is It, Where Is It, and Federal Assistance Programs
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-09 · Reports · 11,530 words · PDF available
As the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began to unfold, many federal, local, and state governments, in addition to large and small businesses, implemented remote working or distance learn...
Produce Safety: Requirements, Implementation, and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-09 · Reports · 14,356 words · PDF available
In the United States, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and sprouts continue to be associated with a series of foodborne illness outbreaks across the country, resulting in hundreds of illnesses and hospitaliz...
Unemployment Insurance: Legislative Issues in the 116th Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-08 · Reports · 23,528 words · PDF available
Responding to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting economic recession, the 116th Congress created several new temporary unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for workers u...
Federal Offshore Oil and Gas Revenues During the COVID19 Pandemic
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-08 · Resources · 1,461 words · PDF available
The economic effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic included a reduction in demand for oil and natural gas, resulting in lower prices and decreased production. These changes have ...
The Endangered Species Act: Overview and Implementation
Congressional Research Service · 2021-03-04 · Reports · 28,930 words · PDF available
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA; P.L. 93-205, 87 Stat. 884, 16 U.S.C. §§1531-1544) aims to conserve species listed as endangered or threatened under the act. Under the ESA, it is the policy of...