Supreme Court Considers Statute of Limitations for Military Rape Cases
In the consolidated cases United States v. Briggs and United States v. Collins, decided on December 10, 2020, the Supreme Court overturned two lower court decisions and reinstated the rape convictions...
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2021 Budget Request and Appropriations
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) mission is to understand and predict changes in weather, climate, oceans, and coasts; to share that information with others; and to conse...
Bank Supervision by Federal Regulators: Overview and Policy Issues
To identify and mitigate risks, bank regulators have the authority to monitor bank activities, condition, and performance. Bank supervision creates certain benefits, including safer banks, a more stab...
COVID-19: China Medical Supply Chains and Broader Trade Issues
The outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), first in China, and then globally, including in the United States, has drawn attention to the ways in which the U.S. economy depends on manufacturi...
Commemorative Legislation in Congress: Trends and Observations, 93rd Through 115th Congresses
In 1783, the Continental Congress authorized the nation’s first commemoration, an equestrian statue to George Washington. Since that time, Congress has used commemoratives to honor a myriad of people,...
“Court Packing”: Legislative Control over the Size of the Supreme Court
In the past year, legal commentators, policymakers, and the national press have devoted significant attention to proposals to increase the size of the Supreme Court, sometimes colloquially called “cou...
Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Ownership: Data and Policy Issues
Retirement income in the U.S. can come from multiple sources—Social Security, savings in employer-sponsored plans (e.g., public and private defined benefit plans and defined contribution plans), and p...
Federal Private Health Insurance Market Reforms: Legal Framework and Enforcement
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2018, over 65% of the U.S. population was covered by private-sector health insurance offered either through an employer or a union, or directly purchased by an ...
The Annual Energy Outlook (AEO): A Brief Overview
The Annual Energy Outlook (AEO) provides an annual projection of U.S. energy supply, demand, prices, certain energy-related air emissions, and other factors over a 25-30 year period. Congress has an o...
The Status of Puerto Rico’s Recovery and Ongoing Challenges Following Hurricanes Irma and María: FEMA, SBA, and HUD Assistance
Three years after Hurricanes Irma and María, Puerto Rico is still recovering from the devastation to communities, homes and property, businesses, and infrastructure that was caused by the hurricanes. ...
Federal Real Property Data: Limitations and Implications for Oversight
The federal executive branch owns and leases more than 127,000 buildings, with annual operating costs in excess of $15 billion. Oversight of this portfolio has been a priority for recent Congresses, p...