WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Broadband Workforce Considerations for the 118th Congress (No. IF12111) by telecommunications policy analyst Colby Leigh Rachfal: * * * Bridging the Digital Divide: Broadband Workforce Considerations for the 118th Congress As classrooms, workplaces, and social activities migrated online during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the digital divide - the gap between more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the business investment (No. IF11020) on Dec. 29, 2022, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Business Investment What Is Business Investment? Business investment is spending by private businesses and nonprofits on physical capital - long-lasting assets used to produce goods and services. Physical capital is gener more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (No. IF10789) on Dec. 28, 2022, by Latin American affairs specialist Mark P. Sullivan. Here are excerpts: * * * Caribbean Basin Security Initiative The United States developed the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI), a regional U.S. foreign assistance program, in 2009 through a process of dialogue with Caribbean countries. The initiat more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 24 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative (No. IF11735) on Dec. 22, 2022. The white paper was written by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist, and Andres B. Schwarzenberg and Michael D. Sutherland, in international trade and finance analysts. Here are excerpts: * * * China's "One Belt, One Road" Initiative: Economic Issues The People's Republic of China (PRC or China more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on China's engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (No. IF10982) on Dec. 28, 2022, by Latin American affairs specialist Mark P. Sullivan and Asian affairs specialist Thomas Lum. Here are excerpts: * * * China's Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean As the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) has increased its engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (LA more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Cuba - U.S. policy overview (No. IF10045) on Dec. 28, 2022, by Latin American affairs specialist Mark P. Sullivan: * * * Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Cuban Political and Economic Developments Cuba remains a one-party authoritarian state with a government that has sharply restricted freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and other basic human rights since the early years of th more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Department of Defense Maintenance Depots (No. IF11466) by defense infrastructure policy analyst Luke A. Nicastro and defense logistics and resource management policy analyst Cameron M. Keys. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Department of Defense Maintenance Depots Title 10, United States Code (U.S.C.) Sec.2464 requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to "maintain a cor more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Federal Communications Commission's National Broadband Map (No. IF12298) on Dec. 27, 2022, by telecommunications policy analysts Colby Leigh Rachfal and Ling Zhu: * * * FCC's National Broadband Map: Implications for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Access to high-speed internet (i.e., broadband) has been a focus of congressional interest for decades a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the fiscal policy (No. IF11253) on Dec. 29, 2022, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Fiscal Policy What Is Fiscal Policy? Fiscal policy is the means by which the government adjusts its budget balance through spending and revenue changes to influence broader economic conditions. According to mainstream economics more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the foreign leaders addressing Congress (No. IF10211) on Dec. 22, 2022, by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * Foreign Leaders Addressing Congress Foreign leaders are periodically invited to address Congress. The first address by a foreign dignitary occurred on December 10, 1824, when Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette addressed the House. The more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Department of the Interior Law Enforcement Programs (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, by natural resources policy analyst Mark K. DeSantis. Here are excerpts: * * * Department of the Interior (DOI) Law Enforcement Programs Overview The Department of the Interior (DOI) employs law enforcement officers (LEOs) for a variety of purposes, and law enforcement on lands administered by D more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Latin America and the Caribbean - U.S. policy overview (No. IF10460) on Dec. 29, 2022, by Latin American affairs Mark P. Sullivan: * * * Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy Overview The United States and neighboring Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) maintain strong linkages based on geographic proximity and diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the managed trade and quantitative restrictions (No. IF11035) on Dec. 22, 2022, by Andres B. Schwarzenberg, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Managed Trade and Quantitative Restrictions: Issues for Congress Background Congress plays a prominent role in shaping U.S. trade policy, due in part to trade policy's impact on the overall health of the U.S. e more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Navy DDG(X) next-generation destroyer program (No. IF11679) on Dec. 21, 2022, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's DDG(X) program envisages procuring a class of next-generation guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the Navy's Ticonder more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the OPEN Government Data Act (No. IF12299) on Dec. 29, 2022, by telecommunications policy analyst Colby Leigh Rachfal: * * * The OPEN Government Data Act: A Primer The Open, Public, Electronic, and Necessary Government Data Act--also called the OPEN Government Data Act (Title II of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 [FEBPA], P.L. 115-435)--seeks to change ho more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the PATRIOT Air and missile defense system for Ukraine (No. IF12297) on Dec. 23, 2022, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * PATRIOT Air and Missile Defense System for Ukraine The PATRIOT air and missile defense (AMD) system is an integral component of U.S. air and missile defense. The system and its interceptors are both expensive and limi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on personal income (No. IF10501) on Dec. 29, 2022, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Personal Income What Is Income? Income is a measure of resources accruing to an individual over a period of time. In general, individuals receive income from their labor, assets, and government transfers. In its broadest terms, i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Army's Strategic Mid-Range Fires System (No. IF12135) on Dec. 27, 2022, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Army's Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System (Formerly Mid-Range Capabilities [MRC] System) What Is the Army's Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF) System? Reported improvements to Russian and Chinese artillery syst more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (No. IF11915) on Dec. 27, 2022, by Middle Eastern affairs analyst Carla E. Humud. Here are excerpts: * * * United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has been deployed in the Lebanon-Israel-Syria tri-border area since 1978. The mission was deployed following the 1978 Israeli invas more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the banking provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 2023 (No. IN12067) on Dec. 29, 2022, by financial economics analyst Andrew P. Scott and macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte. Here are excerpts: * * * Banking Provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 The James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Ye more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Biden Administration's one-time student loan debt relief policy (No. IN11997) on Dec. 29, 2022, by social policy analyst Alexandra Hegji: * * * The Biden Administration's One-Time Student Loan Debt Relief Policy On August 24, 2022, invoking the HEROES Act of 2003, the Department of Education (ED) announced a new "one-time student loan debt relief" policy (the policy) "to address  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation assistance (No. IN11187) on Dec. 23, 2022, by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist: * * * Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Assistance Introduction The majority of funding in the United States for both pre- and post-disaster mitigation comes from the Federal Emergency M more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the FY2023 NDAA - status of legislative activity (No. IN11985) on Dec. 29, 2022, by defense budget analyst Brendan W. McGarry and Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2023 NDAA: Status of Legislative Activity By law (31 U.S.C. Sec.1105(a)), the President is to send the federal budget request to Congress by the first Monday in Fe more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Behavioral Health Benefit Coverage and Wit v. United Behavioral Health (No. LSB10881) on Dec. 21, 2022, by legislative attorney Hannah-Alise Rogers: * * * Behavioral Health Benefit Coverage and Wit v. United Behavioral Health The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that nearly 53 million American adults live with a mental illness, and about 24 million (46.2%) rece more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the COVID-related restrictions on entry into the U.S. under Title 42 (No. LSB10874) on Dec. 29, 2022, by legislative attorney Kelsey Y. Santamaria. Here are excerpts: * * * COVID-Related Restrictions on Entry into the United States Under Title 42: Litigation and Legal Considerations In response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, in March 2020 the executive br more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the debate over venting and flaring on federal lands (No. LSB10882) on Dec. 22, 2022, by legislative attorney Adam Vann: * * * The Debate over Venting and Flaring on Federal Lands On November 30, 2022, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published a proposed rule intended to address the venting and flaring of natural gas by energy production operations on federal and tribal lan more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Ex-Crypto CEO arrested on the eve of Congressional Hearing (No. LSB10880) on Dec. 21, 2022, by Charles Doyle, American public law senior specialist: * * * Ex-Crypto CEO Arrested on the Eve of Congressional Hearing Introduction Samuel Bankman-Fried, the former chief executive of FTX, a global cryptocurrency exchange, was arrested by Bahamian authorities under an extradition more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Mar-a-Lago search warrant (No. LSB10810) on Dec. 27, 2022, by telecommunications policy analysts Colby Leigh Rachfal and Ling Zhu. The white paper was written by legislative attorneys Stephen P. Mulligan, Jennifer K. Elsea and Peter G. Berris and section research manager Michael A. Foster: * * * The Mar-a-Lago Search Warrant: A Legal Introduction In August 2022, the Federa more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Dec. 19-Dec. 27, 2022 (No. LSB10888) on Dec. 28, 2022, by legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino and Abigail A. Graber: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Dec. 19-Dec. 27, 2022) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the regulating big tech (No. LSB10889) on Dec. 29, 2022, by telecommunications policy analyst Colby Leigh Rachfal: Here are excerpts: * * * Regulating Big Tech: CRS Legal Products for the 118th Congress In recent years, some Members of Congress have expressed interest in expanding regulation of the major technology companies, often referred to as "Big Tech." Members have intro more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42567) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Coast Guard's program of record (POR), which dates to 2004, calls for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 64 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42567) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 3) Issues for Congress Planned Procurement Quantities Under 2004 Program of Record One issue for Congress is whether the planned procurement quantities for NSCs, OPCs, and FRCs under the Coast Guard's 2004 program of record (POR) are too high, too low, or a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42567) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) Legislative Activity for FY2023 Summary of Appropriations Action on FY2023 Procurement Funding Request Table 1 summarizes appropriations action on the Coast Guard's request for FY2023 procurement funding for the NSC, OPC, and FRC programs. * * * Table  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter (PSC) program is a program to acquire three new PSCs (i.e., heavy polar icebreakers), to be followed years from now by the acquisition of up to three new Arctic Security Cutte more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 3) Issues for Congress Proposed Purchase of Commercially Available Polar Icebreaker One potential issue for Congress concerns the Coast Guard's proposal to purchase an existing commercially available polar icebreaker to augment the Coast Guard's polar iceb more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) Legislative Activity in 2022 Summary of Appropriation Action on FY2023 Funding Request The Coast Guard's proposed FY2023 budget requests $167.2 million in procurement funding for the PSC program and $125.0 million in procurement funding for the acquisit more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual." The report was written by government organization and management analysts Ben Wilhelm, Taylor N. Riccard and Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management specialists Clinton T. Brass and Maeve P. Carey, American national government analyst Sarah J. Eckman, American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 9 of 10) Oversight Information Sources and Consultant Services Congress calls upon a variety of sources for information and analysis to support its oversight activities. Legislative support agencies - CRS, CBO, and GAO - provide most of this assistance. In addition, various support offices establi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 10) Congress as an Oversight Body This section lays out several key issues related to Congress's role as a legislative body. It begins with a broad discussion of the constitutional sources of Congress's oversight authority and then proceeds to more specific discussion about how Congress opera more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 10) The Oversight Process in Congress Congress's oversight practice can range from day-to-day activities, such as assisting constituents in their interactions with agencies, to much more formal actions, such as impeachment proceedings and special committees and subcommittees tasked with inves more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 3 of 10) Investigative Oversight/76 This section provides an overview of some of the more common legal issues that committees may face in the course of conducting oversight and investigations. It begins by briefly describing the historical development of the legislative "power of inquiry" and foll more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 4 of 10) Legal Tools Available for Oversight and Investigations There is no single method or set of procedures for engaging in legislative oversight or conducting an investigation./184 Although public attention often focuses on public hearings and subpoenaed witnesses, congressional committees fre more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 6 of 10) Classified Material How Are Materials Classified? The standards for classifying and declassifying information are contained in Executive Order 13526./413 These standards provide that the President, Vice President, agency heads, and any other officials designated by the President may clas more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 7 of 10) Communicating with the Media Public awareness of a problem can contribute to oversight. Public and media attention to an issue may be considered a separate form of oversight or a complement to other oversight techniques. Official resources are available to assist Members in interacting wi more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL30240) on Dec. 22, 2022, entitled "Congressional Oversight Manual:" * * * (Continued from Part 8 of 10) Statutory Oversight Enablers Congress has passed a number of laws designed to provide additional information to Congress (and the public) on the operations of the executive branch. These laws also add controls that may reduce the demands on Congress's time by shifting responsibility for s more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47246) entitled "Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 117th Congress" by Latin American affairs specialist Mark P. Sullivan. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 117th Congress Political and economic developments in Cuba, a one-party authoritarian state with a poor human rights record, frequently have been the subject of intense congressional concern since the 1959 Cuban revolution. more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47246) entitled "Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 117th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * U.S. Policy Toward Cuba Historical Background/28 In the early 1960s, U.S.-Cuba relations deteriorated sharply when Fidel Castro began to build a repressive communist dictatorship and moved his country toward close relations with the Soviet Union. The often tense and hostile nature of the U.S.-Cuba r more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47246) entitled "Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 117th Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) Selected Issues in U.S.-Cuban Relations U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances/64 Travel Restrictions. Restrictions on travel to Cuba have been a key and often contentious component of U.S. efforts to isolate Cuba's communist government. The embargo regulations set forth in the CACR do not ban  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47258) entitled "FCC Spectrum Auction Authority: Background and Proposals for Extension" by telecommunications policy analyst Jill C. Gallagher and internet and telecommunications policy specialist Patricia Moloney Figliola. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Radio spectrum ("spectrum") is the continuum of frequencies allocated for radio transmissions and is a finite and valuable resource. It i more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47350) on Dec. 27, 2022, entitled "Federal Procurement: Emergency-Related Acquisition Flexibilities" by American national government specialist L. Elaine Halchin. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Federal procurement is an essential component of the federal government's response to disasters, emergencies, and other types of incidents. Procurement data for federal government spending related to more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46195) on Dec. 21, 2022, entitled "Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act: Background and Current Issues" by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Background and Current Issues Almost all offshore oil and natural gas production on the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS) occurs in the Gulf of Mexico. Federal oil and gas leasing in the Gulf is governed more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41967) on Dec. 21, 2022, entitled "Higher Education Tax Benefits: Brief Overview and Budgetary Effects" by public finance specialist Margot L. Crandall-Hollick and public finance analyst Brendan McDermott. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The federal government provides financial assistance to individuals for higher education expenses in two major ways: tax benefits and traditional student ai more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, entitled "Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th Congress." The report was written by Latin American affairs specialists Mark P. Sullivan and Clare Ribando Seelke, Latin American Affairs analyst Karla I. Rios and June S. Beittel, research librarian Carla Y. Davis-Castro, international trade and finance specialist M. Angeles Villarreal a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, entitled "Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 5) * * * U.S. Policy Toward Latin America and the Caribbean U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean are diverse and include economic, political, security, and humanitarian concerns. Geographic proximity has ensured strong economic linkages more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, entitled "Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 5) * * * Regional U.S. Policy Issues U.S. Foreign Aid The United States provides foreign assistance to Latin American and Caribbean countries to support development and other U.S. objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly increased economic a more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, entitled "Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th Congress:" (Continued from Part 3 of 5) * * * Selected Country and Subregional Issues The Caribbean Caribbean Regional Issues The Caribbean is a diverse region of 16 independent countries and 18 overseas territories, including some of the hemisphere's richest and poorest nations. Amo more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. IF11709) on Dec. 28, 2022, entitled "Latin America and the Caribbean: U.S. Policy and Key Issues in the 117th Congress:" (Continued from Part 4 of 5) * * * South America Brazil Occupying almost half of South America, Brazil is the seventh most-populous country and 12th largest economy in the world. Given its size and tremendous natural resources, Brazil has long had the potential to become a  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44972) on Dec. 21, 2022, entitled "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Navy began procuring Constellation (FFG-62) class frigates (FFGs) in FY2020, and wants to procure a total of 20 FFG-62s. Congress funded the first FFG-62 in FY2020, the second in FY2021, and  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44972) on Dec. 21, 2022, entitled "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 1 of 3) Issues for Congress Future SSC Force-Level Goal One issue for Congress concerns the future SSC force-level goal. As noted earlier, the Navy and the Department of Defense (DOD) have been working since 2019 to develop a successor for the more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44972) on Dec. 21, 2022, entitled "Navy Constellation (FFG-62) Class Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress:" * * * (Continued from Part 2 of 3) Legislative Activity for FY2023 Summary of Congressional Action on FY2023 Funding Request Table 2 summarizes congressional action on the Navy's FY2023 funding request for the FFG-62 program. * * * Table 2. Congressional Action on FY20 more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47354) on Dec. 27, 2022, entitled "Poverty in the U.S. in 2021" by social policy analyst Joseph Dalaker. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Poverty in the United States in 2021 The federal government publishes poverty statistics using two measures: the official poverty measure and the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). These two measures tell different stories about who is poor in the United  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47354) on Dec. 27, 2022, entitled "Poverty in the U.S. in 2021:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Poverty by Demographic Group Just as the overall poverty rate for the United States experienced no statistically detectable shift between 2020 and 2021, poverty rates by demographic group largely held steady. Notable exceptions were the decline in the poverty rate among children and rise among  more PR