WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet on the Latin America and the Caribbean's leaders and elections (No. 98-684) on Feb. 24, 2023, by research librarian Carla Y. Davis-Castro. Here are excerpts: * * * Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections This report provides the results of recent presidential elections in Latin America and the Caribbean. Below are three tables, organized by region, that include the date of e more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Congressional Review Act (No. IF11141) on Feb. 27, 2023, by Maeve P. Carey, government organization and management specialist, and Christopher M. Davis, Congress and legislative process analyst: * * * The Congressional Review Act (CRA): A Brief Overview Overview What is the CRA? The CRA (codified at 5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.801808) is a tool Congress can use to overturn certain federal agency ac more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Constitutional Authority Statements (No. IF12335) on Feb. 27, 2023, by legislative attorney Whitney K. Novak. Here are excerpts: * * * Constitutional Authority Statements: A Quick Guide House Rule XII, clause 7(c), requires that all bills or joint resolutions introduced in the House include a Constitutional Authority Statement (CAS). No statement is required for simple or concurrent re more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the employer tax credit for paid family and medical leave (No. IF11141) on Feb. 27, 2023, by public finance specialist Molly F. Sherlock. Here are excerpts: * * * Employer Tax Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave Employers providing paid family and medical leave to their employees may be able to claim a tax credit under Section 45S of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). This In Focus (1)  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the environmental provisions in Free Trade Agreements (No. IF10166) on Feb. 28, 2023, by environmental policy specialist Richard K. Lattanzio and international trade and finance analyst Christopher A. Casey: * * * Environmental Provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Linkages between trade and environmental protection have long been a concern to some U.S. policymakers and stakeholders. T more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the federal patient-provider dispute resolution process (No. IF12338) on March 1, 2023, by health care financing analyst Ryan J. Rosso: * * * The Federal Patient-Provider Dispute Resolution Process Introduction The No Surprises Act, part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (P.L. 116-260), established various consumer protections, including the prohibition of balance billing consum more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Fiscal 2023 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior (No. IF12142) on Feb. 28, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Katie Hoover. Here are excerpts: * * * Funding for Wildfire Management: FY2023 Appropriations for Forest Service and Department of the Interior The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service (FS) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the lessons from using data matching in Pandemic Relief Program oversight (No. IF11141) on Feb. 27, 2023, by Natalie R. Ortiz and Ben Wilhelm, government organization and management analysts: * * * Preventing Improper Payments: Lessons from Using Data Matching in Pandemic Relief Program Oversight For the past several decades, data matching has enabled the use of government data to identify f more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Presidential Authority to address tariff barriers in trade agreements (No. IF11400) on Feb. 28, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill and international trade and finance analyst Christopher A. Casey: * * * Presidential Authority to Address Tariff Barriers in Trade Agreements The U.S. Constitution grants Congress the power to regulate trade with foreign nations and to lay and c more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Railroad Retirement Board (No. IF10481) on Feb. 28, 2023, by social policy analyst Zhe Li. Here are excerpts: * * * Railroad Retirement Board: Retirement, Survivor, Disability, Unemployment and Sickness Benefits Introduction The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) administers retirement, survivor, disability, unemployment, and sickness benefits for railroad workers and their families under more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the environmental provisions in Free Trade Agreements (No. IF12336) on March 1, 2023, by financial economics analyst Eva Su. Here are excerpts: * * * SEC-Proposed Regulations to Reform Stock Trading The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which regulates capital markets, announced four proposed rules on December 14, 2022, to reform the market structure for trading. The proposed regula more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the selected issues in pharmaceutical drug pricing (No. IF12337) on March 1, 2023. The white paper was written by health care financing specialist Jim Hahn, health care financing analyst Suzanne M. Kirchhoff and legislative attorneys Kevin J. Hickey and Hannah-Alise Rogers: * * * Selected Issues in Pharmaceutical Drug Pricing Many factors influence the prices consumers pay for prescription  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on trade remedies (No. IF10018) on Feb. 28, 2023, by Christopher A. Casey, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Trade Remedies: Antidumping and Countervailing Duties Overview What are they? Antidumping (AD) and Countervailing Duties (CVD) address unfair trade practices by providing relief to U.S. industries and workers that are "materially injured," or threatened more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Department of State (No. IF12044) on Feb. 28, 2023, by foreign affairs analyst Cory R. Gill. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Department of State: Background and Selected Issues for the 118th Congress Background Created by an act of Congress in 1789, the U.S. Department of State (State Department) is the executive branch's lead foreign affairs agency and the oldest executive agen more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Intelligence Community establishment provisions (No. IF10527) on Feb. 28, 2023, by Michael E. DeVine, intelligence and national security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Intelligence Community Establishment Provisions The concept of a unified U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) consisting of integrated component departments and agencies began to take shape after World War II, in more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. security assistance to Ukraine (No. IF11141) on Feb. 27, 2023. The white paper was written by Christina L. Arabia, security assistance, security cooperation and global arms trade analyst, Andrew S. Bowen, Russian and European affairs analyst and Cory Welt, Russian and European affairs specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine The United States has be more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. tariff policy (No. IF11030) on Feb. 28, 2023, by Christopher A. Casey, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview Introduction A tariff is a customs duty levied on imported and exported goods and services. Historically, countries used tariffs as a primary means of collecting revenue. Today, other taxes account for most government more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the wildfire statistics (No. IF10244) on March 1, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Katie Hoover and senior research librarian Laura A. Hanson. Here are excerpts: * * * Wildfire Statistics Wildfires are unplanned fires, including lightning-caused fires, unauthorized human-caused fires, and escaped fires from prescribed burn projects. States are responsible for responding to wildf more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Congressional disapproval of District of Columbia Laws under the Home Rule Act (No. IN12119) on Feb. 27, 2023, by Christopher M. Davis, Congress and legislative process analyst: * * * Congressional Disapproval of District of Columbia Laws Under the Home Rule Act The District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Reorganization Act, as amended (also known as the "District of Columbi more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Large Unmanned Aerial System transfer to Ukraine(No. IN12120) on March 1, 2023, by national defense fellow Patrick Parrish and section research manager Nathan J. Lucas. Here are excerpts: * * * Large Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Transfer to Ukraine: Issues for Congress In mid-2022, Ukraine reportedly requested that the Biden Administration transfer to Ukraine large advanced Unmanned Aeri more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on monitoring the sovereign skies (No. IN12118) on Feb. 27, 2023, by Aviation Policy specialist Bart Elias: * * * Monitoring the Sovereign Skies In early 2023, a high-altitude balloon that originated in China transited through U.S. airspace before being shot down by military aircraft off the coast of South Carolina. Soon after, the U.S. military identified, tracked, and, under presidential order more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works (No. IN11810) on March 2, 2023, by natural resources policy analyst Anna E. Normand and natural resources policy specialist Nicole T. Carter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works: Primer and Resources Congress plays a role in the nation's water resource development through authorization and appropriations of U.S. Army  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 (No. LSB10925) on March 1, 2023, by legislative attorney Bryan L. Adkins: * * * Airline Deregulation Act of 1978: Preemption of State Consumer Protection Laws Recent widespread flight cancellations and delays have raised questions about the respective roles of the states and the federal government in protecting airline consumers. In August 2022, a gr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the federal statutory bankruptcy alternatives (No. LSB10926) on March 2, 2023, by legislative attorney Michael D. Contino: Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Statutory Bankruptcy Alternatives: A Roadmap In most cases, a bankrupt entity will either liquidate or reorganize under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, and the U.S. bankruptcy courts will administer those proceedings. There are, however,  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Ninth Circuit rules (No. LSB10923) on Feb. 27, 2023, by legislative attorney Bryan L. Adkins: * * * Ninth Circuit Rules That Federal Arbitration Act Preempts California's Ban on Employer-Mandated Arbitration Agreements On February 15, 2023, a divided three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit issued its opinion in Chamber of Commerce of the United States v. more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the PREP Act Declaration for COVID-19 countermeasures (No. LSB10730) on Feb. 28, 2023, by Legislative Attorney Kevin J. Hickey: * * * The PREP Act and COVID-19, Part 2: The PREP Act Declaration for COVID-19 Countermeasures To encourage the expeditious development and deployment of medical countermeasures during a public health emergency, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness A more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Feb. 13-20, 2023 (No. LSB10921) on Feb. 14, 2023, by legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino and Andreas Kuersten: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Feb. 13, 2023-Feb. 20, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Feb. 21-26, 2023 (No. LSB10924) on Feb. 27, 2023, by legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino and Andreas Kuersten: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Feb. 21, 2023-Feb. 26, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45450) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Debate, Motions and Other Actions in the Committee of the Whole" by Bill Heniff Jr., Congress and legislative process analyst, and Elizabeth Rybicki, Congress and legislative process specialist: * * * Summary The House of Representatives resolves into the Committee of the Whole, a parliamentary device designed to allow greater participation by Members in debate, to co more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47441) on March 3, 2023, entitled "Ejiao and the Donkey Hide Trade" by natural resources policy Pervaze A. Sheikh and research assistant Elisabeth Lohre. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Ejiao (eh-gee-yow) is a popular traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is derived from gelatin found in donkey hides. Users of ejiao consider it a blood tonic and may take it to enrich blood, cure anemia, stop bleedi more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43429) on Feb. 24, 2023, entitled "Federal Lands and Related Resources: Overview and Selected Issues for the 118th Congress." The report was written by natural resources policy specialists Katie Hoover, Laura B. Comay, Mariel J. Murray and Carol Hardy Vincent; natural resources policy analysts Mark K. DeSantis, Christopher R. Field, Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Eva Lipiec and Anne A. Riddle; energy policy a more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43429) on Feb. 24, 2023, entitled "Federal Lands and Related Resources - Overview and Selected Issues for the 118th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Climate Policy and Federal Land Management Scientific evidence shows that the United States' climate has been changing in recent decades./54 This poses several interrelated and complex issues for the management of federal lands and their res more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43429) on Feb. 24, 2023, entitled "Federal Lands and Related Resources - Overview and Selected Issues for the 118th Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Range Management Livestock Grazing Nearly all livestock grazing on federal lands occurs on BLM and FS lands. Both agencies divide areas of their lands into allotments to provide access for grazing of private livestock. They issue to livesto more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45811) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress" by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The United States has actively pursued the development of hypersonic weapons--maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5 - as a part of its conventional prompt global strike program since the ear more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45811) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Hypersonic Weapons - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Russia Although Russia has conducted research on hypersonic weapons technology since the 1980s, it accelerated its efforts in response to U.S. missile defense deployments in both the United States and Europe, and in response to the U.S. withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Mis more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47314) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Offering an Amendment on the House Floor Under a Structured Rule: Current Practice" by Michael Greene, Congress and legislative process analyst, and Elizabeth Rybicki, Congress and legislative process specialist: * * * SUMMARY Major legislation is usually considered in the House under a two-step process. First, the House agrees to a resolution reported by the Committe more PR

WASHINGTON, March 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40175) on Feb. 28, 2023, entitled "Offshore Wind Energy Development: Legal Framework" by legislative attorney Adam Vann: * * * SUMMARY Technological advancement, financial incentives, and policy concerns have driven a global expansion in the development of renewable energy resources. Wind energy, in particular, is often cited as one of the fastest-growing commercial energy sources in the world. Current more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS21534) on March 2, 2023, entitled "Oman: Politics, Security and U.S. Policy" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Jeremy M. Sharp. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Since the British withdrawal from the Persian Gulf in the early 1970s, Oman has relied on the United States as a key defense partner, and successive U.S. presidential administrations have considered Oman important to the promotion of regio more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47157) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Overview of FY2023 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies" by acting section research manager Nathan James. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This report describes actions taken to provide FY2023 appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) accounts. The annual CJS appropriations act provides funding for the Dep more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47157) on Feb. 13, 2023, entitled "Overview of FY2023 Appropriations for Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * FY2023 Enacted Funding The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328) provides $84.698 billion for CJS for FY2023, which is $5.584 billion (+7.1%) more than the FY2022 regular appropriation of $79.114 billion and $4.112 billion (-4.6%) more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44412) on March 1, 2023, entitled "SBA Disaster Loan Program: Frequently Asked Questions" by American National Government specialist Bruce R. Lindsay: * * * Summary This report responds to frequently asked questions about the Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Program. The SBA Disaster Loan Program provides direct loans to help businesses, nonprofit organizations, homeowners, and renters more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46118) on March 1, 2023, entitled "The SBA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Loan Pilot Program: Considerations for Congress and Policy Options" by American national government specialist Bruce R. Lindsay. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY For nearly a century, Congress has contemplated how to help businesses repair and rebuild after a disaster. Congress has also expressed interest in helping businesses use miti more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43792) on March 2, 2023, entitled "State Minimum Wages: An Overview" by labor economics specialist David H. Bradley and senior research librarian Abigail R. Overbay. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), enacted in 1938, is the federal law that establishes the general minimum wage that must be paid to all covered workers. The FLSA covers all employees working at a site  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45450) on Feb. 8, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer" by Ben Wilhelm, government organization and management analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This report provides an overview of statutory inspectors general (IGs) in the federal government, including their structure, functions, and related issues for Congress. * * * Report Roadmap * Establishmen more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45450) on Feb. 8, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * IG Statutory Authorities and Requirements IGs possess many authorities and responsibilities to carry out their respective missions, many of which aim to establish and protect IG independence from undue influence. For example, the IG Act grants covered IGs broad autho more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45450) on Feb. 8, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Coordination and Oversight of Statutory IGs Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency CIGIE is the primary oversight and coordinative body for the IG community. The council consolidated and replaced two IG coordinating bodies previously establish more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33222) on March 1, 2023, entitled "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Jeremy M. Sharp. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel This report provides an overview of U.S. foreign assistance to Israel. It includes a review of past aid programs, data on annual assistance, and analysis of current issues. For general information on Israel, see Israel: Backg more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33222) on March 1, 2023, entitled "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Defense Budget Appropriations for U.S.-Israeli Missile Defense Programs Congress and successive Administrations have demonstrated strong support for joint U.S.-Israeli missile defense projects designed to thwart a diverse range of threats. Due to Iranian weapons proliferation and the rapid spread of dr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33222) on March 1, 2023, entitled "U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Aid Restrictions and Possible Violations U.S. aid and arms sales to Israel, like those to other foreign recipients, are subject to U.S. law. Some U.S. citizens and interest groups periodically call upon Congress to ensure that U.S. military assistance to Israel complies with applicable U.S. laws and pol more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47440) on March 1, 2023, entitled "Water Resource Issues in the 118th Congress." The report was written by natural resources policy analysts Anna E. Normand and Eva Lipiec; and natural resources policy specialists Nicole T. Carter, Charles V. Stern, Mariel J. Murray and Pervaze A. Sheikh. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has long demonstrated interest in water resource issues; over time, it more PR

WASHINGTON, March 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47440) on March 1, 2023, entitled "Water Resource Issues in the 118th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Selected Crosscutting Topics As previously mentioned, Congress has directed various federal agencies to conduct certain water resource and water resource science activities. Some of the authorities and appropriations provided to these agencies address crosscutting water resource and wate more PR