WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the "Made in China 2025" industrial policies (No. IF10964) on March 10, 2023, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * "Made in China 2025" Industrial Policies: Issues for Congress The People's Republic of China (PRC or China) aims to gain a global economic and technology leadership position through a range of state-led industrial and related scienc more PR

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Afghanistan central bank reserves (No. IF11959) on March 13, 2023. The white paper was written by international trade and finance specialist Martin A. Weiss, Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas and legislative attorney Jennifer K. Elsea. Here are excerpts: * * * Afghanistan Central Bank Reserves Since the Taliban's August 2021 return to power, Afghanistan has faced an ext more PR

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (No. IF11741) on March 15, 2023, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Background The Army describes the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) in a March 14, 2023 press release: '[The] AMPV is the replacement for the M-113 Family of Vehicles within the Armored more PR

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the coup-related restrictions in U.S. foreign aid appropriations (No. IF11267) on March 16, 2023. The white paper was written by African affairs specialist Alexis Arieff, foreign assistance analyst Nick M. Brown and research librarian Travis A. Ferrell. Here are excerpts: * * * Coup-Related Restrictions in U.S. Foreign Aid Appropriations Events in Africa and Burma have brought attention  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the digital trade and data policy (No. IF12347) on March 16, 2023 by Danielle M. Trachtenberg, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Digital Trade and Data Policy: Select Key Issues Background Digital trade refers to all forms of commerce conducted by electronic means and includes trade in both goods and services. The digitization of the global economy in the 2 more PR

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Guatemala (No. IF12340) on March 6, 2023, by Latin American affairs analyst Karla I. Rios. Here are excerpts: * * * Guatemala: An Overview Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, has strived to consolidate its democracy since the 1990s. It has faced many political and social challenges, as well as widespread corruption, impunity, and human rights abuses. Traditionally, the more PR

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (No. IF11729) on March 13, 2023, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Background The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of Vehicles (FoV) is an Army-led, joint-service program designed to replace a portion of each service's light tactical wheeled vehicle fleets. The JLTV  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (No. IF11755) on March 13, 2023, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Background The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) as: '... The Corps' next-generation vehicle designed to move Marines from ship to shore (Figure 1). Designed to more PR

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder (No. IF12348) on March 16, 2023 by health policy analyst Johnathan H. Duff. Here are excerpts: * * * Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder Opioids, such as heroin, fentanyl, and some prescription pain medications (including morphine and oxycodone), are substances that act on receptors in the brain important in regul more PR

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Mexico's immigration control efforts (No. IF10215) on March 13, 2023, by acting section research manager Clare Ribando Seelke and Latin American affairs analyst Ramon Miro. Here are excerpts: * * * Mexico's Immigration Control Efforts Background Migration issues continue to be a high priority for U.S. policy and Congress, particularly as U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has report more PR

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Nepal (No. IF10216) on March 1, 2023, by Asian affairs specialist Bruce Vaughn. Here are excerpts: * * * Nepal Overview The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a poor, relatively small, landlocked state situated between China and India. Since restoring parliamentary democracy in 2006, Nepal has faced significant political instability, and tensions between neighbors India and the Peopl more PR

WASHINGTON, March 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Russia's Wagner private military company (No. IF12344) on March 13, 2023, by Andrew S. Bowen, Russian and European affairs analyst: * * * Russia's Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) Russia utilizes private military companies (PMCs) to project power globally. These outfits range in size and scope and act as an unofficial (albeit nominally illegal) tool of Russian foreign policy. PMCs also more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Saudi Arabia (No. IF10822) on March 10, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Saudi Arabia Change, Continuity, and Controversy The kingdom of Saudi Arabia, ruled by the Al Saud family since its founding in 1932, wields considerable global influence through its administration of the birthplace of the Islamic faith and by virtue of hol more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the term limits for members of Congress (No. IF12343) on March 10, 2023, by American national government specialist R. Sam Garrett and legislative attorney L. Paige Whitaker: * * * Term Limits for Members of Congress: Policy and Legal Overview Introduction Legislative proposals for congressional term limits date to 1789. Supporters generally argue that requiring frequent turnover among Mem more PR

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Space Force (No. IF11495) on March 15, 2023, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: The United States Space Force On December 20, 2019, the United States Space Force (USSF) became the sixth branch of the Armed Forces. The Space Force was established within the Department of the Air Force (DAF) with the enactme more PR

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on women, peace and security (No. IF12346) on March 15, 2023, by international relations specialist Luisa Blanchfield. Here are excerpts: * * * Women, Peace, and Security: Global Context and U.S. Policy In 2000, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security. The resolution calls on U.N. member states to, among other things, take  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the worker rights provisions in Free Trade Agreements (No. IF10046) on March 10, 2023, by M. Angeles Villarreal and Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs, international trade and finance specialists. Here are excerpts: * * * Worker Rights Provisions in Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Overview Worker rights have generally been a prominent issue in U.S. FTA negotiations. Some stakeholders believe worker  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the World Bank's 'Doing Business Report' (No. IF11959) on March 6, 2023, by Rebecca M. Nelson and Martin A. Weiss, international trade and finance specialists. Here are excerpts: * * * The World Bank's Doing Business Report In September 2021, the World Bank announced it was discontinuing its annual Doing Business Report (DBR) after nearly two decades of publication. The DBR attempted to qu more PR

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the National Cybersecurity Strategy (No. IN12123) on March 8, 2023, by cybersecurity policy specialist Chris Jaikaran: * * * The National Cybersecurity Strategy - Going Where No Strategy Has Gone Before On March 2, 2023, the Biden Administration released their National Cybersecurity Strategy (Strategy). This Strategy follows in a long line of national cybersecurity strategies - including tho more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th and Congressional compensation part 1 - introduction (No. LSB10930) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 1: Introduction This Legal Sidebar post is the first in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which prevents laws that modify Member more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th Amendment and Congressional compensation part 2 - the Federal Convention (No. LSB10931) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 2: The Federal Convention This Legal Sidebar post is the second in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which p more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th Amendment and Congressional compensation part 3 - debates over the Constitution's ratification (No. LSB10932) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 3: Debates over the Constitution's Ratification This Legal Sidebar post is the third in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sev more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th Amendment and Congressional compensation part 4 - proposal and ratification (No. LSB10933) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 4: Proposal and Ratification This Legal Sidebar post is the fourth in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, w more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th Amendment and Congressional compensation part 5 - scope of the amendment (No. LSB10934) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Seventh Amendment and Congressional Compensation Part 5: Scope of the Amendment This Legal Sidebar post is the fifth in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Constitution, which pr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the 27th Amendment and Congressional compensation part 6 - implications for the Article V amendment process (No. LSB10935) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorney Brandon J. Murrill: * * * Congressional Compensation Part 6: Implications for the Article V Amendment Process This Legal Sidebar post is the last in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Seventh Amendment to the Cons more PR

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the CRS Legal Products for the 118th Congress (No. LSB10889) on March 15, 2023, by legislative attorney Valerie C. Brannon: * * * 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 introduced a wide variet more PR

WASHINGTON, March 12 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Feb. 27-Mar. 5, 2023 (No. LSB10928) on March 7, 2023, by legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino and Andreas Kuersten: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Feb. 27, 2023-Mar. 5, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disp more PR

WASHINGTON, March 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, March 6-12, 2023 (No. LSB10936) on March 14, 2023, by legislative attorneys Christopher T. Zirpoli and Jimmy Balser: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (Mar. 6, 2023-Mar. 12, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal dispute more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47162) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Overview of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental Infrastructure Assistance" by natural resources policy analyst Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has authorized and appropriated funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) environmental infrastructure (EI) assistance for the design and construction of certain infrastructure in spe more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47467) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Qatar: Issues for the 118th Congress" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The State of Qatar is a small, energy-rich monarchy, strategically located near the center of the Persian Gulf. Defense and diplomatic cooperation anchor close-U.S. Qatari relations: Qatar hosts thousands of U.S. troops, allows U.S.  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47467) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Qatar - Issues for the 118th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Qatari Politics and Government Qatar declared its independence from the United Kingdom on September 3, 1971./32 It is a constitutional monarchy governed by the Al Thani family; in an April 2003 referendum, Qatari voters approved a new constitution that outlined plans to elect some members o more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45153) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Statutory Interpretation: Theories, Tools and Trends" by legislative attorney Valerie C. Brannon. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In the tripartite structure of the U.S. federal government, it is the job of courts to say what the law is, as Chief Justice John Marshall announced in 1803. When courts render decisions on the meaning of statutes, the prevailing view i more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45153) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Statutory Interpretation - Theories, Tools and Trends:" (Continued from Part 1 of 5) * * * Major Theories of Statutory Interpretation The two predominant theories of statutory interpretation today are purposivism and textualism - although, as explored below,/95 some have argued that the two theories are converging./96 As previously discussed, both theories share t more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45153) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Statutory Interpretation - Theories, Tools and Trends:" (Continued from Part 2 of 5) * * * Tools of Statutory Interpretation Judges use a variety of tools to help them interpret statutes, most frequently relying on five types of interpretive tools: ordinary meaning, statutory context, canons of construction, legislative history, and evidence of the way a statute i more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45153) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Statutory Interpretation - Theories, Tools and Trends:" (Continued from Part 3 of 5) * * * Canons of Construction Over time, courts have created the "canons of construction" to serve as guiding principles for interpreting statutes./286 The canons supply default assumptions about the way Congress generally expresses meaning,/287 but are not "rules" in the sense tha more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45153) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Statutory Interpretation - Theories, Tools and Trends:" (Continued from Part 4 of 5) * * * Legislative History Where the text of the statute alone does not answer the relevant question, judges have at times turned to a statute's legislative history,/407 defined as the record of Congress's deliberations when enacting a law./408 One of the Supreme Court's most famou more PR

WASHINGTON, March 11 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47466) on March 10, 2023, entitled "Trafficking in Persons: Grants for Victim Services in the U.S." by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea: * * * SUMMARY Trafficking in persons (TIP), also known as human trafficking, occurs across the United States and around the world. Traffickers exploit vulnerable individuals for commercial sex and forced labor in a variety of legal and illegal industries. more PR