WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet on the Congressional investigation of the Trump indictment (No. R46293) on April 19, 2023, by legislative attorney Todd Garvey: Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction Earth Day is an annual event to raise awareness about environmental issues. First held on April 22, 1970, it is celebrated each year on April 22. This fact sheet assists congressional offices with work related to Earth Day. It contains hi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Armed Forces Retirement Home (No. IF11626) on April 20, 2023, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * The Armed Forces Retirement Home Since the late 1700s, Congress has established numerous federal programs to provide housing, housing assistance, and health care support to certain wounded, ill, or injured servicemembers, military retirees, a more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the central bank digital currencies (No. IF11471) on April 20, 2023, by Marc Labonte, macroeconomic policy specialist, and Rebecca M. Nelson, international trade and finance specialist: * * * Central Bank Digital Currencies The recent proliferation of private digital currencies or cryptocurrencies unsupported by any government authority, such as Bitcoin, has led to questions of whether the  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the deep fakes and national security (No. IF11333) on April 17, 2023, by Laurie A. Harris, science and technology policy analyst, and Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Deep Fakes and National Security "Deep fakes" - a term that first emerged in 2017 to describe realistic photo, audio, video, and other forgeries generated with artifi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Department of Defense counter-unmanned aircraft systems (No. IF11426) on April 17, 2023, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Department of Defense Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly called drones, have proliferated rapidly and are available to nation states and to nonstate actors and in more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Appropriations (No. IF12383) on April 20, 2023, by environmental policy analyst Angela C. Jones. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Appropriations: FY2024 President's Budget Request Since FY2006, Congress has funded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appr more PR

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the federal interagency wildfire response framework (No. IF12384) on April 21, 2023, by natural resources policy analyst Katie Hoover. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Interagency Wildfire Response Framework Wildfires are unplanned fires in vegetated landscapes. Where a wildfire begins determines jurisdiction for wildfire response. Because wildfires often cross jurisdictional boundaries an more PR

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the fundamentals of unemployment compensation (No. IF10336) on April 18, 2023, by income security specialists Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs. Here are excerpts: * * * The Fundamentals of Unemployment Compensation A Joint Federal-State Program The joint federal-state Unemployment Compensation (UC) program provides income support through UC benefit payments. Although there are bro more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Iran and nuclear weapons production (No. IF12106) on April 14, 2023, by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * Iran and Nuclear Weapons Production Background Iran's nuclear program has generated widespread concern that Tehran is pursuing nuclear weapons. According to U.S. intelligence assessments, Tehran has the capacity to produce nuclear weapons at some point, but has halted its more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Navy Light Replenishment Oiler (No. IF11674) on April 20, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Light Replenishment Oiler (TAOL) (Previously Next-Generation Logistics Ship [NGLS]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's Light Replenishment Oiler (TAOL) program, previously called the Next-Generation Logistics Ship ( more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on regulating reproductive health services after Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (No. IF12269) on April 17, 2023. The white paper was written by legislative attorneys Kevin J. Hickey, Jon O. Shimabukuro and Jennifer A. Staman. * * * Regulating Reproductive Health Services After Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization Introduction In Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organizat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Social Security Disability Insurance (No. IF10506) on April 14, 2023, by income security analyst William R. Morton. Here are excerpts: * * * Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Overview Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is part of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program, commonly known as Social Security. OASDI is a federal social insurance p more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the Supplemental Security Income (No. IF10482) on April 14, 2023, by income security analyst William R. Morton. Here are excerpts: * * * Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overview Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program that provides monthly cash payments to aged, blind, or disabled individuals who have limited income and resources (i.e., assets). The program i more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - fiscal 2023 appropriations (No. IF12090) on April 20, 2023, by natural resources policy specialists Anna E. Normand and Nicole T. Carter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: FY2023 Appropriations Congress generally funds civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development appropriat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - fiscal 2024 appropriations (No. IF12370) on April 20, 2023, by natural resources policy specialists Anna E. Normand and Nicole T. Carter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: FY2024 Appropriations Congress generally funds the civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development approp more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on the U.S. defense industrial base (No. IF10548) on April 17, 2023, by Luke A. Nicastro, U.S. defense infrastructure policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Defense Industrial Base The Department of Defense (DOD) relies on a large and complex defense industrial base for the materials, products, and services that enable the Department's warfighting capabilities and busin more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper on Iran and nuclear weapons production (No. IF12106) on April 17, 2023, by Peter J. Meyer, Latin American and Canadian affairs specialist, and Ramon Miro, Latin American affairs analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Uruguay: An Overview Uruguay, with a population of 3.6 million people, is located on the Atlantic coast of South America between Brazil and Argentina (see Figure 1). The country stand more PR

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau proposal on the new credit card late fee regulation (No. IN12146) on April 18, 2023, by financial economics analyst Cheryl R. Cooper: * * * CFPB Proposes New Credit Card Late Fee Regulation On March 29, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to reduce late fees on credit cards. The rulemaking would more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Congressional disapproval of District of Columbia acts (No. IN12122) on April 20, 2023. The white paper was written by economic development policy analyst Joseph V. Jaroscak, Congress and legislative process analyst Christopher M. Davis and research librarian Ben Leubsdorf. Here are excerpts: * * * Congressional Disapproval of District of Columbia Acts: Overview of Selected Resolutions more PR

WASHINGTON, April 18 -- 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 April 17, 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 Colum more PR

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works (No. IN11723) on April 18, 2023, by natural resources policy specialists Nicole T. Carter and Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Funding for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Civil Works: Policy Primer Congress authorizes and funds the U.S.  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper on the TRICARE's next generation contracts (No. IN11719) on April 21, 2023, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * TRICARE's Next Generation Contracts: T-5 The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a Military Health System (MHS) that provides health care entitlements authorized in Title 10 of the U.S. Code (Chapters 55 and 56) and is organized und more PR

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the Congressional investigation of the Trump indictment (No. LSB10950) on April 19, 2023, by legislative attorney Todd Garvey: * * * Congressional Investigation of the Trump Indictment Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Jr. recently asked a federal district court to declare invalid a House Judiciary Committee (Committee) deposition subpoena issued as part of an inquiry into the i more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the meaning of "knowingly" under the False Claims Act (No. LSB10948) on April 13, 2023, by legislative attorney Victoria L. Killion: * * * Supreme Court to Consider the Meaning of "Knowingly" Under the False Claims Act On April 18, 2023, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a pair of False Claims Act (FCA) cases involving allegations that retail pharmacies charged the go more PR

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, April 10 - April 14, 2023 (No. LSB10951) on April 19, 2023, by legislative attorneys Dave S. Sidhu and Madeline W. Donley: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (April 10-April 14, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disp more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33209) on April 13, 2023, entitled "Casework in a Congressional Office" by American national government specialists R. Eric Petersen and Sarah J. Eckman: * * * SUMMARY In a congressional office, the term casework refers to the response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance. Each year, thousands of constituents turn to Members of Congress with a wide range more PR

WASHINGTON, April 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44413) on April 19, 2023, entitled "Energy and Water Development Appropriations for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation: In Brief" by nonproliferation specialist Mary Beth D. Nikitin. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Department of Energy's (DOE's) nonproliferation and national security programs provide technical capabilities to support U.S. efforts to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons proliferati more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 7, 2023, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function This report describes the structure, activities, legislative history, and funding history of the eight federal region more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 7, 2023, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Delta Regional Authority The Delta Regional Authority was established in 2000 to address economic distress in the Mississippi River Delta region./41 The DRA aims to "improve regional economic opportunity by helping to create jobs, build communities,  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 7, 2023, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Great Lakes Authority The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328, Division O, Title IV, Sec.401) amended 40 U.S.C. Sec.15301(a) to establish the Great Lakes Authority (GLA). The structure and functions of the GLA are based on the model o more PR

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43351) on April 10, 2023, entitled "The Higher Education Act: A Primer" by education policy analyst Joselynn H. Fountain. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA; P.L. 89-329, as amended) authorizes numerous federal aid programs that provide support to both individuals pursuing a postsecondary education and institutions of higher education (IHEs). Title IV of the HEA au more PR

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43351) on April 10, 2023, entitled "The Higher Education Act - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Title IV: Student Assistance Title IV of the HEA contains nine parts that authorize a broad array of programs and provisions to assist students and their families in gaining access to and financing a postsecondary education. The programs authorized under this title are the primary sources of  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43351) on April 10, 2023, entitled "The Higher Education Act - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Title V: Developing Institutions Title V is one of the primary sources of institutional support to Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) under the HEA. In general, Title V programs are similar in scope to the Title III-A and Title III-B programs authorized to support other types of minority-ser more PR

WASHINGTON, April 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33462) on April 17, 2023, entitled "National Heritage Areas: Background and Issues for Congress" by natural resources policy analyst Mark K. DeSantis. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Since 1984, Congress has established 61 national heritage areas (NHAs) to conserve, enhance, and interpret nationally significant natural, historic, scenic, and cultural resources of areas that illustrate aspects of th more PR

WASHINGTON, April 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34752) on April 11, 2023, entitled "Senate Committee Party Ratios: 98th-118th Congresses" by American national government analyst Sarah J. Eckman. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The party ratio in the Senate standing committees is the proportional number of members of each party caucus assigned to each committee. Determining committee sizes, ratios, and assignments are among the first actions take more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 14, 2023, entitled "Student Loan Cancellation Under the HEROES Act" by legislative attorneys Edward C. Liu and Sean M. Stiff: * * * SUMMARY On August 24, 2022, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced that he would invoke the Higher Education Relief Opportunities for Students Act of 2003 (HEROES Act) to cancel up to $20,000 of federal student loan debts for borrowers who fell be more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 14, 2023, entitled "Student Loan Cancellation Under the HEROES Act:" (Continued from Part 1 of 5) * * * Cancellation Policy Design On August 24, 2022, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona determined that he would exercise asserted authority under the HEROES Act to provide relief to student loan borrowers in connection with the pandemic./99 Secretary Cardona decided he would extend t more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 14, 2023, entitled "Student Loan Cancellation Under the HEROES Act:" (Continued from Part 2 of 5) * * * Do Plaintiffs Have Standing to Challenge the Cancellation Policy? Under Article III of the Constitution, the judicial power of the United States extends only to "Cases" and "Controversies."/212 In particular, plaintiffs, whether individuals, businesses, or governmental entities, mu more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 14, 2023, entitled "Student Loan Cancellation Under the HEROES Act:" (Continued from Part 3 of 5) * * * Procedural Injury While the Nebraska plaintiffs advance several standing theories whose particulars sometimes vary state to state, the Brown plaintiffs advance a single standing theory alleging that both borrower plaintiffs suffered the same type of injury and that an order vacatin more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47505) on April 14, 2023, entitled "Student Loan Cancellation Under the HEROES Act:" (Continued from Part 4 of 5) * * * Is the Cancellation Policy Procedurally Valid? Nebraska and Brown both raise the question of whether the HEROES Act provides substantive authority to adopt the cancellation policy, but the cases also include claims challenging the policy's procedural validity. In Nebraska, the plai more PR

WASHINGTON, April 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47503) on April 10, 2023, entitled "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: The Decline in Assistance Receipt Among Eligible Individuals" by social policy specialist Gene Falk. Here are excerpts: * * * The decline in the number of people receiving family cash assistance is a distinctive characteristic of the period after enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act more PR