WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R43973) on Memorial Day speech resources on May 12, 2023, by financial Economics specialist Darryl E. Getter. Here are excerpts: * * * Memorial Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet Introduction Memorial Day is a day of reflection and remembrance of those who died while serving in the U.S. military. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials and placing wreaths. They may als more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12006) on Arctic National Wildlife Refuge on May 17, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Status of Oil and Gas Program The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR or the Refuge) comprises 19 million acres in northeast Alaska, administered primarily by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) in the Department of more PR

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10177) on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S. on May 11, 2023, by international trade and finance specialist Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States Overview The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency committee tha more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11882) on directed-energy weapons on May 18, 2023, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst: * * * Defense Primer: Directed-Energy Weapons Both the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the House Armed Services Committee's bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force Report have identified directed energy as a technology that could have a significant impact on U.S. nat more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10426) on Federal Emergency Management Agency's Emergency Food and Shelter Program on May 15, 2023, by Elizabeth M. Webster, emergency management and disaster recovery analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * FEMA's Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) provides supplemental grants to local governm more PR

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12049) on Federal Emergency Management Agency's individuals and households program on May 15, 2023, by Elizabeth M. Webster, emergency management and disaster recovery analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * FEMA's Individuals and Households Program (IHP) When a disaster occurs, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may assist individuals with their recovery through the Individual Ass more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11381) on Guyana on May 15, 2023, by Latin American affairs analyst Karla I. Rios. Here are excerpts: * * * Guyana: An Overview Located on the northern coast of South America between Suriname and Venezuela, English-speaking Guyana has characteristics similar to other Caribbean nations because of a common British colonial heritage (Guyana became independent in 1966). The country participa more PR

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10574) on intelligence support to military operations on May 11, 2023, by Michael E. DeVine, intelligence and national security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations Nine of 18 total statutory elements of the Intelligence Community reside within the Department of Defense (DOD). This includes the National Security Agency (NSA), Defe more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11281) on the National Park Service affiliated areas on May 19, 2023, by natural resources policy analyst Mark K. DeSantis. Here are excerpts: * * * National Park Service Affiliated Areas: An Overview In addition to managing the 423 units of the National Park System, the National Park Service (NPS) manages or assists with other areas that are linked in importance and purpose to the larg more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11838) on the Navy TAGOS-25 Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program on May 18, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy TAGOS-25 (Previously TAGOS[X]) Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy in FY2022 procured the first of a planned class of seven new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ship more PR

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10430) on Panama on May 17, 2023, by Latin American affairs analysts June S. Beittel and Ramon Miro. Here are excerpts: * * * Panama: An Overview Panama's central location in the Americas (linking North and South America), large financial sector, use of the U.S. dollar as currency, and transportation infrastructure - especially the Panama Canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oc more PR

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12400) on short selling on May 12, 2023, by financial Economics specialists Eva Su and Gary Shorter. Here are excerpts: * * * Short Selling: Background and Policy Issues Short selling generally involves the sale of a stock that the seller does not own (and instead borrows and must return at a later date) with an intent to profit if the stock declines in value. The practice has generated  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10426) on Social Security overview on May 16, 2023, by social policy analyst Barry F. Huston. Here are excerpts: * * * Social Security Overview Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, as well as to the family members of deceased workers. It is one of the federal government's largest programs, both in terms of the number of p more PR

WASHINGTON, May 13 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10527) on the U.S. Intelligence Community establishment provisions on May 12, 2023, by intelligence and national security analyst Michael E. DeVine. 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 pa more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11150) on the U.S. policy on lethal autonomous weapon systems on May 15, 2023, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Policy on Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) are a special class of weapon systems that use sensor suites and computer algorithms to independently identify a target and employ a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10199) on the U.S.-Japan relations on May 15, 2023. The white paper was written by Asian affairs specialists Emma Chanlett-Avery, Mark E. Manyin and Caitlin Campbell and international trade and finance specialists Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Kyla H. Kitamura. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Japan Relations Overview Japan, a U.S. treaty ally since 1951, is a constructive U.S. partner in more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12160) on HSA@20 Episode Companion - Intelligence on May 15, 2023, by William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist, and Michael E. DeVine, intelligence and national security specialist: * * * HSA@20 Episode Companion: Intelligence This Insight accompanies the "Intelligence" episode of The Homeland Security Act at 20 podcast series and includes background information  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12163) on potential Stafford Act assistance for migration activity on May 16, 2023, by Erica A. Lee and Elizabeth M. Webster, emergency management and disaster recovery analysts: * * * Potential Stafford Act Assistance for Migration Activity After more than three years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order directing U.S. immigration officials to expel certain migrants more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12163) on the potential Stafford Act Assistance for Migration Activity on May 18, 2023, by Erica A. Lee and Elizabeth M. Webster, emergency management and disaster recovery analysts: * * * Potential Stafford Act Assistance for Migration Activity After more than three years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) order directing U.S. immigration officials to expel certain migr more PR

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12151) on recent mortgage pricing directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on May 12, 2023, by financial Economics specialist Darryl E. Getter. Here are excerpts: * * * Recent Mortgage Pricing Directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Introduction The Federal Housing Financing Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to revisit the fees applied to guarantee mortgage default risk. more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11897) on the U.S. foreign policy initiatives to manage regional migration on May 15, 2023, by European affairs specialist Kristin Archick: * * * Russia's War Against Ukraine: European Union Responses and U.S.-EU Relations The 27-member European Union (EU) has implemented a wide range of policy responses to Russia's war against Ukraine, launched in 2022. EU actions and coordination with th more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11118) on the Section 7001 report on future studies and projects on May 18, 2023, by natural resources policy analyst Anna E. Normand: * * * Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report on Future Studies and Projects Congress specifically authorizes most of the water resource development studies, projects, and other assistance activities performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12159) on the U.S. foreign policy initiatives to manage regional migration on May 15, 2023. The white paper was written by Latin American affairs specialists Clare Ribando Seelke and Ramon Miro and Latin American and Canadian affairs specialist Peter J. Meyer: * * * Post-Title 42: U.S. Foreign Policy Initiatives to Manage Regional Migration U.S. Border Patrol apprehensions of foreign nati more PR

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12152) on the U.S.-Japan critical minerals agreement on May 17, 2023, by Kyla H. Kitamura, international trade and finance analyst: * * * U.S.-Japan Critical Minerals Agreement On March 28, the United States and Japan signed a critical minerals agreement (CMA), which entered into force immediately upon signature without requiring congressional approval. The Office of the U.S. Trade Represe more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10961) on the Biden Administration's final rule on arriving aliens seeking asylum on May 15, 2023, by legislative attorney Hillel R. Smith: * * * The Biden Administration's Final Rule on Arriving Aliens Seeking Asylum In anticipation of increased migration at the U.S. Southwest border following the termination of a public health order issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic (kno more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10967) on the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act on May 18, 2023, by legislative attorney Stephen P. Mulligan: * * * The Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act: Prosecuting Foreign States After the Supreme Court's Decision in Halkbank The Supreme Court's decision in Turkiye Halk Bankasi A.S. v. United States, holding that the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) does not provide foreign  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10963) on the National Labor Relations Board reinstates "Overwhelming Community of Interest" collective bargaining unit standard on May 15, 2023, by legislative attorney Jon O. Shimabukuro: * * * NLRB Reinstates "Overwhelming Community of Interest" Collective Bargaining Unit Standard The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) establishes a right to engage in collective bargaining for m more PR

WASHINGTON, May 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10965) on the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management and Economic Stability Act does not abrogate Puerto Rico Oversight Board's sovereign immunity on May 16, 2023, by legislative attorney Mainon A. Schwartz: Here are excerpts: * * * SCOTUS Rules That PROMESA Does Not Abrogate Puerto Rico Oversight Board's Sovereign Immunity--If It Has Any On May 11, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court announce more PR

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10964) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, May 8 - May 14, 2023 on May 15, 2023. The white paper deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino, Jimmy Balser and Alexander H. Pepper: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (May 8-May 14, 2023) The federal courts issue  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10966) on religious accommodations in the workplace on May 18, 2023, by legislative attorney Abigail A. Graber: * * * Supreme Court Considers Religious Accommodations in the Workplace Recent Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religion and Speech Clauses of the First Amendment have strengthened protections for religious activity. The Co more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45340) on May 19, 2023, entitled "Federal Land Designations: A Brief Guide." The report was written by natural resources policy specialists Laura B. Comay, Carol Hardy Vincent, Katie Hoover, Christopher R. Field, Mark K. DeSantis and Anne A. Riddle. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Federal Land Designations: A Brief Guide This report provides a brief guide to selected titles - such as national park,  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44692) on May 10, 2023, entitled "Five-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program: Status and Issues in Brief" by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Leasing Program Status ... 1 Selected Issues for Congress ... 4 Timing Considerations for the Five-Year Program ... 4 Potential for Zero-Lease Program ... 5 Regional Leasing Decisions ... 6 Gulf o more PR

WASHINGTON, May 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47552) on May 12, 2023, entitled "Medigap: Background and Statistics" by research librarian Michele L. Malloy. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Medicare is a federal program that pays for covered health care services of qualified beneficiaries, which include most individuals aged 65 and older and certain younger individuals with permanent disabilities. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) provides broad p more PR