WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R44021) on graduation on June 8, 2023, by Devon Galena, reference and digital services librarian: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 History ... 1 Attire ... 1 Sample Commencement Addresses ... 2 Presidential Commencement Addresses ... 3 Statistical Sources ... 3 Contacts Author Information ... 4 * * * Introduction Graduation and commencement ceremonies at U.S. academic institutions ar more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. 98-684) on Latin America and the Caribbean - leaders and elections on June 7, 2023, by senior 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  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12422) on the Congressional review of proposed amendments to the U.S. sentencing guidelines on June 6, 2023, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * Congressional Review of Proposed Amendments to the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines The U.S. Sentencing Commission promulgates the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which serve as the starting point for every federal criminal sentence imposed across more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12423) on the Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation on June 7, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Pervaze A. Sheikh and legislative attorney Erin H. Ward: * * * Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 Consultation Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C. Sec.1536) requires federal agencies to ensure that actions they undertake, authorize, or fund are not l more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12102) on the Federal Advisory Committee Act - committee establishment and termination on June 5, 2023, by Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management analyst: * * * Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): Committee Establishment and Termination Federal advisory committees are created by Congress, Presidents, and executive branch agencies to gain expertise and policy advice f more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12252) on the Federal Advisory Committee Act - meeting requirements on June 5, 2023, by Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management analyst: * * * Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): Meeting Requirements Federal advisory committees are created by Congress, Presidents, and executive branch agencies to gain expertise and policy advice from individuals outside the federal go more PR

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12420) on the federal employee paid parental leave benefit on June 5, 2023, by labor policy specialist Sarah A. Donovan and legislative attorney Jon O. Shimabukuro: Here are excerpts: * * * The Federal Employee Paid Parental Leave Benefit This In Focus provides an overview of the federal employee paid parental leave benefit created by the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), Title LX more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12422) on the U.S. Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability system on June 6, 2023, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Army's Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System Background Protecting high-value military sites against enemy cruise missile (CM), unmanned aerial system (UAS), and rocket, artillery, and mortar (RAM) attac more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12150) on the Ukrainian military performance and outlook on June 5, 2023, by Russian and European affairs analyst Andrew S. Bowen: * * * Ukrainian Military Performance and Outlook Since Russia launched its renewed invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) have successfully defended against and pushed back Russian forces in many regions, despite several apparen more PR

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12172) on changes to IRS funding in debt limit deal on June 5, 2023, by Public Finance analyst Brendan McDermott: * * * Changes to IRS Funding in the Debt Limit Deal President Joseph Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy brokered a deal that would reduce federal spending in FY2024 and FY2025 and raise the statutory debt limit through January 2025. H.R. 3746, the Fiscal Responsibility Act  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12172) on changes to Internal Revenue Service funding in the debt limit deal on June 6, 2023, by public finance analyst Brendan McDermott: * * * Changes to IRS Funding in the Debt Limit Deal President Joseph Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy brokered a deal that would reduce federal spending in FY2024 and FY2025 and raise the statutory debt limit through January 2025. P.L. 118-5, the  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12173) on the National Institutes of Health provisions expiring in 2023 on June 8, 2023, by health policy analyst Kavya Sekar: * * * National Institutes of Health (NIH) Provisions Expiring in 2023 The National Institutes of Health (NIH), based in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is the primary federal agency responsible for medical and health research. NIH is made up of 2 more PR

WASHINGTON, June 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12151) on recent mortgage pricing directive for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on June 7, 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, June 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12111) on Turkey - possible U.S. F-16 Sale on June 8, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialists Jim Zanotti and Clayton Thomas. Here are excerpts: * * * Turkey (Turkiye): Possible U.S. F-16 Sale In February 2023, Secretary of State Antony Blinken publicly confirmed that the Biden Administration supports a possible sale of F-16 fighter aircraft to Turkey (Turkiye) - a member of the North more PR

WASHINGTON, June 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. IN12173) on Chevron deference in the Courts of Appeals on June 8, 2023, by legislative attorney Benjamin M. Barczewski. * * * Chevron Deference in the Courts of Appeals Chevron U.S.A. v. Natural Resources Defense Council is one of the most important cases in administrative law. Decided in 1984, it was the genesis of a legal framework for federal courts to apply when deciding whether to more PR

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10974) on criminal contempt of Congress on June 5, 2023, by legislative attorney Todd Garvey: * * * Criminal Contempt of Congress: Frequently Asked Questions The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (Committee) has been engaged in an oversight dispute with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) over an agency document that reportedly contains information regarding "an  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10975) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, May 29 - June 4, 2023, on June 5, 2023, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Michael D. Contino: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (May 29 - June 4, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involv more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45283) on June 5, 2023, entitled "The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: Section-by-Section Summary" by legislative attorney Jennifer K. Elsea: * * * SUMMARY Congress enacted the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) in 2003 in response to the increased deployment of Reserve and National Guard military and as a modernization and restatement of the protections and rights previously available to servicemem more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45283) on June 5, 2023, entitled "The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act - Section-by-Section Summary:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Title II: General Relief Sections 201 through 208 describe the general relief available in most kinds of court actions. They serve to suspend civil liabilities of military personnel and preserve causes of action either for or against them. Protection of servicemembers more PR

WASHINGTON, June 7 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45283) on June 5, 2023, entitled "The Servicemembers Civil Relief Act - Section-by-Section Summary:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Title IV: Life Insurance Title IV provides relief from insurance premiums and guarantees servicemembers' continued coverage under certain commercial life insurance policies. A servicemember who applies for protection under this title will eventually have to pay all of  more PR