WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11772) on payments in lieu of taxes on June 21, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * Afghan Women and Girls: Status and Congressional Action Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, the already precarious status of Afghan women and girls has deteriorated dramatically. Increasing Taliban restrictions have severely reduced the abi more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10214) on Bangladesh on June 20, 2023, research assistant Joseph O. Yinusa and Asian policy analyst Maria A. Blackwood. Here are excerpts: * * * Bangladesh Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) is a Muslim-majority South Asian nation bordering India and Burma (Myanmar) on the Bay of Bengal. The world's eighth most populous country, with approximately 167 million people, it has a land area more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12198) on the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program on June 15, 2023, by telecommunications policy analyst Ling Zhu: * * * Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program: Issues and Congressional Considerations Congress appropriated $42.45 billion to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to administer the Broadband Equity, Access, and D more PR

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12434) on global food security on June 21, 2023, by international relations specialist Luisa Blanchfield and international humanitarian policy specialist Rhoda Margesson: * * * Global Food Security: Selected Multilateral Efforts Members of the 118th Congress may consider the role of multilateral institutions and initiatives in addressing global food insecurity. The United States, the la more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12198) on India - human rights assessments on June 15, 2023, by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt: * * * India: Human Rights Assessments Overview As reported by the State Department's 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (Human Rights Reports or HRRs), India is a multiparty, federal, parliamentary democracy. States and union territories have primary responsibili more PR

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12433) on light-duty vehicles, air pollution and climate change on June 21, 2023, by environmental policy specialist Richard K. Lattanzio: Here are excerpts: * * * Light-Duty Vehicles, Air Pollution, and Climate Change On August 5, 2021, President Biden signed Executive Order 14037, "Strengthening American Leadership in Clean Cars and Trucks" (86 Federal Register 43583). The order requ more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12432) on managing electronic messages from high-level officials through Capstone on June 15, 2023, by Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management analyst: * * * Managing Electronic Messages from High-Level Officials Through Capstone In the course of their official duties, federal employees regularly create federal records and, therefore, have records management responsibil more PR

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11772) on payments in lieu of taxes on June 21, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT): Section 6902 Payments Introduction Several federal programs exist to compensate local jurisdictions for the presence of nontaxable federal lands. The widest-ranging program is the Department of the Interior's (DOI' more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12428) on the SBA's Historically Underutilized Business Zone Program on June 15, 2023, by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst: * * * The SBA's Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Program Program Overview The Small Business Administration's (SBA) HUBZone program provides federal contracting preferences to small businesses located in more PR

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12433) on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant on June 22, 2023, by social policy specialist Gene Falk. Here are excerpts: * * * The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant Introduction The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant was created in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, P more PR

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11831) on election worker safety and privacy on June 21, 2023, by American national government analysts Sarah J. Eckman and Karen L. Shanton: * * * Election Worker Safety and Privacy Concerns about election workers' safety and privacy have been reported since the 2020 election, in news reports and testimony before House and Senate committees. Some election workers have raised concerns abo more PR

WASHINGTON, June 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12181) on Guatemala, 2023 elections and U.S. interests on June 13, 2023, by Latin American affairs analyst Karla I. Rios. Here are excerpts: * * * Guatemala: 2023 Elections and U.S. Interests On June 25, 2023, Guatemala is scheduled to hold national elections for president, the entire 160-seat congress, 340 mayors, 20 Central American parliament members, and other local posts. Almost 83% more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12182) on HSA@20 episode companion - federalism on June 16, 2023. The white paper was written by William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist, Shawn Reese, emergency management and homeland security policy analyst, and Lauren R. Stienstra, section research manager: * * * HSA@20 Episode Companion: Federalism This Insight accompanies the "Federalism" episode of The H more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12175) on I-95 overpass collapse in Philadelphia and the federal response on June 20, 2023, by transportation policy specialists Robert S. Kirk and William J. Mallett: * * * I-95 Overpass Collapse in Philadelphia and the Federal Response On June 11, 2023, a tanker truck carrying gasoline crashed and burned under Interstate 95 (I-95) in Philadelphia. The crash and resulting fire caused a s more PR

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10981) entitled "Supreme Court Narrows Federal Jurisdiction Under Clean Water Act" on June 21, 2023, by legislative attorney Kate R. Bowers: * * * Supreme Court Narrows Federal Jurisdiction Under Clean Water Act On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court decided Sackett v. EPA, a case with significant implications for the scope of federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act (CWA). While more PR

WASHINGTON, June 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10982) on the Federal Land Management on June 21, 2023, by legislative attorney Adam Vann: * * * Federal Land Management: When "Multiple Use" and "Sustained Yield" Diverge The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) has provided the framework for federal management of public lands since 1976. Among other things, FLPMA instructs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to ma more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10980) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, June 12 - June 18, 2023, on June 20, 2023. The white paper was written by legislative attorneys Jimmy Balser, Michael D. Contino and Matthew D. Trout and deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (June 12-June 18, 2023) The  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10979) entitled "Unanimous Supreme Court Rules Bankruptcy Sale Statute Is Not Jurisdictional" on June 20, 2023, by legislative attorney Michael D. Contino: * * * Unanimous Supreme Court Rules Bankruptcy Sale Statute Is Not Jurisdictional On April 19, 2023, the Supreme Court unanimously held in MOAC Mall Holdings LLC v. Transform Holdco LLC (MOAC) that 11 U.S.C. Sec. 363(m) - a Bank more PR

WASHINGTON, June 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47599) on June 20, 2023, entitled "AUKUS Pillar 2: Background and Issues for Congress" by national defense fellow Patrick Parrish and defense infrastructure policy analyst Luke A. Nicastro: * * * SUMMARY AUKUS Pillar 2 refers to a suite of cooperative activities conducted by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia to develop and field "advanced capabilities" under the AUKUS security pact.  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47594) on June 15, 2023, entitled "Budget Enforcement Rules: Emergency Designations" by Drew C. Aherne, Congress and legislative process analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Under congressional budgetary enforcement rules, Congress can designate a provision as an emergency requirement by stating as such in the legislative text of that measure. These rules generally establish that the spending or  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47597) on June 16, 2023, entitled "India-U.S. Relations: Issues for Congress" by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt and international trade and finance specialist Shayerah I. Akhtar. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY India, home to nearly one-fifth of global population, became the world's most populous country in 2023. Many factors combine to infuse India's government and people with "gre more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47597) on June 16, 2023, entitled "India-U.S. Relations - Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Energy and Climate India is the world's third-largest energy consumer after China and the United States. Due to its large population and use of high-emitting fuels for electricity, India is the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide (CO2), despite low per capi more PR

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47248) on June 13, 2023, entitled "National Foundation on the Arts and Humanities: Fiscal 2023 Appropriations" by senior research librarian Shannon S. Loane. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities is the primary vehicle for federal support for the arts and the humanities. Established in 1965, the Foundation currently consists of three agencies: the Inst more PR

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47593) on June 15, 2023, entitled "Pandemic Oversight: The Biden Administration's New Anti-Fraud Proposal." The report was written by government organization and management analysts Ben Wilhelm, Natalie R. Ortiz and Dominick A. Fiorentino, income security specialists Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs, crime policy analyst Nathan James, domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea, public finance  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47593) on June 15, 2023, entitled "Pandemic Oversight - The Biden Administration's New Anti-Fraud Proposal:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Expand "Do Not Pay" Service and Codify SBA Tax Record Verifications/52 The Administration's proposal would add "significant" new funds to increase capacity at the Treasury's Do Not Pay (DNP) website to "identify, prevent, and recover improper payments and rel more PR

WASHINGTON, June 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47595) on June 16, 2023, entitled "Budget Enforcement Rules: Emergency Designations" by law librarian Laura Deal. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY State Laws Restricting or Prohibiting Abortion This report provides an overview of existing or recently passed state laws prohibiting or limiting abortion prior to 24 weeks' gestational age. It also identifies "trigger laws" that generally prohibit abortion more PR

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47600) on June 20, 2023, entitled "Transfer and Reprogramming of Appropriations: An Overview" by Taylor N. Riccard and Dominick A. Fiorentino, government organization and management analysts. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has recognized a need to permit agencies some flexibility during budget execution after the enactment of appropriations, and it has provided agencies with limited authori more PR

WASHINGTON, June 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47600) on June 20, 2023, entitled "Transfer and Reprogramming of Appropriations - An Overview:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Agency Procedures and the Role of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Agencies generally have internal procedures for determining when and how a transfer or reprogramming of funds will take place. Departments, their component bureaus, and other agencies may be requi more PR