WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R43419) on July 14, 2023: Here are excerpts: * * * NASA Appropriations and Authorizations: A Fact Sheet Contents Overview ... 1 Figures Figure 1. NASA Funding, FY1958-FY2023 ... 5 Tables Table 1. NASA Budget Authority, FY2018-FY2023 ... 2 Table 2. NASA Appropriations, FY2023 ... 3 Table 3. NASA Appropriations, FY2024. ... 4 Contacts Author Information ... 6 * * * Overview Congres more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12451) on American Confidence in Elections Act on July 19, 2023. The white paper was written by American national government specialists Karen L. Shanton, Sarah J. Eckman and R. Sam Garrett: * * * H.R. 4563, the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act H.R. 4563, the American Confidence in Elections (ACE) Act, proposes substantial changes to federal election administration and campa more PR

WASHINGTON, July 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12369) on the Bureau of Reclamation - fiscal 2024 budget and appropriations on July 18, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Charles V. Stern. Here are excerpts: * * * Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for the construction and operation of hundreds of large dams more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11874) on international tax proposals addressing profit shifting - pillars 1 and 2 on July 20, 2023, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * International Tax Proposals Addressing Profit Shifting: Pillars 1 and 2 On June 5, 2021, finance ministers of the Group of 7 (G7) countries, including the United States, agreed in a communique to two proposals addressing global  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11556) on Libya and U.S. policy on July 19, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Libya and U.S. Policy Twelve years after a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime authoritarian leader Muammar al Qadhafi, Libya has yet to make a transition to stable governing arrangements. Elections and diplomacy have produced a series of interim gove more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12452) on U.S. sanctions on Iran on July 20, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas: * * * U.S. Sanctions on Iran Since the Islamic Revolution of 1979, the United States has used sanctions of various types as key tools of U.S. policy toward the government of Iran. The U.S. government uses sanctions to deter, constrain, and encourage change in the adversarial behavior o more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10209) on U.S.-Vietnam Relations on July 17, 2023, by Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin and international trade and finance analyst Liana Wong. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Vietnam Relations Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam in 1995, overlapping strategic and economic interests have led the two countries to expand ties across a more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12172) on changes to IRS funding in the debt limit deal on July 19, 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 Fiscal Responsibili more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12158) on fiscal 2024 Agriculture appropriations on July 19, 2023, by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 Agriculture Appropriations: Status and Scope Status of Agriculture Appropriations The Agriculture appropriations bill--formally known as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act--fu more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12202) on military child care programs on July 17, 2023, by military manpower specialist Kristy N. Kamarck. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Military Child Care Programs Background The Department of Defense (DOD) operates the largest employer-sponsored child care program in the United States, serving approximately 200,000 children of servicemembers and DOD civilians. DOD's child de more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12123) on the National Cybersecurity Strategy on July 17, 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 thos more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12203) on TRICARE coverage of gender affirming care on July 20, 2023, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: TRICARE Coverage of Gender Affirming Care Background The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a statutory health entitlement (under Chapter 55 of Title 10, U.S. Code), through the Military Health System (MHS). The MH more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11810) on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works on July 20, 2023, by natural resources policy specialists Anna E. Normand and Nicole T. Carter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works: Primer and Resources Congress plays a role in the nation's water resource development through authorization and appropriations of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) proje more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11007) on access to habeas corpus relief for federal inmates on July 19, 2023, by legislative attorney Michael D. Contino: * * * Supreme Court Narrows Access to Habeas Corpus Relief for Federal Inmates In Jones v. Hendrix, decided on June 22, 2023, the Supreme Court resolved a circuit split over a provision of 28 U.S.C. Sec. 2255, the statutory habeas corpus alternative permitting  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10295) on the Department of Homeland Security's "Metering" Policy on July 17, 2023, by legislative attorney Hillel R. Smith: * * * The Department of Homeland Security's "Metering" Policy: Legal Issues Generally, an alien who arrives in the United States without valid documentation is subject to a streamlined, expedited removal process, but may pursue asylum and related protections  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11008) on environmental justice and the National Environmental Policy Act on July 19, 2023, by legislative attorney Kristen Hite: * * * Environmental Justice and the National Environmental Policy Act In spring 2023, Congress amended the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) as part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (P.L. 118-5). Weeks earlier, President Biden issued Executive Ord more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11009) on legal challenges to the terrorist screening database on July 20, 2023, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu and section research manager Michael A. Foster: * * * Legal Challenges to the Terrorist Screening Database "On September 11, 2001, agents of the al Qaeda terrorist organization hijacked commercial airplanes and attacked the World Trade Center in New York City and t more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11006) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers July 10 - July 16, 2023, on July 17, 2023. The white paper was written by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorneys Michael D. Contino, Jimmy Balser and Justin C. Chung: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (July 10, 2023-July 16, 2023)  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on July 20, 2023, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Required number of polar icebreakers. The Coast Guard testified in April and June 2023 that it had recently signed out a new fleet mix analysis that concluded that the Coast Guard will require a total of eight t more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on July 20, 2023, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Background Missions of Coast Guard Polar Icebreakers Statutory Duties and Missions The permanent statute that sets forth the Coast Guard's primary duties - 14 U.S.C. 102 - states that among other things, the Coast Guard shall (emphasis added) "devel more PR

WASHINGTON, July 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on July 20, 2023, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Issues for Congress CAPI Program: Need and Cost Effectiveness One potential issue for Congress concerns the Coast Guard's proposal to purchase an existing commercially available polar icebreaker to augment the Coast Guard's polar icebreaking capacity  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47629) on July 14, 2023, entitled "Department of Defense Community Support Programs" by defense infrastructure policy analyst Andrew Tilghman and economic development policy analyst Adam G. Levin. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY For decades the Department of Defense has provided financial support for local communities near military installations that seek help adjusting to the economic impact of a DO more PR

WASHINGTON, July 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on July 14, 2023, entitled "Electricity Transmission Permitting Reform Proposals" by energy policy specialist Ashley J. Lawson. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Permitting reform has been a topic of debate in the 118th Congress. One aspect of this debate addresses the processes for planning, siting, approving, and paying for electricity transmission lines (broadly referred to as transmission pe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47626) on July 14, 2023, entitled "Gun Control, Veterans Benefits and Mental Incompetency Determinations" by disability policy analyst Scott D. Szymendera: * * * SUMMARY The federal Gun Control Act of 1968, as amended, prohibits certain classes of persons from purchasing or possessing firearms and ammunition. One of the classes of prohibited persons are those who have been "adjudicated as a mental defe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42100) on July 19, 2023, entitled "Mandatory Minimum Sentencing: Federal Aggravated Identity Theft" by Charles Doyle, American public law senior specialist: * * * SUMMARY Aggravated identity theft is punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence of imprisonment for two years or by imprisonment for five years, if it relates to a terrorism offense. At least thus far, the government has rarely prosecuted the more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47200) on July 19, 2023, entitled "Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers: Background and Current Status" by labor policy analyst Benjamin Collins: * * * Contents Background ... 1 Program Rationale and Authorizing Statute ... 1 Financing and Administration ... 2 Financing and FY2023 Funding ... 2 Administration ... 2 Major Components of the TAA Program ... 3 Eligibility ... 3 Benefits .. more PR