WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42035) on Oct. 2, 2023, entitled "Social Security Primer" by social policy analysts Emma K. Tatem and Barry F. Huston. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, and to the family members of deceased workers. Among the beneficiary population, 85.3% are retired or disabled workers; family members of r more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12509) on church tax benefits on Oct. 16, 2023, by legislative attorney Milan N. Ball: * * * Church Tax Benefits Under the federal tax system, organizations that qualify as "churches" under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 170(b)(1)(A)(i) receive more favorable tax treatment than other tax-exempt organizations. For example, the IRC generally subjects churches to fewer filing obligatio more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12406) entitled "FCC Adopts Proposed Net Neutrality Rule" on Oct. 19, 2023, by legislative attorney Chris D. Linebaugh: * * * FCC Adopts Proposed Net Neutrality Rule On October 19, 2023, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to reclassify broadband internet access service (BIAS) as a Title II common carrier service and re more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12511) on the Federal Advisory Committee Act membership on Oct. 18, 2023, by Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management analyst, and Jacob R. Straus, Congress specialist: * * * Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA): Membership Federal advisory committees are created by Congress, Presidents, and executive branch agencies to gain expertise and policy advice from individuals more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12511) on hedge funds Oct. 17, 2023, by financial economics specialist Eva Su. Here are excerpts: * * * Hedge Funds: Background and Policy Issues Hedge funds are asset management vehicles that generally pool accredited investors' money together and invest it on their behalf for a fee. Hedge funds are often identified by their use of complex investment strategies relative to other conven more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12433) on light-duty vehicles, air pollution and climate change on Oct. 19, 2023, by environmental policy specialist Richard K. Lattanzio: * * * 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 required, among other it more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12406) on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration fiscal 2024 budget request and appropriations on Oct. 18, 2023, by natural resources policy analyst Eva Lipiec. Here are excerpts: * * * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2024 Budget Request and Appropriations The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency in the Department of C more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10213) on Sri Lanka on Oct. 17, 2023, by section research manager Colin Willett. Here are excerpts: * * * Sri Lanka: Background and Issues for Congress Background The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a constitutional democracy situated off the southeastern tip of India's Deccan Peninsula and in close proximity to key sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean. The Bide more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11580) on the U.S. government procurement and international trade on Sept. 22, 2023, by Andres B. Schwarzenberg, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Government Procurement and International Trade The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that U.S. companies and the federal government rely heavily on global supply chains. This has prompted congressional intere more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12200) on the U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment on Oct. 18, 2023, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Marine Corps Marine Littoral Regiment (MLR) Background On March 23, 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) announced a major force design initiative planned to occur over the next 10 years referred to as "Force Design 2030." As  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12510) on U.S.-China science and technology cooperation agreement on Oct. 16, 2023, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist, and John F. Sargent Jr., science and technology policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement On January 31, 1979, weeks after the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12440) on the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement on Sept. 22, 2023, by Andres B. Schwarzenberg, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA) During the past 50 years, the United States has played a prominent role in developing international trade rules on government procurement. Most U.S. free trade agreements inclu more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12265) on Azerbaijan's retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh and the displacement of Karabakh Armenians on Oct. 18, 2023, by Cory Welt, Russian and European affairs specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Azerbaijan's Retaking of Nagorno-Karabakh and the Displacement of Karabakh Armenians On September 20, 2023, Azerbaijan reasserted control over Nagorno-Karabakh (also known in Armenian as Artsakh),  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IF12510) on the disposal of surplus federal property for homeless assistance and housing programs on Oct. 16, 2023, by American national government specialist Garrett Hatch. Here are excerpts: * * * The Disposal of Surplus Federal Property for Homeless Assistance and Housing Programs The General Services Administration (GSA) oversees the disposal of unneeded federal real property. As part  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12205) on the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps matters on Oct. 16, 2023, by military manpower specialist Kristy N. Kamarck. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) Matters Background The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a congressionally mandated and funded Department of Defense (DOD) program of instruction with particip more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11058) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Oct. 10 - Oct. 15, 2023, on Oct. 16, 2023, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Bryan L. Adkins: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (October 10, 2023-October 15, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47705) on Sept. 21, 2023, entitled "Congressional Rules Pertaining to Changes in Mandatory Program Spending in Appropriations Bills." The report was written by Drew C. Aherne, Megan S. Lynch and James V. Saturno, Congress and legislative process specialists: * * * SUMMARY When Congress considers legislation, it takes into account the proposal's potential budgetary effects. This helps Members  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47688) on Oct. 5, 2023, entitled "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations: FY2024 State of Play" by William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 When Annual Appropriations Are Not Enacted Before the New Fiscal Year Begins ... 1 If a Continuing Resolution Is Not Enacted or Expires ... 2 DHS Appropriations more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL33533) on Oct. 2, 2023, entitled "Saudi Arabia - Background and U.S. Relations:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Selected Saudi Foreign Policy Issues The People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russia U.S. global competition with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and Russia and the Saudi monarchy's willingness to engage in defense and energy cooperation with these U.S. rivals add strateg more PR