WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11797) on March 29, 2024, by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist: * * * A Brief Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is the primary source of flood insurance coverage for residential properties in the United States. The NFIP has two main policy goals: (1) to provide access to primary flood insuran more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11797) on April 1, 2024, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink: * * * Congressional Commission on the U.S. Strategic Posture Congress plays an important role in U.S. nuclear weapons policy through funding and oversight of U.S. strategic military capabilities and related programs carried out by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Admini more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10045) on April 4, 2024, by Peter J. Meyer, Latin American and Canadian Affairs specialist, and Joshua Klein, foreign affairs analyst: * * * Cuba: U.S. Policy Overview Cuba remains a one-party authoritarian state with a government that has sharply restricted freedoms of expression, association, assembly, and other basic human rights since shortly after the 1959 Cuban Revolution. Over the more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12626) on April 4, 2024, by environmental policy analyst Angela C. Jones. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2024 Appropriations Enacted on March 9, 2024, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42) provided funding for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, including funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agen more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10767) on April 1, 2024, by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Credit Administration and Its Board Members Overview Congress oversees the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), which is the federal financial regulator responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of Farm Credit System (FCS) institutions and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12625) on April 4, 2024, by Elizabeth M. Webster, emergency management and disaster recovery specialist. 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 government and nonprofit organizations to support and expand existing programs more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12625) on April 4, 2024, by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * Judiciary Budget Request, FY2025 Overview The FY2025 judiciary budget request seeks $9.4 billion in discretionary appropriations (an increase of 8.4% over the FY2024 enacted level), and $852.4 million in mandatory appropriations used, in part, to pay the salaries and benefits o more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12623) on April 2, 2024, by immigration policy analyst Abigail F. Kolker: * * * Medical Care Standards in Immigrant Detention Facilities In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and whistleblower complaints about medical neglect and unnecessary gynecological procedures have led to concerns over the medical care of noncitizens in the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Th more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10740) on April 4, 2024, by European affairs specialist Kristin Archick. Here are excerpts: * * * The Nordic Countries and U.S. Relations Political and Economic Overview The five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden - share deep historical, linguistic, and cultural ties and many political and economic similarities. They are all stable democracies with parliam more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10288) on April 2, 2024, by Kelsi Bracmort, natural resources and energy policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Overview of the 2018 Farm Bill Energy Title Programs Congress has long encouraged the production of renewable energy and products derived from agriculture-based feedstock in pursuit of various policy goals. These goals include U.S. energy security, greenhouse gas emissio more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11120) on April 3, 2024, by Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Kyla H. Kitamura, international trade and finance analysts. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Japan Trade Agreements and Negotiations The United States and Japan, among the world's largest economies, are close economic partners. As a top U.S. trade partner, Japan has been a priority for U.S. trade negotiations and regional economic c more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12622) on April 1, 2024, by defense policy analyst Jennifer DiMascio. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: The United States Air Force An executive order signed by then-President Harry S. Truman in 1947 established the U.S. Air Force as a separate service to be "organized, trained, and equipped primarily for prompt and sustained offensive and defensive air operations ... necessary f more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12245) on April 4, 2024, by legislative attorney Jimmy Balser: * * * Voting Systems and Federal Law Laws regulating voting systems, including voting machines and other election infrastructure, exist primarily at the state and local levels. However, the federal government maintains significant authority over elections and plays an important role in safeguarding election infrastructure. In more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12341) on April 1, 2024, by Asian affairs analyst Ricardo Barrios. Here are excerpts: * * * Hong Kong Adopts New National Security Ordinance: Article 23 On March 23, 2024, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) promulgated an ordinance with the stated purpose of strengthening the "legal system and enforcement mechanisms for the HKSAR to safeguard national s more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10784) on April 1, 2024, by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * National Flood Insurance Program Borrowing Authority This Insight evaluates the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) borrowing authority to receive loans from the Treasury and the current financial situation of the NFIP. NFIP Funding Funding for the NFIP is primar more PR

WASHINGTON, April 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10450) on March 29, 2024, by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist and Baird Webel, acting section research manager: * * * Private Flood Insurance and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) The National Flood Insurance Program The NFIP was first authorized by the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. Sec.4001 et seq.) and was reauthorized until more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12342) on April 2, 2024, by American national government analyst Taylor R. Knoedl: * * * Proposed Expanded Collection of Statistics on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity by the Federal Government The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed a test of questions about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) as possible additions to the American Community Survey (ACS). While federal surveys more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12145) on April 2, 2024, by American national government analyst Karen L. Shanton: * * * Proposed U.S.-EU Critical Minerals Agreement Since a March 2023 announcement, the United States and European Union (EU) have been negotiating a critical minerals agreement (CMA). Key objectives are to enable critical minerals extracted or processed in the EU to count toward certain electric vehicle (E more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12343) on April 3, 2024, by American national government analyst Karen L. Shanton: * * * Election Systems: Recent Action by the Election Assistance Commission The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) was established by the Help America Vote Act in response to problems with the administration of the 2000 elections. Among other responsibilities, such as administering grant programs and shar more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10835) on April 1, 2024, by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * What Happens If the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Lapses? This Insight provides a short overview of what would happen if the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) were not to be reauthorized by September 30, 2024, and allowed to lapse. Expiration of Certai more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11057) on April 4, 2024, by legislative attorneys Christine J. Back and Jared P. Cole: * * * Appellate Courts Split on Legal Challenges to State Laws Banning Certain Medical Treatments for Transgender Minors Public debate and attention has focused on whether certain medical treatments should be available for transgender minors to address a discordance between a person's sex charact more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11096) on April 4, 2024. The white paper was written by section research manager Juria L. Jones and legislative attorneys L. Paige Whitaker and Jennifer K. Elsea: * * * Disqualification of a Candidate for the Presidency, Part II: Examining Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment as It Applies to Ballot Access On March 4, 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court in Trump v. Anderson issued a per more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10747) on April 3, 2024, by legislative attorneys Stephen P. Mulligan and Karen Sokol: * * * International Atrocity Crimes and Their Domestic Counterparts Russia's war launched against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the October 7, 2023, attacks perpetrated by Hamas in Israel, and Israel's subsequent campaign in Gaza have prompted widespread attention to the legal framework that addr more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10781) on April 4, 2024, by legislative attorney Jimmy Balser: * * * Overview of Federal Criminal Laws Prohibiting Threats and Harassment of Election Workers Following the 2020 elections, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reported a significant increase in threats of violence toward individuals who administer elections, identifying in 2022 more than 1,000 reported incidents of threat more PR

WASHINGTON, April 3 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11139) on April 1, 2024, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (March 25-March 31, 2024) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes. This Sidebar series selects decisions from the past week that may be of particular interest to  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42567) on March 25, 2023, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Coast Guard's program of record (POR), which dates to 2004, calls for procuring 8 National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 65 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90 more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42567) on March 25, 2023, entitled "Coast Guard Cutter Procurement - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Issues for Congress Planned Procurement Quantities Overview One oversight issue for Congress is whether planned procurement quantities for NSCs, OPCs, and FRCs are too high, too low, or about right. Planned procurement quantities for NSCs, OPCs, and F more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45517) on Dec. 13, 2023, entitled "CRS Seminars on Disruptive Technologies:Videos" by section research manager Jason A. Gallo. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Advanced Battery Energy Storage ... 1 Artificial Intelligence ... 2 Automation Technologies and the Future of Work ... 2 Autonomous Vehicles ... 3 Blockchain ... 4 Commercial Spaceflight ... 5 Cybersecurity ... 5 Enginee more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Feb. 9, 2024, 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 transmi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Feb. 9, 2024, 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 transmi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS21372) on Jan. 26, 2024, entitled "The European Union: Questions and Answers" by European affairs specialist Kristin Archick. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The European Union (EU) is a political and economic partnership that represents a unique form of cooperation among sovereign countries. The EU is the latest stage in a process of integration begun after World War II, initially by six W more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS21372) on Jan. 26, 2024, entitled "The European Union - Questions and Answers:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * What Is the Relationship of the EU to NATO? Since its inception, the EU has asserted that CSDP is intended to allow the EU to make decisions and conduct military operations "where NATO as a whole is not engaged," and that CSDP does not seek to supplant NATO's collective defense more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40767) on Jan. 29, 2024, entitled "How Treasury Issues Debt" by acting section research manager Grant A. Driessen. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury), among other roles, manages the country's debt. The primary objective of Treasury's debt management strategy is to finance the government's borrowing needs at the lowest cost over time. To accomplish  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No.R47884) on Jan. 2, 2024, entitled "Identifying Minors Online" by industrial organization and business analyst Clare Y. Cho. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Concerns about potential harms to minors on the internet, particularly on social media platforms, have grown in recent years. Since at least the 1990s, policymakers have enacted legislation seeking to protect minors online, some of which c more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No.R47884) on Jan. 2, 2024, entitled "Identifying Minors Online:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Policy Considerations for Legislation Multiple bills introduced in the 118th Congress seek to increase protections for minors online by creating requirements for website operators./52 Some requirements for website operators, if included in enacted legislation, could be subject to constitutional c more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47321) on Jan. 26, 2024, entitled "Iran: Background and U.S. Policy" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has played a major role in shaping U.S. policy toward Iran, authorizing extensive U.S. sanctions, seeking to influence diplomatic engagement with Iran, funding and authorizing support to U.S. partners facing Iranian threats, and e more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47321) on Jan. 26, 2024, entitled "Iran - Background and U.S. Policy:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Iran's Political System Iran's Islamic Republic was established in 1979, ending the autocratic monarchy of the Shah, and is a hybrid political system that defies simple characterization. Iran has a parliament, regular elections, and some other features of representative democracy. In pr more PR

WASHINGTON, April 1 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47891) on Jan. 3, 2024, entitled "National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA): A Primer" by science and technology policy specialist Daniel Morgan. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was established in 1958 by the National Aeronautics and Space Act (P.L. 85-568) to conduct civilian space and aeronautics activities. According to i more PR

WASHINGTON, March 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47905) on Jan. 23, 2024, entitled "A Stronger Workforce for America Act: In Brief" by labor policy analyst Benjamin Collins. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Overview of WIOA and Current Status ... 1 Major Elements of H.R. 6655 ... 2 Authorizations of Appropriations ... 2 Amendments to Title I Formula Grant Programs ... 2 Training for Dislocated Workers ... 3 Codification of the R more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12624) on April 4, 2024, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * Expediting Cases and Setting Deadlines for Court Actions Federal court litigation is subject to various deadlines. Often, statutes or procedural rules set time limits for actions by the litigants. For instance, statutes of limitations require cases to be filed within a certain time after the conduct at issue. Once a more PR