WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R47295) on May 7, 2024, by Research Librarian Ben Leubsdorf: Here are excerpts: * * * Economic Forecasts and Projections: Fact Sheet SUMMARY Economic projections (also called forecasts) are predictions about the future behavior of economic and financial indicators. They can help lawmakers in assessing the likelihood of key events such as recessions, addressing budget and economic challenges, and est more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12637) on May 8, 2024, by Patricia Moloney Figliola, internet and telecommunications policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * The End of the Affordable Connectivity Program: What Next for Consumers? Introduction The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC's) Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), established by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58) in 2021, provide more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11854) on May 6, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas and research assistant Abigail G. Martin: * * * Al Qaeda: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy Al Qaeda (AQ, alt. Al Qaida or Al Qa'eda) is a transnational Sunni Islamist terrorist organization with a network of affiliates. The group rose to global prominence after perpetrating the September 11, 2001, attack more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12661) on May 9, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Charles V. Stern. Here are excerpts: * * * Bureau of Reclamation: FY2025 Budget and Appropriations The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is primarily responsible for the construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and water diversion structures in the 17 western Reclamation  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12437) on May 9, 2024, by natural resources policy specialists Charles V. Stern and Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * Bureau of Reclamation Funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169) In August 2022, Congress enacted P.L. 117-169, popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Among its funding provisions, the law provided approximately $4.6 billion in mandatory  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10922) on May 9, 2024, by crime policy analyst Nathan James. Here are excerpts: * * * Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Program Background Under the initial authorization for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program (Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, P.L. 103-322, "the 1994 Crime Act"), grants could be awarded for (1) hiring  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10599) on May 7, 2024, by defense infrastructure policy analyst Alexandra G. Neenan. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Procurement Overview While procurement implies a process of obtaining goods or services, the word also refers to a specific title and to associated accounts within the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Department of Defense Appropriations Act.  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10599) on May 7, 2024, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst: * * * Defense Primer: Directed-Energy Weapons Both the 2022 National Defense Strategy and the House Armed Services Committee's bipartisan Future of Defense Task Force Report have identified directed energy as a technology that could have a significant impact on U.S. national security in the years t more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12655) on May 8, 2024, by macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte: * * * Federal Reserve's Discount Window: Policy Issues The failure of three large banks in the spring of 2023 put the discount window (DW) of the Federal Reserve (Fed) back in the spotlight. DW lending suddenly spiked, reaching an all-time high of $295.7 billion. This In Focus discusses policy issues raised by this epi more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12660) on May 8, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2025 Budget Request for the Military Health System On March 11, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden submitted his Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 budget request to Congress. Discretionary funding in the Department of Defense (DOD) budget request totals $849.8 billion, including $61.4 billion more PR

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12653) on May 7, 2024, by agricultural policy analyst Joel L. Greene: * * * Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Dairy Herds The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed a strain (H5N1) of highly pathogenic avian Influenza A virus (HPAI) in dairy herds in Texas and Kansas on March 25, 2 more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12662) on May 7, 2024, by immigration policy analyst Abigail F. Kolker. Here are excerpts: * * * Immigration: Grounds of Inadmissibility The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sets forth the grounds of inadmissibility under which foreign nationals may be denied admission to the United States. Admission to the United States The term admission refers to the lawful entry of a foreign n more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10574) on May 9, 2024, by Michael E. DeVine, intelligence and national security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations Nine of 18 total statutory elements of the Intelligence Community (IC) reside within the Department of Defense (DOD) and provide integrated intelligence support to military strategy, planning, and operations. These  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 8 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12654) on May 7, 2024, by public finance analyst Gary Guenther: * * * IRS Direct File Program: An Overview The assessment and collection of federal taxes owed depend on the level of taxpayer compliance with tax laws and regulations. Two factors shaping this compliance are the cost and ease of preparing and filing a tax return. Electronic filing (e-filing) provides benefits to taxpayers a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10328) on May 6, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas and Research Assistant Abigail G. Martin: * * * The Islamic State: Background, Current Status, and U.S. Policy The Islamic State (IS) is a transnational Sunni Islamist insurgent and terrorist group. At its 2015 height, the group controlled large areas of Iraq and Syria from which it launched attacks in the region a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11755) on May 8, 2024, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Marine Corps' Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Background The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) 'as The Corps' next-generation vehicle designed to move Marines from ship to shore (Figure 1). Designed to replace the Corps' aging Amphibious Assault Vehicle (A more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12530) on May 6, 2024, by Kirsten J. Colello, health and aging policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Older Americans Act: Summary in Brief Overview The Older Americans Act (OAA; P.L. 89-73, as amended; 42 U.S.C. Ch. 35) supports a wide range of social and health-related services and programs for older adults, including supportive services (i.e., personal care, chore services, and t more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12656) on May 8, 2024, by Michelle D. Christensen, government organization and management analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Postal Primer: Post Office Naming The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has independent authority to name or designate its postal facilities. Additionally, Congress may designate a post office through legislation. This In Focus describes the policies and procedures for rena more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12657) on May 8, 2024, by Andres B. Schwarzenberg, international trade and finance specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Red Sea Shipping Disruptions: Estimating Economic Effects Attacks by the Yemen-based Ansar Allah (Houthi) movement in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November 2023 have disrupted a critical maritime passage for global supply chains, creating bottlenecks at the Suez C more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11546) on May 6, 2024, by Ben Wilhelm, government organization and management analyst: * * * Removal of Inspectors General: Rules, Practice, and Considerations for Congress In 1978, Congress passed the Inspector General Act (IG Act; P.L. 95-452) with the intent to improve oversight within certain executive branch agencies. During the floor debate on the legislation, Senator Thomas Eagleton more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11546) on May 7, 2024, by natural resources policy analyst Mark K. DeSantis. Here are excerpts: * * * Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations on Federal Lands Each year, thousands of visitors to federal lands require the assistance of search and rescue (SAR) services. SAR operations take place in a wide range of environments and conditions and can include brief searches of buildings; medical  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12658) on May 9, 2024, by social policy analysts T. Lynn Sears and Emma K. Tatem: * * * Social Security: Representative Payees and Power of Attorney Social Security beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients (referred to herein as "beneficiaries" for both programs) may require additional help managing their finances and may grant power of attorney to family, friends, more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11546) on May 8, 2024, by public finance specialist Donald J. Marples and economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle. Here are excerpts: * * * Trends and Proposals for Corporate Tax Revenue U.S. corporate tax revenues have declined, relative to the size of the economy, since the mid-1960s. Corporate tax revenue as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) fell from 3.9% in 1966 more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12659) on May 9, 2024, by environmental policy specialists Jerry H. Yen and Angela C. Jone: * * * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Science Advisory Board (SAB): Role of the Independent Advisory Committee, Selected Issues, and Legislation The extent to which scientific and technical information may be used to support the regulatory and nonregulatory actions taken by the U.S. Environmen more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12652) on May 6, 2024, by environmental policy specialist Richard K. Lattanzio. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. International Climate Finance: FY2025 U.S. International Climate Finance Over the past several decades, to substantially varying degrees, the United States has delivered financial and technical assistance for climate change initiatives in the developing world through a variety of more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12267) on May 8, 2024. The white paper is written by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas, international crime and narcotics specialist Liana W. Rosen and legislative attorney Jennifer K. Elsea. Here are excerpts: * * * Iran's Petroleum Exports to China and U.S. Sanctions Many Members in the 118th Congress remain concerned with Iran's ability to raise revenue in international  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12356) on May 7, 2024, by foreign affairs analyst Joshua Klein and Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke. Here are excerpts: * * * Mexico's 2024 Elections On June 2, 2024, Mexico, a top U.S. trade and strategic partner, is scheduled to convene elections for more than 20,000 federal, state, and local offices, including the presidency, the entire congress (Senate and Chambe more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12355) on May 6, 2024. The white paper is written by Russian and European affairs analyst Andrew S. Bowen, Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin and nonproliferation specialist Mary Beth D. Nikitin: * * * North Korea-Russia Relations: Current Developments Since 2023, North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) and the Russian Federation (Russia)  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12357) on May 7, 2024, by foreign affairs analyst Leticia Chacon. Here are excerpts: * * * Panama: 2024 Elections and U.S. Interests On May 5, 2024, Panamanians elected Jose Raul Mulino, the right-wing candidate of the Realizing Goals (RM) and Alliance parties, as their president. Mulino captured 34.3% of the vote, almost 10 points ahead of the second-place candidate (Figure 1). Panamani more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11118) on May 6, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report on Future Studies and Projects Congress specifically authorizes most of the water resource development studies, projects, and other assistance activities performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), typically through Water Resources more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11161) on May 7, 2024. The white paper is written by section research manager Jonathan M. Gaffney and legislative attorneys Chris D. Linebaugh, Peter J. Benson, Matthew D. Trout and Clay Wild: * * * The American Privacy Rights Act On April 7, 2024, Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell and House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers jointly released a  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11163) on May 8, 2024, by legislative attorney Hannah-Alise Rogers: * * * Litigation Continues Over Use of Contract Pharmacies in 340B Drug Discount Program The 340B Drug Discount Program enables eligible hospitals and other safety net providers to purchase outpatient prescription drugs at discounted prices. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an operating divis more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11162) on May 6, 2024, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (April 29 - May 5, 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 feder more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11127) on May 9, 2024. The white paper is written by legislative attorneys Peter J. Benson, Valerie C. Brannon and Joanna R. Lampe: * * * Regulation of TikTok Under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act: Analysis of Selected Legal Issues In April 2024, Congress enacted the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11160) on May 6, 2024, by legislative attorney Hannah-Alise Rogers: * * * The Scope of ACA Section 1557: "Health Program or Activity" On May 6, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, or the Department) finalized a new rule under Section 1557 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Section 1557 applies various antidiscrimination requirements to "any  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 8 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48028) on May 7, 2024, entitled "Baltimore Bridge Collapse: Frequently Asked Questions." The report is written by transportation policy specialists John Frittelli, Ali E. Lohman and Ben Goldman. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 Who Owns and Controls the Ship? ... 1 How Do Ships Navigate Through Harbors? ... 1 How Common Is It for Ships to Lose Power? ... 2 Could Tug more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48063) entitled "Delegates and the Resident Commissioner: Parliamentary Rights and Practice, 113th-117th Congresses" by Jane A. Hudiburg, Congress and legislative process analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia are each represented in Congress by a delegate to the House of Representatives, wh more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45699) on May 6, 2024, entitled "The Federal Communications Commission: Structure, Operations and Budget" by Patricia Moloney Figliola, internet and telecommunications policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent federal agency established by the Communications Act of 1934 (1934 Act, or "Communications Act"). The agency is ch more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43414) on May 6, 2024, entitled "Older Americans Act: Overview and Funding" by Kirsten J. Colello, health and aging policy specialist, and Angela Napili, senior research librarian. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Older Americans Act (OAA; P.L. 89-73, as amended) is the primary federal statute for the delivery of social and nutrition services for older persons. The act authorizes a wide ar more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42755) on May 7, 2024, entitled "The Post-9/11 GI Bill: A Primer" by education policy specialist Cassandria Dortch. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers several educational assistance programs, most notably the GI Bills, that provide funds to or on behalf of veterans and servicemembers and their family members to facilitate their enrollment in an more PR

WASHINGTON, May 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42755) on May 7, 2024, entitled "The Post-9/11 GI Bill - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Benefit Payments Under the Post-9/11 GI Bill, several types of benefit payments are available, including payments for tuition and fees, the Yellow Ribbon program (see the "Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program Payments" section), housing, books and supplies, tutorial assistance, tes more PR

WASHINGTON, May 9 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44838) on May 3, 2024, entitled "The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017: Congressional Direction to NOAA in P.L. 115-25" by natural resource policy specialist Eva Lipiec: * * * SUMMARY Congress provides direction on a broad range of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) weather-related activities in Titles I through IV of P.L. 115-25, the Weather Res more PR