WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11859) on Aug. 27, 2024, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's M-10 Booker (Formerly Known as Mobile Protected Firepower [MPF]) System What Is the Mobile Protected Firepower (MPF) System? The Army's MPF system is intended to address an operational shortfall in infantry units: 'Currently the Army's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT) more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12749) on Aug. 27, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * Bureau of Land Management: FY2025 Appropriations The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), in the Department of the Interior (DOI), manages 245 million acres of federal land, nearly all in the West. Under its multiple-use mission, BLM manages lands for diverse purposes, including li more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10464) on Aug. 27, 2024, by international relations specialist Luisa Blanchfield and foreign policy legislation specialist Matthew C. Weed. Here are excerpts: * * * United Nations Issues: Congressional Representatives to the U.N. General Assembly The annual session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly is held at U.N. Headquarters in New York City. The President generally appoin more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10023) on Aug. 29, 2024, by Maeve P. Carey, government organization and management specialist, and Christopher M. Davis, Congress and legislative process analyst: * * * The Congressional Review Act (CRA): A Brief Overview Overview What is the CRA? The CRA (codified at 5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.801808) is a tool Congress can use to overturn certain federal agency actions. The CRA was enacted as  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12751) on Aug. 29, 2024, by financial economics analyst Karl E. Schneider. Here are excerpts: * * * The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Finalizes Rule for a Registry of Nonbank Covered Orders Nonbank consumer finance companies offer consumer finance products or services but do not have traditional bank or credit union charters and are subsequently less regulated, in general, more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12267) on Aug. 26, 2024, by social policy specialist Alexandra Hegji. Here are excerpts: * * * Direct Loan Program Student Loans: Terms and Conditions The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program is the largest source of federal financial aid supporting students' postsecondary educational pursuits. As of March 31, 2024, $1.4 trillion in Direct Loan program loans, borro more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11443) on Aug. 29, 2024, by economic development policy analyst Joseph V. Jaroscak: * * * District of Columbia Voting Representation in Congress: Overview of Proposals The U.S. Constitution provides for the creation of a district to serve as the permanent seat of the federal government. Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 also grants Congress plenary legislative authority over that district. more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10894) on Aug. 23, 2024, by Russian and European affairs specialist Cory Welt and European affairs analyst Sarah E. Garding. Here are excerpts: * * * Moldova: An Overview Moldova is one of three post-Soviet states - together with Ukraine and Georgia - that have sought greater integration with the West in the face of Russian interference and territorial occupation. Members of Congress ma more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12748) on Aug. 28, 2024, by energy policy specialist Michael Ratner. Here are excerpts: * * * Power of Siberia 2: Another Russia-China Pipeline Overview After suspending natural gas exports to certain European Union (EU) countries in April 2022, Russia has expedited negotiations with China for a new natural gas pipeline named the Power of Siberia 2 (PS-2). Russia's leaders seek to repl more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12750) on Aug. 29, 2024, by income security analyst Elizabeth A. Myers. Here are excerpts: * * * Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules for Original Owners of Retirement Accounts Introduction Required minimum distributions, or RMDs, are annual withdrawals that individuals with certain retirement accounts are required to make after (1) reaching a specified age (or retiring) or (2) in more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12136) on Aug. 27, 2024, by social policy specialist Alexandra Hegji: * * * Student Loans: A Timeline of Actions Taken in Light of the COVID-19 Pandemic In light of the COVID-19 national emergency, lawmakers and the Department of Education (ED) provided various types of relief for federal student loan borrowers. For most borrowers, the primary debt relief was the suspension of (1) intere more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12596) on Aug. 29, 2024, by public finance analyst Nicholas E. Buffie. Here are excerpts: * * * Tax Credit Transfers and Direct Payments in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA; P.L. 117-169) created or modified 20 energy-related income tax credits. These credits subsidize clean or efficient energy production and usage by individuals and businesse more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12222) on Aug. 27, 2024, by American national government specialist R. Sam Garrett: * * * Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Campaign Finance Policy: Recent Developments No federal statute or regulation specifically addresses artificial intelligence (AI) in political campaigns. The Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) and Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulations govern conduct that cal more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12414) on Aug. 29, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * DOD Plans for "Stabilizing and Improving the Military Health System" The Department of Defense (DOD) administers a Military Health System (MHS) that provides health care entitlements authorized in Title 10, Chapters 55 and 56, of the U.S. Code, and is organized, in part, under  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12412) on Aug. 29, 2024, by energy policy specialist Ashley J. Lawson: * * * Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024: Electricity Provisions On July 22, 2024, the chair and ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee released draft text for a permitting reform bill; the next day, S. 4753 - the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 - was introduced. The Senate Energy an more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12398) on Aug. 26, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialists Jim Zanotti and Clayton Thomas: * * * Israel, Iran, Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah: Various Strikes amid Regional Turmoil Since the October 7, 2023, attacks led by Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, or FTO), conflicts between Israel and Iran and/or its allies have spread across the Middle East. After Israel more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12222) on Aug. 28, 2024, by defense infrastructure policy specialist Andrew Tilghman. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2025 NDAA: Military Construction and Housing Authorizations For fiscal year 2025 (FY2025), the Biden Administration requested $17.545 billion for U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) military construction (MILCON) accounts and family housing programs (a total that is 6% less than  more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12410) on Aug. 26, 2024, by macroeconomic policy specialists Lida R. Weinstock and Marc Labonte. Here are excerpts: * * * The Sahm Rule Trigger: Is the United States in a Recession? The cooling labor market has fueled speculation that the United States could be in or headed for a recession. The unemployment rate has been gradually rising from a low of 3.4% in April 2023, and the July job more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12326) on Aug. 29, 2024, by international trade and finance analyst Liana Wong and Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin: * * * Vietnam's Nonmarket Economy (NME) Status Shortly after extending normal trade relations (NTR) status to Vietnam in 2001, the United States designated Vietnam as a "nonmarket economy" (NME) for the purposes of antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) inves more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11219) on Aug. 26, 2024, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * Divided En Banc Federal Appeals Court Rejects Second Amendment Challenge to Maryland's Ban on "Assault Weapons" In 2017, the en banc U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit held that a Maryland ban on certain firearms defined as "assault weapons" was consistent with the Second Amendment. In 2022, the Supreme more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11218) on Aug. 26, 2024, by legislative attorney David H. Carpenter: * * * Effect of Rescheduling Marijuana on Access to Financial Services Although federal law prohibits most marijuana-related activities, a majority of U.S. states and territories have adopted laws permitting certain types of marijuana sales and other marijuana-related activities. Many financial institutions, howev more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11092) on Aug. 23, 2024, by legislative attorneys Madeline W. Donley and Hannah-Alise Rogers: * * * Fourth Circuit Holds That Certain Medicaid and State-Funded Health Plans Discriminate by Refusing to Cover Treatments for Gender Dysphoria States have recently considered the extent to which transgender individuals should have access to certain medical treatments to address a discord more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11013) on Aug. 28, 2024. The white paper is written by Legislative Attorney April J. Anderson, Attorney-Adviser Steve P. Mulligan and Law Librarian Jason J. Hawkins. Here are excerpts: * * * State Regulation of Foreign Ownership of U.S. Land: January 2023 to July 2024 State and federal lawmakers have expressed interest in legislative options to address the potential national secu more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45183) on Aug. 22, 2024, entitled "Adolescent Pregnancy: Federal Prevention Programs" by social policy specialist Jessica Tollestrup. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has supported adolescent pregnancy prevention efforts for many years. These programs aim to prevent adolescent pregnancy to avert associated public health, social, and economic challenges that can affect adolescents, th more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45183) on Aug. 22, 2024, entitled "Adolescent Pregnancy - Federal Prevention Programs:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) The Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) seeks to educate adolescents ages 10 through 19, and pregnant and parenting youth under age 21, on both abstinence and contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and STIs./68 T more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48168) on Aug. 30, 2024, entitled "California and the Clean Air Act Waiver: Frequently Asked Questions." The report is written by legislative attorney Benjamin M. Barczewski, environmental policy specialist Richard K. Lattanzio and research librarian Emily N. Peterson. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In the Air Quality Act of 1967 (P.L. 90-148), later amended to the Clean Air Act (CAA; cod more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48168) on Aug. 30, 2024, entitled "California and the Clean Air Act Waiver - Frequently Asked Questions:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Actions Under the Biden Administration In March 2022, EPA reissued the 2013 waiver for California's Advanced Clean Cars (ACC) I regulations (which covered California's GHG and ZEV standards for MY2021-MY2025 passenger cars and light- and medium-duty truc more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Aug. 30, 2024, entitled "Fishery Disaster Assistance" by natural resources policy analyst Anthony R. Marshak. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Oceanic conditions, climate, human activities, and weather events can affect fishery resources and commercial infrastructure, such as boats, shoreside processing, and ports. Congress authorized the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) to pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Aug. 30, 2024, entitled "Fishery Disaster Assistance:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Secretarial Disaster Determinations Since 1994, the Secretary of Commerce has made 135 different fishery disaster determinations, of which 121 were original determinations and 14 were continuations to existing determinations./74 Since fishery disaster assistance began, the Secretary has issue more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Aug. 30, 2024, entitled "Fishery Disaster Assistance:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Issues for Congress Commercial fisheries are strongly influenced by environmental conditions that affect the abundance and distribution of fishery resources and fishing infrastructure. Changes in these conditions often take place suddenly with little or no warning, such as in the cases of seve more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. R43838) on Aug. 28, 2024, entitled "Great Power Competition: Implications for Defense - Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke: * * * Summary The emergence over the past decade of intensified U.S. competition with the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) and the Russian Federation (Russia) - often referred to as great power competition (GPC) or strategic compe more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. R43838) on Aug. 28, 2024, entitled "Great Power Competition - Implications for Defense - Issues for Congress:" (Continued From Part 1 of 3) * * * Overview of Implications for Defense The emergence of GPC has profoundly changed the conversation about U.S. defense issues from what it was during the post-Cold War era: Counterterrorist operations and U.S. military operations in the Middle Eas more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. R43838) on Aug. 28, 2024, entitled "Great Power Competition - Implications for Defense - Issues for Congress:" (Continued From Part 2 of 3) * * * U.S. and Allied Capabilities in Indo-Pacific Region The emergence of GPC with China has led to a major U.S. defense-planning focus on strengthening U.S. military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region. U.S. officials since 2006 have expressed d more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44322) on Aug. 27, 2024, entitled "House Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, 2001-2023" by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring interest among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple perspec more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44325) on Aug. 27, 2024, entitled "Senate Committee Staff Pay, Selected Positions, FY2001-FY2023" by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The level of pay for congressional staff is a source of recurring interest among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple pe more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47746) on Aug. 26, 2024, entitled "Social Security Administration: FY2024 Annual Limitation on Administrative Expenses Appropriation: In Brief" by income security analyst William R. Morton and senior research librarian Tamar B. Breslauer. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 Background on SSA ... 1 Overview of the Annual LAE Appropriation ... 1 FY2024 Budget Requests for more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44323) on Aug. 27, 2024, entitled "Staff Pay, Selected Positions in House Member Offices, 2001-2023" by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data for multiple r more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44324) on Aug. 28, 2024, entitled "Staff Pay, Selected Positions in Senators' Offices, FY2001-FY2023" by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Levels of pay for congressional staff are a source of recurring questions among Members of Congress, congressional staff, and the public. There may be interest in congressional pay data from multiple more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48166) on Aug. 26, 2024, entitled "The U.S. Mining Industry and the Rosemont Decision" by energy policy analyst Emma Kaboli and legislative attorney Adam Vann. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The General Mining Act of 1872 (Mining Act) formed the bedrock of U.S. mining policy during westward expansion in the 19th century. The law remains in effect. Among other provisions, it allows parties t more PR

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48166) on Aug. 26, 2024, entitled "The U.S. Mining Industry and the Rosemont Decision:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Issues for Congress The issues at stake in the Rosemont decision highlight some of the challenges that can arise in administering the 150-year-old Mining Act for modern mining operations and managing the shared resource of federal lands. While a number of stakeholders ad more PR