WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R48129) on Sept. 23 2024, by Shawn Reese, management and homeland security policy analyst, and William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY U.S. Secret Service Protection Mission Funding and Staffing: Fact Sheet Members of Congress periodically focus on the U.S. Secret Service (USSS) and its protection mission. The USSS has been protectin more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12772) on Sept. 23, 2024, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Next Generation Howitzer (NGH) Program Background The Army's current self-propelled artillery system, the M 109 Paladin, first entered service in the 1960s and has been upgraded numerous times. The Army has two types of artillery: self-propelled, a howitzer mounted on a more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11999) on Sept. 24, 2024, by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr and acting section research manager Mary Beth D. Nikitin: * * * AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation On August 7, 2024, President Joseph Biden submitted to Congress an "Agreement among the Government of Australia, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the Government of the United States more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11937) on Sept. 23, 2024, by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * Commemorative Works Act: Siting Memorials in the District of Columbia In 1986, Congress enacted the Commemorative Works Act (CWA) to guide the authorization, design, and placement of memorials in Washington, DC, on property administered by the National Park Service (NPS) or the General Services A more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12771) on Sept. 23, 2024, by defense policy analyst Jennifer DiMascio. Here are excerpts: * * * Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) Background The U.S. Army is developing the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) to serve as a next-generation aircraft for vertical lift, air assault, maritime interdiction, aeromedical evacuation, combat search and rescue, humanitarian relie more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12770) on Sept. 23, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialists Jim Zanotti and Clayton Thomas. Here are excerpts: * * * Israel and Lebanese Hezbollah: Current Violence and Potential Escalation A day after Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, or FTO) led the October 7, 2023, attacks against Israel that began their ongoing war, Lebanese Hezbollah (another FTO) starte more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12773) on Sept. 24, 2024, by defense infrastructure policy analyst Andrew Tilghman. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Military Infrastructure Funding The Department of Defense (DOD) maintains military infrastructure to support military missions around the world. This infrastructure includes buildings, roads, airfields, ports, training ranges, barracks, utilities, piers, pipeline more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11604) on Sept. 24, 2024, by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt. Here are excerpts: * * * Pakistan's Domestic Political Setting Overview Historically, constitutionalism and parliamentary democracy have fared poorly in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, marked by power struggles among presidents, prime ministers (PMs), and army chiefs. Congress has taken an interest in eff more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12719) on Sept. 23, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard and nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * Prospects for U.S.-Saudi Nuclear Energy Cooperation Overview The 118th Congress may engage the Biden Administration with regard to U.S. policy toward Saudi Arabia's National Project for Atomic Energy and the potential for future U.S.Saudi nuclear  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11604) on Sept. 24, 2024, by legislative attorney Milan N. Ball: * * * Reliance on Treasury Department and IRS Tax Guidance The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) use several forms of guidance to help taxpayers understand the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and to inform taxpayers of Treasury and the IRS's position on particular tax issues. For the mos more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12719) on Sept. 23, 2024, by American national government specialist Andrew Feickert: * * * Smithsonian Institution: Selected Legislation, 118th Congress The Smithsonian Institution is a complex of museum, education, research, and revenue-generating entities primarily located in the Washington, DC, region, with additional facilities and activities across the United States and world. Th more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11397) on Sept. 23, 2024, by social policy analyst T. Lynn Sears. Here are excerpts: * * * Social Security Benefit Taxation Highlights At a Glance * In August 2024, the Social Security system provided over $121.4 billion in monthly benefits to almost 68.1 million retired or disabled workers and their spouses, survivors, and dependents. * Since 1984, beneficiaries with income above ce more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12222) on Sept. 24, 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 c more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12427) on Sept. 23, 2024, by macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte. Here are excerpts: * * * Why Is the Federal Reserve Reducing Interest Rates? On September 18, 2024, the Federal Reserve (Fed) reduced interest rates to a target range of 4.75%-5%. This was the first rate cut since March 2020, and the Fed expects to continue cutting rates this year and beyond. Why is the Fed cutt more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47716) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Current Federal Civilian Employment by State and Congressional District" by senior research librarians Ben Leubsdorf and Carol Wilson. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Current Federal Civilian Employment by State and Congressional District The federal government employs more than 2 million civilians who live and work in every state and U.S. territory. Thi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (TNSrep) - The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47743) on Sept 23, 2024, entitled "Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) FY2024 Appropriations: Overview" by financial economics specialist Baird Webel. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Financial Services and General Government (FSGG) appropriations bill includes funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, the judiciary, the District of Co more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress." Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Rules for giving Certain types of names to certain types of Navy ships have evolved over time. more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 4) * * * Rules for Ship Types Now Being Procured or Recently Procured For ship types now being procured for the Navy, or recently procured for the Navy, naming rules (and exceptions thereto) are summarized below. The July 2012 Navy report to Congress discusses current naming rules (and  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 4) * * * Aspects of Navy Ship Names Two State Names Not Currently Being Used, Particularly Kansas As noted earlier in the section on evolution over time in Navy ship-naming rules, state names were once given to battleships, then later to nuclear-powered cruisers and ballistic missile s more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 3 of 4) * * * Public's Role in Naming Ships Members of the public are sometimes interested in having Navy ships named for their own states or cities, for earlier U.S. Navy ships (particularly those on which they or their relatives served), for battles in which they or their relatives partici more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. 97-1011) on Sept. 26, 2024, entitled "Salaries of Members of Congress: Recent Actions and Historical Tables" by Congress specialist Ida A. Brudnick. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress is required by Article I, Section 6, of the Constitution to determine its own pay. In the past, Congress periodically enacted specific legislation to alter its pay; the last time this occurred affected pa more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. 97-1011) on Sept. 26, 2024, entitled "Salaries of Members of Congress - Recent Actions and Historical Tables:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * January 2011 and January 2012 Member Pay Adjustments Denied As stated above, projected Member pay adjustments are calculated based on changes in the ECI. The projected 2011 adjustment of 0.9% was identified when the BLS released data for the ECI ch more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) - The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48107) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Selected Tribal Lands in 118th Congressional Districts" by legislative attorney Mainon A. Schwartz and natural resources policy specialist Mariel J. Murray. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The United States has a federal trust responsibility to 574 federally recognized Tribes ("Tribes"), which includes a responsibility to manage certain tribal lands and as more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (TNSrep) - The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48107) on Sept. 23, 2024, entitled "Selected Tribal Lands in 118th Congressional Districts:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Idaho * * * Figure 7. Tribal Lands of Federally Recognized Tribes in Idaho Source: CRS, based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Note: Each bolded Map Location number is associated with one Tribe. The depictions of tribal lands do not constitute determinations  more PR