WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10177) on Dec. 9, 2024, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter and international trade and finance specialist Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs. Here are excerpts: * * * Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency body chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury. It serves t more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10685) on Dec. 10, 2024, by military personnel specialist Kristy N. Kamarck and research Librarian Carly A. Miller. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Military Officers Grade and Rank The Armed Forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly defined levels of authority. The different levels for officers are defined in law and called grades, while rank refers to the or more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12629) on Dec. 10, 2024, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter and international trade and finance specialist Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs. Here are excerpts: * * * Regulation of U.S. Outbound Investment to China Introduction The U.S. government has generally supported an open investment environment at home and abroad to promote U.S. economic growth, sustain the U more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11360) on Dec. 10, 2024. The white paper is written by foreign affairs specialist Karen M. Sutter and international trade and finance specialists Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Christopher A. Casey. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that in 2021 on any given day 27.6 million people were more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12844) on Dec. 10, 2024, by social policy analysts Barry F. Huston and Zhe Li: * * * Social Security: Finances and Policy Options Background Social Security is the federal government's largest program in terms of both the number of people affected (i.e., covered workers and beneficiaries) and its finances. In 2024, the program covered over 180 million workers and paid about $1. more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12537) on Dec. 9, 2024. The white paper is written by financial economics specialists Rena S. Miller and Paul Tierno and international crime and narcotics specialist Liana W. Rosen: * * * Terrorist Financing: Hamas and Cryptocurrency Fundraising Policymakers, including some Members of Congress, are scrutinizing U.S. efforts to counter the role that cryptocurrency fundraising p more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11440) on Dec. 9, 2024, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert and nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * U.S. Anti-Personnel Landmine Use Policy Current United States Policy on Anti-Personnel Landmines (APLs) On June 21, 2022, National Security Council (NSC) Spokesperson Adrienne Watson announced the United States would "align its policy concerning use"  more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11284) on Dec. 9, 2024, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-China Trade Relations The People's Republic of China (PRC or China) is the second-largest global economy and has been a top U.S. and global trading partner since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001. China is a key export market for U.S. aircraft, agriculture, se more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12470) on Dec. 9, 2024, by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay and economic development policy specialist Joseph V. Jaroscak. Here are excerpts: * * * D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act December 9, 2024 The D.C. Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act (H.R. 4984), if enacted, would transfer administrative jurisd more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12405) on Dec. 10, 2024, by defense budget specialist Brendan W. McGarry and Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2025 NDAA: Status of Legislative Activity On March 11, 2024, President Joe Biden submitted initial documentation supporting the FY2025 budget request, including proposed funding for the U.S. Department of Defense more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12469) on Dec. 9, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Syria: Regime Change, Transition and U.S. Policy Rapid offensives by Syrian armed groups opposed to the government of Bashar Al Asad (alt. Assad) forced Asad's resignation and exile to Russia on December 8, 2024. This inflection point in Syria's post-2011 civil war mar more PR

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11250) on Dec. 9, 2024, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Circuit Splits from November 2024 The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the thirteen "circuits" issue thousands of precedential decisions each year. Because relatively few of these decisions are ultimately reviewed by the Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals are often more PR