WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12507) on Feb. 10, 2025, by natural resources and earth sciences analyst Linda R. Rowan and natural resource policy specialist Eva Lipiec. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Assessments and Warnings of Potential Post-Fire Debris Flows: Examples from the January 2025 Los Angeles County Wildfires Starting on January 7, 2025, a series of damaging wildfires impacted Los Angeles (LA) C more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12506) on Feb. 10, 2025, by economic development policy analyst Adam G. Levin and senior research librarian Ben Leubsdorf. Here are excerpts: * * * Impacts of Federal Grants and Other Funds on State and Local Budgets Together, state and local governments received more than $1 trillion in federal grants and other funds each fiscal year from FY2021 to FY2023 the most recent years  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12505) on Feb. 10, 2025, by Taylor N. Riccard, government organization and management analyst: * * * Federal Workforce Downsizing: Voluntary and Involuntary Mechanisms The second Trump Administration has stated plans to downsize the federal workforce, which it has indicated may involve actions in which individuals' employment with federal agencies is ended (referred to as a separ more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R44418) on Feb. 11, 2025, by reference and instruction librarian Megan Hunt: * * * Birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln: Fact Sheet Introduction Washington's Birthday, often informally referred to as Presidents' Day, is a federal holiday celebrating the birth of President George Washington on the third Monday in February. In some regions of the United States, the birth of Pre more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12072) on Feb. 13, 2025, environmental policy analysts Jonathan D. Haskett and Omar M. Hammad: * * * Advances in Satellite Methane Emissions Measurement This In Focus discusses the role of evolving satellite technologies, their ability to monitor methane and identify large-scale emissions events, and how data from these detection technologies fit into federal methane rules and pr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10814) on Feb. 11, 2025, by Russian and European affairs specialist Cory Welt. Here are excerpts: * * * Belarus: An Overview Belarus, located in eastern Europe, is a close ally of Russia. Belarus's authoritarian leader, Alexander Lukashenko, has served as president for more than 30 years. Lukashenko has increased Belarus's dependency on Russia since 2020, when Belarusian author more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11667) on Feb. 11, 2025, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter and international trade and finance analyst Michael D. Sutherland. Here are excerpts: * * * China's Economy: Current Trends and Issues The government of the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) reports that China's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 5% in 2024. While the PRC government ha more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12621) on Feb. 12, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * 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's N more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12906) on Feb. 11, 2025, by Maria Kreiser, senior research librarian and Natalie Paris, American federalism and emergency management policy analyst: * * * Constituent Grants Services in a Congressional Member Office: A Brief Guide This In Focus is intended to assist congressional Member offices in establishing or enhancing a grants services function. It discusses examples of the more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12907) on Feb. 12, 2025, by legislative attorney Clay Wild: * * * Contempt Actions in the 118th Congress During the 118th Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate both undertook actions related to contempt of Congress. The Senate referred a witness to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for contempt of Congress and instituted a civil action seeking to compel his testimo more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12909) on Feb. 13, 2025, by American national government analyst Taylor R. Knoedl. Here are excerpts: * * * The Decennial Census of Population and Housing: An Overview Every decade in the year ending with "0," the U.S. Census Bureau conducts the decennial census of population and housing. The decennial census is mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, in ord more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11982) on Feb. 14, 2025, by public finance analyst Anthony A. Cilluffo and environmental policy analyst Lance N. Larson: * * * The Hazardous Substance Superfund Trust Fund Decades of industrial and commercial activities involving various chemicals resulted in environmental contamination at thousands of sites in the United States, including federal facilities that served national more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12903) on Feb. 7, 2025, by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt and international trade and finance specialist Shayerah I. Akhtar. Here are excerpts: * * * India-U.S. Relations: A Summary India, home to one-sixth of global population, is the world's largest democracy and in 2023 became the most populous country. In 2024, India's economy outgrew that of the United Ki more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12849) on Feb. 14, 2025. The white paper is written by environmental policy analyst Elena H. Humphreys, agricultural policy specialist Lisa S. Benson, transportation policy specialist William J. Mallett, natural resources policy specialist Anna E. Normand and senior research librarian Lynn J. Cunningham: * * * Infrastructure Spending and the District The federal government inve more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11681) on Feb. 12, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile The LGM-35A Sentinel is an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system that is expected to replace the Minuteman III (MMIII) ICBM in the U.S. nuclear force structure. MMIII has served as the ground-based leg of the U. more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10926) on Feb. 12, 2025, by Asian policy analyst Maria A. Blackwood. Here are excerpts: * * * Mongolia Overview Mongolia is a landlocked country that shares borders with two powerful neighbors, Russia and the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China). With a population of about 3.3 million and a land area slightly smaller than Alaska, Mongolia is the most sparsely inhabited c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12905) on Feb. 11, 2025, by housing policy analyst Katie Jones. Here are excerpts: * * * The Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act (NAHASDA) American Indians and Alaska Natives living in tribal areas face a number of housing challenges. These include a greater incidence of housing problems--such as overcrowded or physically inadequate housing--than the  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12084) on Feb. 12, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Nuclear-Armed Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) Congress and the executive branch have debated the merits of a new nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile (SLCM-N) since the weapon was first proposed by the Trump Administration in 2018. The Biden Administration proposed cancelling th more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12072) on Feb. 13, 2025, Taylor N. Riccard, government organization and management analyst: * * * Reductions in Force (RIFs): An Overview Introduction In the federal government, layoffs are referred to as reduction in force (RIF) actions, as authorized under current law (5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.3501-3504). When an agency eliminates positions, RIF regulations (contained in Title 5, Par more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11604) on Feb. 11, 2025, 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  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12902) on Feb. 10, 2025. The white paper is written by legislative attorney L. Paige Whitaker and American national government specialists Sarah J. Eckman and R. Sam Garrett: * * * Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 22) and Federal Voter Registration Policy and Law The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act, H.R. 22), would amend the National V more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12910) on Feb. 13, 2025, senior research librarians Maria Kreiser and Kathleen E. Marchsteiner: * * * Searching for Federal Grants: An Overview of Resources The diverse range of federal grant programs can be challenging to navigate. Congress has authorized over 1,800 federal grant programs to support national goals and objectives, and federal grant funding can be used for a var more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12904) on Feb. 11, 2025. The white paper is written by legislative attorneys Peter J. Benson, Valerie C. Brannon and Victoria L. Killion and telecommunications policy analyst Ling Zhu: * * * Social Media: Regulatory, Legal, and Policy Considerations for the 119th Congress Social media platforms enable users to create and share content and interact with other users' content. A d more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12881) on Feb. 11, 2025, by natural resources policy specialists Mark K. DeSantis and Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * Trump Administration Actions: Geographic Naming On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order (E.O.) 14172, "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, return the name  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12595) on Feb. 12, 2025, by Kyla H. Kitamura, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Canada Trade Relations The United States and Canada have one of the largest bilateral trade relationships in the world, including highly integrated energy and automotive markets. U.S.-Canada trade has been governed first by the 1989 U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreeme more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12125) on Feb. 12, 2025, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 301 and China: The U.S.-China Phase One Trade Deal On January 15, 2020, then-President Donald J. Trump signed a trade agreement with then-Vice Premier Liu He of the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China). The agreement sought to resolve some long-standing compl more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10002) on Feb. 12, 2025, by Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * World Trade Organization The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international organization established in 1995 following the ratification of the Uruguay Round Agreements, and today includes 166 members. It succeeded the 1947 General Agreement on Tariffs and more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12458) on Feb. 12, 2025, by science and technology policy analyst Laurie Harris and senior research librarian Rachael D. Roan: * * * Artificial Intelligence: CRS Products Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies - including machine learning, generative AI, and facial recognition technologies - are demonstrating many potential benefits across a variety of sectors of t more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12462) on Feb. 12, 2025, by financial economics analyst Karl E. Schneider: * * * Elder Financial Exploitation Elder financial exploitation (EFE), as defined by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), is "the illegal or improper use of an older adult's funds, property, or assets." EFE can deprive seniors of much-needed resources for retirement and research has linked EF more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10784) on Feb. 12, 2025, 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. On February 10, 2025, the NFIP borro more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12508) on Feb. 13, 2025, by natural resources policy specialists Charles V. Stern and Pervaze A. Sheikh. Here are excerpts: * * * Trump Administration Executive Order on California Water Resources On January 24, 2025, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 14181 (E.O.), "Emergency Measures to Provide Water Resources in California and Improve Disaster Response in Certain more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11266) on Feb. 12, 2025, by legislative attorney Valerie C. Brannon: * * * Technology Regulation: CRS Legal Products for the 119th Congress In recent years, some Members of Congress have considered policy options related to social media platforms and other information and telecommunications technologies. These deliberations may continue to be of interest to the 119th Congr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11265) on Feb. 10, 2025. The white paper is written by legislative attorneys Alejandra Aramayo, Kelsey Y. Santamaria and Hillel R. Smith: * * * Recent White House Actions on Immigration Since taking office on January 20, 2025, President Trump and his Administration have issued numerous executive actions and initiatives related to the enforcement of federal immigration law more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11268) on Feb. 12, 2025, by legislative attorneys Abigail A. Graber and David H. Carpenter: * * * Rescission of Executive Order 11246, "Equal Employment Opportunity": Legal Implications On January 21, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14173, entitled "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity." The executive order (EO) states as one of  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48315) on Feb. 10, 2025, entitled "AM Broadcast Radio in Motor Vehicles" by telecommunications policy specialist Dana A. Scherer: * * * SUMMARY More than 4,000 U.S. broadcast radio stations use amplitude modulation (AM) frequencies - a technology more than 100 years old - to transmit audio programming containing news, music, and information to listeners. AM radio also supports national and loc more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48425) on Feb. 14, 2025, entitled "U.S. Department of Education: Background and Statutorily Established Officers, Positions and Offices" by American national government specialist Henry B. Hogue and education policy specialist Rebecca R. Skinner: * * * SUMMARY The U.S. Department of Education (ED) was established by the Department of Education Organization Act (DEOA, P.L. 96-88) on October 17, more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47521) on Feb. 14, 2025, entitled "Electricity: Overview and Issues for Congress" by acting section research manager Ashley J. Lawson. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Electricity is of perennial interest to Congress, especially the policy issues of reliability, security, affordability, and greenhouse gas emissions. The electricity sector is made of up three distinct, but interrelated system more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45811) on Feb. 11, 2025, entitled "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress" by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The United States has actively pursued the development of hypersonic weapons--maneuvering weapons that fly at speeds of at least Mach 5 - as a part of its conventional prompt global strike program s more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45811) on Feb. 11, 2025, entitled "Hypersonic Weapons: Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Infrastructure According to a study mandated by the FY2013 National Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 112239) and conducted by the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA),/84 the United States had 48 critical hypersonic test facilities and mobile assets in 2014 needed for more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40094) on Jan. 16, 2025, entitled "Iran's Nuclear Program: Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations" by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * SUMMARY Several UN Security Council resolutions adopted between 2006 and 2010 required Iran to cooperate fully with the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA's) investigation of its nuclear activities, suspend its uranium enrichm more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40094) on Jan. 16, 2025, entitled "Iran's Nuclear Program - Tehran's Compliance with International Obligations:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Potential Noncompliance After September 2005 Design Information Provision Iran further reduced its cooperation with the IAEA in March 2007, when the government told the agency that Tehran would stop complying with a portion of the subsidiary arr more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL32665) on Jan. 31, 2025, entitled "Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The current and future size and composition of the Navy, the annual rate of Navy ship procurement, the prospective affordability of the Navy's shipbuilding plans, the capacity of the U.S. shipbuilding more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL32665) on Jan. 31, 2025, entitled "Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 4) * * * Significant Delays in Navy Shipbuilding Programs Overview Another issue for Congress concerns significant delays in Navy shipbuilding programs. On April 2, 2024, the Navy announced significant projected delays in several of its shipbuilding more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL32665) on Jan. 31, 2025, entitled "Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 4) * * * Five Options for Using Available Shipbuilding Capacity In addition to the above options for addressing shipbuilding capacity constraints (i.e., for increasing available shipbuilding capacity), additional options for using available ship-desi more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL32665) on Jan. 31, 2025, entitled "Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 3 of 4) * * * FY2025 National Defense Authorization Act (H.R. 8070/S. 4638/H.R. 5009 /P.L. 118-159) House The House Armed Services Committee, in its report (H.Rept. 118-529 of May 31, 2024) on H.R. 8070, recommended the funding levels shown in the HASC c more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48426) on Feb. 14, 2025, entitled "Organ Procurement and Transplantation: Administration, Oversight and Policy Issues." The report is written by health policy specialists Jared S. Sussman, Amanda K. Sarata and Hassan Z. Sheikh, health care financing analyst Marco A. Villagrana and research assistant Sylvia L. Bryan. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In 2022, while there were over 42,000 orga more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48426) on Feb. 14, 2025, entitled "Organ Procurement and Transplantation - Administration, Oversight and Policy Issues:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Health Resources and Services Administration's Role The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) within HHS is the primary agency tasked with overseeing the OPTN. The Division of Transplantation within the Health Systems Bureau  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on Jan. 16, 2025, entitled "Tickets for Live Entertainment Events" by Clare Y. Cho, industrial organization and business policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Each year, millions of Americans purchase tickets for live entertainment events, such as concerts, theatrical performances, and sporting events. Tickets for live events initially are sold in the primary market, in w more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 12 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48315) on Feb. 11, 2025, entitled "AM Broadcast Radio in Motor Vehicles" by telecommunications policy specialist Dana A. Scherer: * * * SUMMARY More than 4,000 U.S. broadcast radio stations use amplitude modulation (AM) frequencies - a technology more than 100 years old - to transmit audio programming containing news, music, and information to listeners. AM radio also supports national and loc more PR