WASHINGTON, March 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10222) on March 4, 2025. The white paper is written by legislative attorney Alejandra Aramayo and immigration policy specialists Abigail F. Kolker and William A. Kandel: * * * "Sanctuary" Jurisdictions: Policy Overview Some state and local jurisdictions have adopted policies that limit their cooperation with federal agencies charged with immigration enforcement. These "sanctuar more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12934) on Feb. 28, 2025, by agricultural policy analyst Lia Biondo. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Animal Disease Management and Prevention The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates that animal agriculture is expected to account for $272 billion of production by U.S. farms and ranches in 2024, 53% of the total value of U.S. agricultural products. Congress more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10675) on March 4, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert: * * * Army Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) What Is Security Force Assistance (SFA)? Security Force Assistance (SFA) is defined as "unified action to generate, employ, and sustain local, host-nation, or regional security forces in support of a legitimate authority." By definition "security more PR

WASHINGTON, March 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10222) on March 4, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Fieckert. 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 Tea more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12749) on Feb. 26, 2025, 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, inc more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12935) on March 6, 2025. The white paper is written by legislative attorney David H. Carpenter and financial economics analysts Karl E. Schneider and Paul Tierno: * * * CFPB Finalizes Rule to Supervise Large, Nonbank Digital Wallet and Payment App Providers and Related Legislation On December 10, 2024, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a final rule brin more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12550) on March 4, 2025. The white paper is written by foreign affairs analyst William Piekos and Asian affairs specialists Caitlin Campbell and Ben Dolven. Here are excerpts: * * * China-Philippines Tensions in the South China Sea Overview In 2023 and 2024, the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) increased pressure on the Philippines to abandon one of its nine outpost more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12479) on Feb. 25, 2025, by foreign affairs analyst Kosi Ogbuli. Here are excerpts: * * * Cote d'Ivoire Cote d'Ivoire, the world's top cocoa producer, has a rapidly growing economy and has been a rising U.S. security partner in the region. Of the $161 million in U.S. bilateral assistance allocated in FY2023, more than 90% went to health initiatives. In 2022, the Biden Administr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12827) on Feb. 26, 2025, by labor policy analyst Elizabeth Weber Handwerker. Here are excerpts: * * * Current Employment Survey Benchmark Revisions On February 7, 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released annual "benchmark" revisions to official estimates of national-level nonfarm employment from April 2023 through October 2024. These revisions downwardly adjusted nat more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12928) on Feb. 26, 2025, by income security analyst Elizabeth A. Myers. Here are excerpts: * * * Distribution of Retirement Account Balances: Analysis of the 2022 Survey of Consumer Finances Introduction Households rely on a variety of income sources in retirement, such as payments from Social Security and defined benefit (DB) pensions, assets in defined contribution (DC) pla more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12173) on March 5, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle. Here are excerpts: * * * Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET) The federal government first imposed excise taxes on firearms and ammunition over 100 years ago. Today, Section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code imposes an excise tax at 10% of the manufacturer's price for pistols and revolvers and  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10613) on Feb. 25, 2025, by Liana W. Rosen, international sanctions and financial crimes specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * The Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) List Congress has shown recurring interest in the administration of the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs)--one of several terrorism-related lists that the U.S. government maintains more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10485) on March 4, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke: * * * Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy and U.S. Force Design World Geography and U.S. Strategy World geography is an influence on U.S. strategy, which in turn helps shape the design of U.S. military forces. Most of the world's people, resources, and economic activity are located not in the Western Hemisph more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11917) on March 4, 2025, by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea: * * * High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Program Administered by the White House's Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the HIDTA program provides assistance to law enforcement agencies - at the federal, state, local, and tribal levels - that are operating in regions of the United St more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10298) on Feb. 26, 2025, by South Asian affairs specialist K. Alan Kronstadt. Here are excerpts: * * * India's Domestic Political Setting Overview India, the world's most populous country, is, according to its Constitution, a "sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic" where the bulk of executive power rests with the prime minister and his/her Council of Ministers. Th more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11294) on Feb. 25, 2025, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * International Discussions Concerning Lethal Autonomous Weapon Systems Lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), or weapons designed to independently select and engage targets without the need for manual human control, could enable military operations in communi more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10222) on Feb. 25, 2025, by health care financing analyst Varun Saraswathula. Here are excerpts: * * * Medicaid's Institution for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that finances the delivery of primary and acute medical services, as well as long-term services and supports, for a diverse low-income population, including children, pregnant more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10486) on March 4, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke: * * * Defense Primer: Naval Forces "Naval Forces" Refers to Both the Navy and Marine Corps Although the term naval forces is often used to refer specifically to Navy forces, it more properly refers to both Navy and Marine Corps forces, because both the Navy and Marine Corps are naval services. For further dis more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11460) on March 4, 2025, by financial economics specialists Andrew P. Scott and Karl E. Schneider. Here are excerpts: * * * Overdraft: Payment Service or Small-Dollar Credit? Funding Gaps in Consumer Finances One of the earliest documented cases of bank overdraft dates back to 1728, when a Royal Bank of Scotland customer requested a cash credit to allow him to withdraw more mo more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10963) on Feb. 27, 2025, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Personal Saving Personal saving, which includes the saving of households but not of businesses or government, can have a significant impact at both the individual and economy-wide levels in the long and short terms. The personal saving rate was disr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12930) on Feb. 27, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * Selected Issues in Tax Reform: Dynamic Scoring Dynamic scoring includes, in projections of revenue effects, indirect changes in tax collections due to the overall growth effects on the economy. If the economy becomes larger due to the tax cut, tax revenues are larger because of the larger base, more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10482) on Feb. 26, 2025, by social policy analyst Emma K. Tatem and income security analyst William R. Morton. Here are excerpts: * * * Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overview Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal assistance program that provides monthly cash payments to older adults and individuals with qualifying disabilities who have income and resources (i.e. more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12929) on Feb. 26, 2025, by transportation policy analyst Ali E. Lohman and legislative attorney Alexander H. Pepper: * * * Termination by the U.S. Department of Transportation of New York City's Central Business District Tolling Program Congress has prohibited tolling of federal-aid highways and passed a series of exceptions to the prohibition. One such exception is the Value  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 2 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11991) on Feb. 27, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle What Is the Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon? The Army's Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW), also known as Dark Eagle (Figure 1), with a reported range of 1,725 miles, consists of a ground-launched missile e more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11284) on Feb. 25, 2025, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist. 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. trading partner since joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001. China is a key export market for U.S. aircraft, agriculture, semic more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10256) on Feb. 25, 2025, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Economic Relations Taiwan is a top U.S. trade partner and a key link in global technology and manufacturing supply chains. Taiwan's economy is highly dependent on global trade; exports account for about 70% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Taiwan's more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN10837) on March 5, 2025, by acting section research manager Grant A. Driessen. Here are excerpts: * * * Debt Limit Policy Questions: What Are Extraordinary Measures? Following a suspension period established by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (P.L. 118-5), the statutory debt limit was reinstated on January 2, 2025, at $36.1 trillion, the precise level of federal debt subje more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12397) on Feb. 25, 2025, by defense infrastructure policy analyst Alexandra G. Neenan. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2025 NDAA: Department of Defense Acquisition Policy The Defense Acquisition System (DAS) develops and maintains the process through which the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) develops and buys goods and services from contractors. The process is based on statute and r more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12514) on Feb. 26, 2025, by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Executive Actions and Federal Contracting with Small Disadvantaged Businesses Contracting Goal Origins Since 1988, the federal government has maintained minimum annual goals for contracting with "small disadvantaged businesses" (SDBs). At that time, more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12519) on March 6, 2025, by international trade and finance analyst Kyla H. Kitamura and senior research librarian Keigh E. Hammond. Here are excerpts: * * * Expanded Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. Sec.1862, as amended) authorizes the President to impose trade restrictions - such as a tariff or quota - if the S more PR

WASHINGTON, March 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IF10613) on March 3, 2025, by Liana W. Rosen, international sanctions and financial crimes specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * NIH Indirect Costs Policy for Research Grants: Recent Developments On February 7, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), published supplemental policy guidance that instituted a 15% i more PR

WASHINGTON, March 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12517) on March 4, 2025, by public finance analyst Nicholas E. Buffie. Here are excerpts: * * * Selected Issues in Tax Reform: Itemized Deductions P.L. 115-97, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), modified the treatment of various itemized deductions through the end of 2025. This Insight provides information on itemized deductions specifically and tax deductions m more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12515) on Feb. 26, 2025, by crime policy analyst Nathan James: * * * Trump Administration Deactivates the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database The National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD) was a centralized repository of official records documenting instances of misconduct related to federal law enforcement officers (LEOs) that was operated by the Depar more PR

WASHINGTON, March 6 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12518) on March 5, 2025, by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Circuit Court Vacancies at the Beginning of New Presidencies: Historical Overview and Analysis This Insight provides a historical overview and analysis of U.S. circuit court vacancies that existed at the beginning of each new presidency since 1993. This period inclu more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12520) on March 6, 2025, by African affairs specialist Nicolas Cook: * * * U.S.-South Africa Relations: Tensions Rise On February 7, 2025, President Donald Trump issued Executive Order (EO) 14204, which stated that the South African government "has taken aggressive positions towards the United States and its allies" and "egregious actions" on land reform and racial relations. The more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11271) on March 6, 2025, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * Enforcement of Court Orders Against the Executive Branch Weeks into the second Trump Administration, a number of executive branch policies have been challenged in court, and several federal district courts have enjoined enforcement of some of the challenged policies. As one example, on January 31, 2025 more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11272) on Feb. 26, 2025, by attorney-adviser Steve P. Mulligan: * * * Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 1): Introduction and Historical Context Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to "grant letters of Marque and Reprisal[,]" which are instruments that permit private citizens to seize enemy vessels and their cargos and crew. This Sideb more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11273) on Feb. 26, 2025, by attorney-adviser Steve P. Mulligan: * * * Letters of Marque and Reprisal (Part 2): Drafting History and U.S. Practice Article I, Section 8, Clause 11 of the Constitution authorizes Congress to "grant letters of Marque and Reprisal[,]" which are instruments that permit private citizens to seize enemy vessels and their cargos and crew. This Legal  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48431) on Feb. 25, 2025, entitled "Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2025 Appropriations" by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Agriculture appropriations) funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), except for the U.S. Forest Service, as we more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40076) on March 6, 2025, entitled "Congressional Commissions: Overview and Considerations for Congress" by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus and American national government analyst Karen L. Shanton. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congressional commissions are formal groups established to provide independent advice, recommend changes in public policy, study or investigate a particular pro more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40076) on March 6, 2025, entitled "Congressional Commissions - Overview and Considerations for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Selected Considerations for Congress Statutes establishing congressional commissions generally specify the scope of a commission's mission, its structure, and its rules of procedure. Legislators can tailor the composition, organization, and working arra more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48432) on Feb. 25, 2025, entitled "The Impoundment Control Act of 1974 - Background and Congressional Consideration of Rescissions" by James V. Saturno, Congress and legislative process specialist: * * * SUMMARY Under the U.S. Constitution, Congress exercises the "power of the purse." This power is expressed through the application of several provisions, particularly Article I, Section 9, clau more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48441) on Feb. 26, 2025, entitled "Interior, Environment and Related Agencies: Overview of FY2025 Appropriations" by natural resources policy specialist Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill - often called the Interior bill - contains funding for about three dozen agencies and entities. They include most of th more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48433) on Feb. 25, 2025, entitled "The Mojahedin-e-Khalq or People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Clayton Thomas: * * * SUMMARY The Mojahedin-e-Khalq or MEK (also known as the People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran, or PMOI) is an exiled Iranian opposition group. This report provides background on the group, including its origins, its 1997 designation b more PR

WASHINGTON, March 7 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48444) on March 6, 2025, entitled "The Reconciliation Process: Frequently Asked Questions" by Tori Gorman, Congress and legislative process analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY When Congress adopts a budget resolution, it establishes budgetary goals for the years covered in the resolution. In some cases, it is necessary to change existing revenue, direct spending, or debt-limit laws to a more PR

WASHINGTON, March 5 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42972) on March 4, 2025, entitled "Sequestration as a Budget Enforcement Process: Frequently Asked Questions" by Megan S. Lynch, Congress and legislative process specialist: * * * Contents What Is a Sequester? ... 1 What Is the Purpose of a Sequester? ... 1 What Current Budget Requirements Are Enforced by Sequestration? ... 1 When Will a Sequester Occur? ... 2 How Is a Sequester Admini more PR

WASHINGTON, March 3 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48441) on Feb. 27, 2025, entitled "State Criminal Alien Assistance Program: Data Brief" by immigration policy analyst Abigail F. Kolker. Here are excerpts: * * * The State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) is a payment program that reimburses states and localities for correctional officers' salary and training costs incurred for incarcerating "undocumented criminal aliens." States and  more PR