WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48349) on April 23, 2025, entitled "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission: Authorities and Membership" by energy policy specialist Paul W. Parfomak. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or the Commission) is an independent federal agency that regulates the interstate transmission of electricity, natural gas, and oil, among other responsibilities. Because  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46537) on April 23, 2025, entitled "Revenues and Disbursements from Oil and Natural Gas Leases on Onshore Federal Lands" by energy policy analyst Lexie Ryan. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Federal revenues from oil and natural gas production on federal lands support a range of federal and state programs and activities. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the primary federal agency responsible fo more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46537) on April 23, 2025, entitled "Revenues and Disbursements from Oil and Natural Gas Leases on Onshore Federal Lands:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Revenues and Disbursements from Federal Oil and Gas Leases DOI's Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) collects and disburses most of the federal revenues from onshore and offshore energy and mineral development. ONRR maintains data on most more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45184) on April 17, 2025, entitled "Teen Births in the U.S.: Overview and Recent Trends" by health policy analyst Alexandria K. Mickler and social policy specialist Jessica Tollestrup. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Adolescent childbearing is associated with significant social, health, and financial risks for teens, their families, and society more broadly. Data from the National Center for Health  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48513) on April 21, 2025, entitled "Uganda: Current Issues and U.S. Relations" by African affairs specialist Lauren Ploch Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Uganda, led by one of the world's longest-serving heads of state, President Yoweri Museveni, has one of the youngest, most rapidly growing, and fastest urbanizing populations in the world. The country has never had a democratic transitio more PR

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48513) on April 21, 2025, entitled "Uganda - Current Issues and U.S. Relations:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Regional Issues Uganda has complicated relationships with some of its neighbors. It has intervened militarily in DRC and South Sudan, and its forces have been accused of human rights abuses and trafficking natural resources, including gold, timber, and ivory, from those countries./58 M more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12976) on April 24, 2025. The white paper is written by natural resources policy specialist Charles V. Stern, environmental policy analyst Elena H. Humphreys and deputy assistant director and specialist Nicole T. Carter: * * * 1944 U.S.-Mexico Water Treaty: Issues in the 119th Congress A bilateral water treaty from 1944 - the Treaty on Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana more PR

WASHINGTON, April 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12495) on April 21, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's M-1E3 Abrams Tank Modernization Program Background The M-1 Abrams Tank (Figure 1) is designed to maneuver under fire and destroy enemy armored forces on the battlefield. The M-1 is named for General Creighton Abrams, a noted World War II armored battalion commander who  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following report on April 24, 2025, entitled "Projected Costs of U.S. Nuclear Forces, 2025 to 2034." Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Congressional Budget Office updates its projections of the 10-year costs of nuclear forces every two years. This report contains CBO's projections for the 2025-2034 period, which are based on the Department of Defense's (DoD's) and the Department of Energy's (DOE's) fiscal year 202 more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12608) on April 17, 2025, by research librarians Lynn J. Cunningham and Emily N. Peterson: * * * Connecting Constituents with Federal Assistance for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Projects: Resources for Individuals Congress has established programs and tax incentives to help individuals reduce their household energy costs, or to install renewable energy technology in their home more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12909) on April 23, 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 order to d more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12973) on April 17, 2025, by Lisa N. Sacco, illicit drugs and crime policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * The Fluctuating Balance of the Crime Victims Fund The federal Crime Victims Fund (CVF; the Fund) supports various crime victim assistance and compensation programs and is administered by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC). The balance of  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12608) on April 17, 2025, by defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger. Here are excerpts: * * * MQ-25 Stingray: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The U.S. Navy is developing an aircraft carrier-based unmanned aircraft system (UAS) to perform aerial refueling and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The MQ-25 Stingray, as currently conceived, wo more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12522) on April 16, 2025, by financial economics analyst Paul Tierno: * * * Stablecoin Legislation: An Overview of S. 919, GENIUS Act of 2025 On March 18, the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee reported S. 919, the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act of 2025, or GENIUS Act. The bill would establish a regime to regulate stablecoins, as de more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12974) on April 17, 2025, by natural resources policy specialist Caitlin Keating-Bitonti and foreign affairs analyst Jared G. Tupuola: * * * Seabed Mining Interests Across the Pacific Islands The Pacific Ocean's seafloor contains mineral-rich deposits of cobalt, copper, manganese, nickel, rare earth elements, zinc, and other minerals that may help meet supply demands for energy transiti more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12975) on April 23, 2025, by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen: * * * Smithsonian Institution: Potential Effects of Executive Order 14253 On March 27, 2025, the President issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14253, "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History." Among other actions affecting Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and monuments and memorials under the juris more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11292) on April 24, 2025, by legislative attorneys Benjamin M. Barczewski and Todd Garvey: * * * Supreme Court Considers Emergency Motion on President's Removal Power Over the first month of his second Administration, President Donald Trump has actively used his constitutionally based removal power to dismiss agency leaders across the federal government. Some of these removals hav more PR

WASHINGTON, April 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10231) on April 22, 2025, by senior research librarian Jennifer Teefy. Here are excerpts: * * * Tracking Federal Awards in States and Congressional Districts Using USAspending.gov Overview USAspending.gov is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), zip code, city, and county. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal agenci more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11290) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 5): Congressional Debates This Legal Sidebar post is the fifth in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on the basis of age, t more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11289) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 4): Early Congressional Action This Legal Sidebar post is the fourth in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on the basis of  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11287) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 2): History of Voter Age Qualifications This Legal Sidebar post is the second in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on the  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11286) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 1): Introduction This Legal Sidebar post is the first in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on the basis of age, the v more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11291) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 6): Unresolved Issues This Legal Sidebar post is the last in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on the basis of age, the vo more PR

WASHINGTON, April 24 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11288) on April 23, 2025, by attorney-adviser Brandon J. Murrill: * * * The Twenty-Sixth Amendment and Reduction of the Voting Age (Part 3): The Vietnam War and Oregon v. Mitchell This Legal Sidebar post is the third in a six-part series that discusses the Twenty-Sixth Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits the federal and state governments from denying or abridging, on th more PR

WASHINGTON, April 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IN11118) on April 23, 2025, by natural resources policy specialist Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Section 7001 Report on Future Studies and Projects Congress specifically authorizes most water resource development studies, projects, and other assistance activities performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) typically through Water Resour more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12608) on April 17, 2025, by natural resources policy specialist Caitlin Keating-Bitonti: * * * U.S. Interest in Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Brief Background and Recent Developments In 1980, Congress passed the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA; P.L. 96-283) as an interim measure to allow the United States to proceed with seabed mining activities in more PR

WASHINGTON, April 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12581) on April 17, 2025, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Yemen: Conflict, Red Sea Attacks and U.S. Policy Yemen is a conflict-afflicted nation along the strategic Bab al Mandab Strait, one of the world's most active shipping lanes. Since 2015, a civil war has pitted the Iran-backed Houthi movement against Yemen's internationally  more PR