WASHINGTON, April 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12977) on April 25, 2025, by labor policy analyst Elizabeth Weber Handwerker and legislative attorney Alexander H. Pepper: * * * "Ghost" Job Postings Introduction "Ghost" job postings are online job postings for positions that do not exist, or that employers are not planning to fill immediately. Media reports from as early as 2003 indicate that potential ghost jobs have long concerned  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48302) on April 25, 2025, entitled "Critical Minerals on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Role and Issues for Congress" by natural resources policy specialists Caitlin Keating-Bitonti and Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The first and second Trump Administrations and the Biden Administration have issued executive orders announcing U.S. policies more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48302) on April 25, 2025, entitled "Critical Minerals on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf - The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's Role and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Critical Minerals Environmental Assessment Framework BOEM identified that information about baseline conditions of offshore environments with potential for critical minerals is "sparse."/53 BOEM, in colla more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on April 21, 2025, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter and Arctic Security Cutter Icebreaker Programs: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY A 2023 Coast Guard fleet mix analysis concluded that the service will require a total of eight to nine polar icebreakers, including four to five heavy polar icebreakers an more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on April 21, 2025, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter and Arctic Security Cutter Icebreaker Programs - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) Program Overview As mentioned earlier, the Coast Guard refers to its planned new medium polar icebreakers as Arctic Security Cutters (ASCs). April 2025 Request for Information (RFI more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on April 21, 2025, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter and Arctic Security Cutter Icebreaker Programs - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Using a Foreign Shipyard to Build PSCs and/or ASCs Overview Another potential issue for Congress concerns the possibility of building PSCs and/or ASCs in a foreign shipyard with experience in the design and con more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45846) on April 16, 2025, entitled "Congressional Votes on Free Trade Agreements and Trade Promotion Authority" by senior research librarian Keigh E. Hammond. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Agreements and Trade Promotion Authority Congress has sole constitutional authority to regulate international trade. Since 1934, Congress has periodically authorized the President to negotiate trade agreements.  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34273) on April 30, 2025, entitled "Federal Land Ownership: Acquisition and Disposal Authorities." The report is written by natural resources policy specialists Carol Hardy Vincent, Laura B. Comay, Eric P. Nardi and Anne A. Riddle: * * * SUMMARY The federal government owns roughly 640 million acres, more than a quarter of the land in the United States. Four agencies - the Bureau of Land Management (BL more PR

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on March 11, 2025, entitled "Gender and School Sports: Federal Action and Legal Challenges to State Laws" by legislative attorneys Madeline W. Donley and Jared P. Cole: * * * SUMMARY Policymakers have debated how schools should respond when transgender students (students who are assigned one sex at birth but identify with the opposite sex) seek to use facilities or participate in school activit more PR

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on March 11, 2025, entitled "Gender and School Sports - Federal Action and Legal Challenges to State Laws:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment In addition to federal antidiscrimination statutes, the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment may be relevant to policies that address the participation of transgender student-athletes i more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48518) entitled "The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in Poultry, 2022-Present" by agricultural policy analyst Lia Biondo. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Avian influenza (i.e., bird flu) is a contagious viral disease of domesticated and wild birds. Depending on the viral strain, the disease can cause little to no signs of illness - referred to as "low pathogenic avian influenza" - to a ra more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48518) entitled "The Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Outbreak in Poultry, 2022-Present:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Issues for Congress Prior to the announcement of USDA's Five-Pronged Approach to Address Avian Flu, several Members of Congress wrote to Secretary Rollins regarding USDA's response to the HPAI outbreak. For example, a letter signed by 16 Senators stated "a new urgency is requ more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48451) on May 1, 2025, entitled "Introduction to Derivatives and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission" by financial economics specialist Rena S. Miller. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Derivatives are financial instruments that come in several different forms, including futures, options, and swaps. A derivative is a contract that derives its value from some underlying asset at a designated point in more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48451) on March 12, 2025, entitled "Introduction to Derivatives and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Dodd-Frank Reforms The Dodd-Frank Act derivatives reforms were broadly aimed at bringing the swaps market under a regulatory regime more closely resembling that of the futures markets. Dodd-Frank added five broad requirements for swaps, with certain exception more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48519) on April 29, 2025, entitled "Medicaid Section 1915(c) Home- and Community-Based Services Waivers" by health care financing analyst Varun Saraswathula and health and aging policy specialist Kirsten J. Colello. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Medicaid is a means-tested individual entitlement program that finances the delivery of health care and long-term services and supports (LTSS) to certain  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47313) on April 29, 2025, entitled "Next Farm Bill Primer Series" by section research manager Frank Gottron: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 Overview and Budget ... 2 CRS In Focus IF12047, Farm Bill Primer: Background and Status, by Jim Monke and Renee Johnson ... 2 CRS In Focus IF12233, Farm Bill Primer: Budget Dynamics, by Jim Monke ... 2 CRS In Focus IF12115, Farm Bill Primer: Programs Wi more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48512) on April 17, 2025, entitled "Nonbank Financial Intermediation (NBFI or "Shadow Banking") and Capital Markets Policy" by financial economics specialist Eva Su. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Nonbank financial intermediation (NBFI) - sometimes known as "shadow banking" - generally refers to funding sources outside the banking system. NBFI has been an area of policy contention because of its size, more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48512) on April 17, 2025, entitled "Nonbank Financial Intermediation (NBFI or "Shadow Banking") and Capital Markets Policy:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Interconnectedness Between Nonbanks and Banks Certain nonbanks and banks are increasingly interconnected. Under normal market conditions, this "NBFI-bank nexus" could broaden financial access and be considered as having a net positive effect for more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48512) on April 17, 2025, entitled "Nonbank Financial Intermediation (NBFI or "Shadow Banking") and Capital Markets Policy:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * Liquidity Mismatch Liquidity refers to the ability for market participants to buy or sell securities quickly without affecting the price./161 Liquidity mismatch refers to the difference between the market liquidity for a fund's shares and their  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47467) on March 13, 2025, entitled "Qatar: Issues for the 119th Congress" by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The State of Qatar is a small, energy-rich emirate strategically located near the center of the Persian Gulf. Defense and diplomatic cooperation have anchored close U.S.-Qatari relations: Qatar hosts thousands of U.S. troops, allows  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47467) on March 13, 2025, entitled "Qatar - Issues for the 119th Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Qatari Politics and Government Qatar declared its independence from the United Kingdom on September 3, 1971./45 It is a constitutional monarchy governed by the Al Thani family; in an April 2003 referendum, Qatari voters approved a new constitution that outlined plans to elect some members of more PR

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22350) on March 11, 2025, entitled "Railroad Retirement Board: Retirement, Survivor, Disability, Unemployment and Sickness Benefits" by social policy analyst Zhe Li. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB), an independent federal agency, administers retirement, survivor, disability, unemployment, and sickness insurance for railroad workers and their families. During FY20 more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48520) on May 1, 2025, entitled "Telecommunications: CRS Products" by senior research librarian Rachael D. Roan: * * * SUMMARY Telecommunications infrastructure and programs have a long history of congressional interest and present several issues for policymakers, including those related to fifth-generation (5G) and next-generation technologies, broadband deployment, emergency communications infrastructu more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on April 22, 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 which fi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 28 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48179) on April 22, 2025, entitled "Tickets for Live Entertainment Events:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Selected Legislative Options Members of the 118th and 119th Congresses have introduced bills related to ticketing services for live events. The provisions in some of these bills aimed to increase protections for consumers by, for example, increasing transparency about the ticket price and t more PR

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12549) on April 28, 2025, by public finance analyst Anthony A. Cilluffo: * * * Changes to Small Business Administration (SBA) Business Loan Program Policies in Early 2025 On April 22, 2025, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced changes to policies and procedures for its two largest small business loan programs, the 7(a) and 504 loan guarantee programs. The SBA released a new  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11297) on April 30, 2025, by legislative attorney L. Paige Whitaker: * * * Redistricting: A Circuit Court Split Over Whether the Voting Rights Act Permits Vote Dilution Claims By Multiple Minority Groups There has been a long-standing split in the federal circuit courts of appeals over whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act (VRA) permits multiple racial and language minority grou more PR

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12548) on April 28, 2025, by social policy analyst Kara Clifford Billings: * * * Efforts to Return Higher-Fat Milks to the School Lunch Program In the 118th Congress, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1147, which, had it been enacted, would have allowed whole and reduced-fat (2%) milk in federally funded school lunches and exempted milk from federal saturated fat limits. Such milk more PR

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11294) on April 25, 2025, by labor policy analyst Elizabeth Weber Handwerker and legislative attorney Alexander H. Pepper: * * * Executive Clemency and Judicial Power: Legal Overview and Recent Caselaw On the first day of his second term in office, President Donald Trump granted a "full, complete and unconditional pardon" to almost all "individuals convicted of offenses related to more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12527) on March 13, 2025, by Taylor N. Riccard, government organization and management analyst: * * * Executive Order 14210: Using Agency Shutdown Plans to Inform Reductions in Force (RIFs) As part of his plans to downsize the federal workforce, on February 11, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14210, titled "Implementing the President's 'Department of Government Efficiency' W more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11301) on May 1, 2025, by legislative attorney Peter J. Benson: * * * FCC v. Consumers' Research: High Court Hears Challenge to Universal Service Fund In the Communications Act of 1934, Congress directed the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to make available, "so far as possible, to all the people of the United States," wire and radio communications services "with adequate fac more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11296) on April 30, 2025, by legislative attorney Adam Vann: * * * Federalism and the Electricity Markets: Balancing National and Local Interests The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) sought to enable and encourage infrastructure projects throughout the United States. Section 40105 of the IIJA addressed a particular type of infrastructure: the nation's electricity grid. S more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12550) on April 30, 2025, by health policy analyst Alexandria K. Mickler. Here are excerpts: * * * Healthy Start: Overview and Policy Considerations The Healthy Start program (42 U.S.C. Sec.254c-8), currently authorized through FY2025, aims to improve health outcomes before, during, and after pregnancy. The program funds projects in geographic areas with high infant mortality rates (IMRs)  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. IN12527) on March 13, 2025, by reference and instruction librarian Megan Hunt: * * * Hindu Holidays: Fact Sheet Introduction Hinduism (or Sanatana Dharma) is the third-largest religion in the world behind Christianity and Islam, with nearly 1 billion adherents./1 According to the Pew Research Center, about 1% of Americans self-identify as Hindu./2 Originating on the Indian subcontinent, Hindui more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12256) on March 13, 2025, by natural resource policy specialist Carol Hardy Vincent. Here are excerpts: * * * Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF): Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Land and Water Conservation Fund? The Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 (LWCF Act; 54 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.200301 et seq.) was enacted to help preserve, develop, and ensure access to outdoor r more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12978) on April 29, 2025, by education policy specialist Rebecca R. Skinner and research assistant Isobel Sorenson: * * * Late Liquidation Period for Elementary and Secondary Education Funds Provided During COVID-19 Pandemic In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress enacted several programs that provided federal funds "to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus" in elemen more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11298) on May 1, 2025, by legislative attorney Jennifer A. Staman: * * * Legal Challenge to Patient Assistance Programs Puts Anti-Kickback Statute in the Spotlight To help cover consumers' out-of-pocket costs for expensive prescription drugs or other medical items or services, patient assistance programs (PAPs) may offer free drugs or financial assistance to eligible individuals, inc more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11697) on May 1, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink: * * * Defense Primer: Nuclear Command, Control and Communications (NC3) The Department of Defense (DOD) is replacing many elements of the U.S. nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture as part of the United States' ongoing efforts to recapitalize its nuclear forces. This architecture - composed of what som more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12528) on March 13, 2025, by energy policy analyst Martin C. Offutt. Here are excerpts: * * * Recent Executive Action on Spending: Potential Impact on Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58) authorized and funded an $8 billion program on Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (Section 40314 and Division J, Title III, of IIJA) - networks of hydro more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11299) on May 1, 2025, by legislative attorneys Alejandra Aramayo and Hillel R. Smith: * * * Recent Executive Branch Actions on Immigration (Part 1) 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 laws. These actions address a range of issues, inclu more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11300) on May 1, 2025, by legislative attorneys Alejandra Aramayo and Hillel R. Smith: * * * Recent Executive Branch Actions on Immigration (Part 2) 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 laws. This Legal Sidebar provides an overview of sel more PR

WASHINGTON, May 1 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12038) on April 30, 2025, by agricultural policy specialist Lisa S. Benson: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Rural Development Title The rural development title of the farm bill reauthorizes, amends, and creates programs administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development agency. The rural development title also addresses emerging issues affecting rural communities. The Agr more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12666) on March 13, 2025, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 301 and China: Shipping and Shipbuilding Issues Title III of the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 301-310, codified at 19 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.2411-2420) is referred to as "Section 301." It is one of the principal statutory means by which the United States enforces U.S. rights under  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10519) on May 1, 2025, by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Strategic Nuclear Forces The United States is in the process of modernizing its strategic nuclear forces. This modernization effort includes numerous Department of Defense (DOD) major defense acquisition programs, some of which are annually assessed by the Government Accountability Offi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11293) on April 25, 2025, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * Supreme Court Clarifies That a "Crime of Violence" May Be Committed by "Omission" Federal law, at 18 U.S.C. Sec. 924(c), triggers a mandatory minimum penalty of five years of imprisonment for using or carrying a firearm in the commission of a "crime of violence." Section 924(c) further defines a "crime of viole more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12882) on March 13, 2025. The white paper is written by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard, international sanctions and financial crimes specialist Liana W. Rosen and international humanitarian policy specialist Rhoda Margesson: * * * Yemen: Terrorism Designation, U.S. Policy, and Congress On January 22, 2025, President Donald Trump signed executive order (E.O.) more PR