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, 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 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, 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, 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 -- Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-California, issued the following floor remarks on April 29, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and the resolutions it advances. Texas is allowed to do what it would like to do. California does not mandate Texas' decision-making. We want to make our own decisions. Under the U.S. Clean Air Act, signed by Presi more PR

WASHINGTON, April 30 -- Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Michigan, issued the following floor remarks on April 28, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2399, the Rural Broadband Protection Act. This legislation would direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a process to more thoroughly vet internet service providers participating in the Universal Service  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, issued the following floor remarks on April 29, 2025 (In this document, the reference to Mr. Speaker refers to the presiding officer of the House at the time of the speech): * * * Mr. Speaker, I rise as chair of the California Democratic congressional delegation in opposition to this rule. It makes in order three resolutions that claim to be pursuant to the Congressional Review Act, but are completely illegitimate. That is not just my opini more PR

WASHINGTON, May 2 -- Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minnesota, posted the following statement in the extensions of remarks section of the Congressional Record on May 1, 2025: * * * Mr. Speaker, House Republicans just wasted another week in Washington with no legislation to show for it that would address our shrinking economy or rising cost of living. Instead, they launched a series of attacks on a national park, an endangered species, and the ability of states to set strong standards to protect the a 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, 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