WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12518) on June 9, 2025, by income security analyst Elizabeth A. Myers: * * * 403(b) Pension Plans: Overview and Legislative Developments Introduction A pension is a benefit employers may offer to assist employees in preparing for retirement. Pension plans may be sponsored by private sector (nonprofit and for-profit) employers or public (governmental) employers and may be class more PR

WASHINGTON, June 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48564) on June 10, 2025, entitled "Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2026 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 - an more PR

WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB10404) on June 9, 2025, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * An Expiration Date for Temporary Control of Fentanyl Analogues In February 2020, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act temporarily placed certain fentanyl-related substances (FRS) - compounds chemically related to the powerful synthetic opioid fen more PR

WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12971) on June 11, 2025, by research librarians Emily N. Peterson and Lynn J. Cunningham: * * * 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 th more PR

WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13026) on June 11, 2025, by Patricia Moloney Figliola, internet and telecommunications policy specialist: * * * The Federal Communications Commission: FY2026 Performance Plan and Selected Actions Introduction On May 30, 2025, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its 2026 Budget Estimates to Congress. The budget includes a Performance Plan for FY2026 (hereinafte more PR

WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10684) on June 11, 2025, by military personnel specialist Kristy N. Kamarck and research librarian Carly A. Miller. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Military Enlisted Personnel Grade and Rank The Armed Forces are hierarchical organizations with clearly defined levels of authority. These different levels are called grades, while rank refers to the order of precedence a more PR

WASHINGTON, June 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13024) on June 10, 2025, by natural resource policy specialist Eva Lipiec. Here are excerpts: * * * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2026 Budget Request and Appropriations The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency in the Department of Commerce, which defines its mission as to understand and predict changes in climate, weath more PR

WASHINGTON, June 11 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12563) on June 10, 2025, by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea: * * * The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) Program: Going Forward The Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) program was originally created in 1982 as part of President Reagan's initiatives to counter drug trafficking and organized crime. It is the largest anti-crime task  more PR

WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12561) on June 9, 2025, by immigration policy analyst Jill H. Wilson. Here are excerpts: * * * Presidential Proclamation of June 4, 2025, Restricting the Entry of Certain Foreign Nationals On June 4, 2025 President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of certain foreign nationals (aliens) from 19 countries, effective June 9. Citing an intent to protect U.S. citizens more PR

WASHINGTON, June 12 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11346) on June 9, 2025, by Danielle M. Trachtenberg, international trade and finance analyst: * * * Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 Title III of the Trade Act of 1974 (Sections 301-310, 19 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.2411-2420), titled "Relief from Unfair Trade Practices," is often collectively referred to as "Section 301." Under Section 301, Congress grants the Office of the United St more PR

WASHINGTON, June 10 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11263) on June 9, 2025, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * United States v. McCray and Criminal Sentences for Fentanyl Analogue Offenses In 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York decided United States v. McCray, rejecting a criminal defendant's challenge to a mandatory minimum sentence for possession with intent to distribute and di more PR