WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48606) on July 22, 2025, entitled "2025 Army Transformation Initiative Force Structure and Organizational Proposals: Background and Issues for Congress" by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert: * * * SUMMARY On April 30, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum, "Army Transformation and Acquisition Reform," directing the Secretary of the Army 'to implement a  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12738) on July 21, 2025, by defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger. Here are excerpts: * * * Aerial Targets Congress has required the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to conduct realistic testing of certain weapon systems. The U.S. Air Force, Army, and Navy have acquired a portfolio of subscale and full-scale "aerial targets" in part to meet this requirement. Aerial target more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13068) on July 21, 2025. The white paper is written by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea and legislative attorneys Peter G. Berris and Dave S. Sidhu: * * * Automated License Plate Readers: Background and Legal Issues Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are camera systems that capture the license plate data of vehicles, along with related information. They are ge more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13069) on July 21, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * Changes To International Tax Provisions in P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 reconciliation law commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, makes several changes to existing elements of the international tax system. For an overview of the existing system, more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following report on July 18, 2025, entitled "How Changes to Funding for the NIH and Changes in the FDA's Review Times Would Affect the Development of New Drugs:" * * * Honorable Jeffrey A. Merkley, Ranking Member, Committee on the Budget, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510 Honorable Bernard Sanders, Ranking Member, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, United States Senate, Washington, DC 20510  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12580) on July 14, 2025, by Cameron M. Keys, defense logistics and resource management policy analyst and Daniel M. Gettinger, defense policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Funding in the 2025 Reconciliation Law (H.R. 1; P.L. 119-21, Title II) Introduction On July 3, 2025, Congress passed the 2025 reconciliation legislation (H.R. 1), which President Donald J. Trump  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13063) on July 16, 2025, Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * Discontinuation of U.S. Circulating Coins: Selected Examples In February 2025, President Trump announced that he was ordering the Secretary of the Treasury to stop the production of pennies. There have been past instances in which the United States has discontinued the production or availabi more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13070) on July 22, 2025, by military personnel specialist Kristy N. Kamarck and senior research librarian Hannah Fischer. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: DOD Dependents Overseas Schools (DODDS) The Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) manages 161 schools in 11 foreign countries, seven states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and a virtual school. DODEA organizes these s more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11340) on July 15, 2025, by legislative attorney Madeline W. Donley: * * * Environmental Justice and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 During the Biden Administration, both the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) sought to advance "environmental justice" goals using Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which pro more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13053) on July 21, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * The Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) The U.S. estate and gift tax system includes a generation-skipping transfer tax (GSTT) to address circumstances in which wealth is transferred to younger generations (such as grandchildren) or unrelated persons more than 37.5 years younger than the d more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11831) on July 15, 2025, by military ground force specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) What Is the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV)? According to the Marine Corps, the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) is planned to be a new armored vehicle to replace the Light Armored Vehicle (LAV): 'Since the 1980s more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13062) on July 15, 2025. The white paper is written by agricultural policy specialist Lisa S. Benson, legislative attorney Matthew D. Trout and public finance analyst Anthony A. Cilluffo: * * * Moving USDA Programs to the Small Business Administration: Authorities and Considerations A June 2025 news story reported that Small Business Administration (SBA) staff were drafting an more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11679) on July 14, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's DDG(X) program envisages procuring a class of next-generation guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the Navy's Ticonderoga (CG-47) class Aegis cruisers and older Arleigh B more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11679) on July 23, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's DDG(X) program envisages procuring a class of next-generation guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the Navy's Ticonderoga (CG-47) class Aegis cruisers and older Arleigh B more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11826) on July 14, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy has been procuring Virginia-class nuclear powered attack submarines (SSNs) since FY1998. The Navy's envisaged successor to the Virginia-class design is the Next-Generatio more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11838) on July 14, 2025, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy TAGOS-25 Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy in FY2022 procured the first of a planned class of seven new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships. The Navy's proposed FY2026 budget requests $612.2 million for the pro more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12578) on July 16, 2025, by financial economics specialists Karl E. Schneider and Baird Webel. Here are excerpts: * * * P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law, Provisions Related to CFPB Funding On July 3, 2025, Congress passed H.R. 1, commonly referred to as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which the President signed into law on July 4, 2025 (P.L. 119-21). This was a reconc more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12579) on July 16, 2025. The white paper is written by financial economics specialists Karl E. Schneider and Eva Su, housing policy specialist Maggie McCarty and economic development policy analyst Adam G. Levin: * * * P.L. 119-21, the FY2025 Reconciliation Law, Title III: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs On July 3, 2025, Congress passed H.R. 1, commonly known a more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12528) on July 15, 2025, 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  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11342) on July 22, 2025, by legislative attorneys Valerie C. Brannon and Whitney K. Novak: * * * Religious Charter Schools Remain Unlawful in Oklahoma After Supreme Court Judgment On May 22, 2025, the Supreme Court affirmed a state court opinion ruling that Oklahoma could not authorize or fund a religious charter school. The appeal in Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Boa more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12835) on July 23, 2025, by natural resources policy specialists Anthony R. Marshak and Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * The Rice's Whale: Conservation Efforts, Implications for Ocean Sectors, and Considerations for Congress The Rice's whale (Balaenoptera ricei; Figure 1) is a recently described species of baleen whale (i.e., whales that contain baleen plates in their  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13006) on July 16, 2025, Kyla H. Kitamura, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress power to impose duties and regulate foreign commerce. Congress has delegated some of these authorities to the President through statutes. Section 232 of the Trade more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12559) on July 16, 2025, agricultural policy specialist Renee Johnson: * * * Selected Horticultural Provisions in FY2025 Budget Reconciliation (P.L. 119-21, Title I) In July 2025, Congress enacted H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21), providing for FY2025 budget reconciliation. Title 1 (Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry) of P.L. 119-21 makes chang more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12846) on July 21, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * Selected Issues in Tax Reform: The Estate and Gift Tax The estate and gift tax imposes a tax of 40% on gifts and estates in excess of a lifetime exemption of $13.99 million (double that amount for married couples). The exemption is indexed for inflation. The tax revision of 2017 (P.L. 115-97), more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10426) on July 22, 2025, by social policy analyst Emma K. Tatem. Here are excerpts: * * * Social Security Overview Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, as well as to the family members of deceased workers. It is one of the federal government's largest programs, both in terms of the number of people affected (wo more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42035) on July 22, 2025, entitled "Social Security Primer" by social policy analyst Emma K. Tatem. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Social Security provides monthly cash benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, and to the family members of deceased workers. Among the beneficiary population, 86.1% are retired or disabled workers; family members of retired, disabled, o more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11341) on July 16, 2025, by legislative attorneys Wen W. Shen and Jennifer A. Staman: * * * Supreme Court's Appointments Clause Ruling Preserves ACA Preventive-Services Coverage Requirements On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court, in a 6-3 decision in Kennedy v. Braidwood, held that members of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) - a volunteer panel of expert more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12805) on July 22, 2025, by defense policy analyst Jennifer DiMascio. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Air Force Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) Fighter Background On March 21, 2025, President Donald Trump announced the Air Force would move forward with development of the F-47 - to become the Air Force's Next-Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter jet. Following the announ more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11197) on July 23, 2025, by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr and foreign affairs specialist Michael A. Weber: * * * U.S. Arms Sales and Human Rights: Legislative Basis and Frequently Asked Questions U.S. law establishes the conditions under which the U.S. government and U.S. commercial entities may sell defense articles to foreign countries. This In Focus provides an ov more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13060) on July 14, 2025, by environmental policy analyst Angela C. Jones. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Environmental Protection Agency FY2025 Appropriations Enacted on March 15, 2025, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act, 2025 (P.L. 119-4), provided funding for the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, including funding for the U more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48478) on July 2, 2025, entitled "U.S. Global Change Research Program: Overview and Considerations for Congress" by environmental policy analyst Kathryn G. Kynett. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) is an interagency program established by Congress through the Global Change Research Act of 1990 (GCRA; P.L. 101-606) to coordinate and integrate fe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13067) on July 21, 2025, by defense policy analyst Hannah D. Dennis and foreign affairs analyst Joshua Klein. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM, commonly referred to as SOUTHCOM) is the Department of Defense (DOD) unified combatant command (CCMD) responsible for command and control of U.S. military force more PR

WASHINGTON, July 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12990) on July 16, 2025, Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-China Tariff Actions Since 2018: An Overview Since 2018, the U.S. government has imposed a series of tariffs on imports from the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) with the stated intention of addressing U.S. concerns about PRC trade practices and foreign policies more PR

WASHINGTON, July 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11120) on July 15, 2025, by international trade and finance specialists Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Kyla H. Kitamura. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Japan Trade Agreements and Tariff Negotiations The United States and Japan are among the world's largest economies and have been close economic partners, though they do not have a comprehensive bilateral free trade agreement (FTA more PR