WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11485) by legislative attorney Jay B. Sykes: * * * Artificial Intelligence Safety Collaboration and Antitrust Law On September 12, 2026, Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei published a blog post arguing that the artificial-intelligence (AI) industry should slow the pace at which it develops frontier models to mitigate risks of catastrophic harm, including the loss of control of AI systems and misuse of AI for cyberat more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13136) by agricultural policy analyst Zachary T. Neuhofer: * * * Changes to the Statutory Definition of Hemp and Implications for Agricultural Policy The FY2026 Agriculture appropriations law (P.L. 119-37, Division B) amends the statutory definition of hemp in 7 U.S.C. Sec.1639o established by the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill; P.L. 115-334, Sec.10113). The change to the definition - originally scheduled more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12741) by American national government analyst Taylor R. Knoedl: * * * Citizenship and Residence Criteria for the 2030 Census: Recent Developments The decennial census of housing and population is conducted every 10 years to count each resident of the United States and its territories, as well as military personnel and dependents abroad. The constitutionally mandated purpose of the decennial census is to determine the apportio more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10023) by government organization and management specialist Maeve P. Carey and Congress and legislative process analyst Christopher M. Davis: * * * The Congressional Review Act (CRA): A Brief Overview Overview What is the CRA? The CRA (codified at 5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.801-808) is a tool Congress can use to overturn certain federal agency actions. Enacted in 1996, the CRA requires agencies to report the issuance of "rules" to Congr more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12859) by senior research librarian Rachael D. Roan. Here are excerpts: * * * Connecting Constituents with Federal Assistance for Broadband This In Focus includes a list of selected federal agencies and programs that support broadband initiatives as the primary eligible funding activity. The programs included here vary in scope and funding level and are not a comprehensive list of all federal programs that may fund broadband a more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48064) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "Considerations for Federal Leasing of Onshore Energy: Oil and Gas and Geothermal Power." The report is written by energy policy analysts Morgan Smith and Lexie Ryan and environmental policy analyst Heather McPherron. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Both oil and gas (O&G) and geothermal power are long-standing energy sectors for the United States. The two sectors have many similar characteristics, incl more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48064) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "Considerations for Federal Leasing of Onshore Energy - Oil and Gas and Geothermal Power:" (Continued from part 1 of 2) * * * NEPA Environmental Review Process Unless certain conditions are met, NEPA generally requires federal agencies to evaluate and document the environmental impacts of a proposed federal agency action (i.e., through an environmental review)./41 How a federal agency demonstrates complia more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13324) by macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte: * * * Crypto and Bank-Permissible Activities By law, banks can engage only in "the business of banking" and related or incidental activities. These limitations differentiate banks from other financial firms. The business of banking includes accepting customer deposits and making loans. But what else should be permitted? Over time, Congress and the federal bank regulators h more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13323) by military ground specialist Andrew Feickert and Army fellow Robert Holcombe. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Army Force Structure Development Process Introduction The U.S. Army has changed the units and organizations comprising its force structure throughout its history, which dates to 1775. Force structure can be described as the number and types (infantry, artillery, engineer, etc.) of Army units co more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12744) by transportation policy analyst Ben Goldman: * * * Diesel Export Ban: Transportation Policy Considerations for Congress On September 21, 2026, the average price of diesel fuel for use in highway vehicles reached $6.529 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In 2024, trucks and trains transported between two-thirds and three-quarters of all domestic freight (about 13 million of 17.7 million t more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43805) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "The Earned Income Tax Credit: How It Works and Who Receives It" by public finance analyst Brendan McDermott. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable tax credit that boosts the incomes of eligible low-income workers, especially those with children. Because the credit is refundable, an EITC recipient need not owe income taxes to receive the benefit. Eligibility  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43805) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "The Earned Income Tax Credit - How It Works and Who Receives It:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Payment of the EITC The EITC is provided to individuals and families annually in a lump-sum payment after a taxpayer files a federal income tax return./23 Like all tax credits, the EITC can reduce income tax liability. And because the EITC is a refundable tax credit, if taxpayers' EITCs are greater than  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11831) by American National Government analysts Sarah J. Eckman and Karen L. Shanton: * * * Election Worker Safety and Privacy Concerns about election workers' safety and privacy have been reported in surveys, news articles, and congressional hearings from the 2020 elections through the current election cycle. Those concerns, along with a perceived increase in politically motivated job scrutiny, have led some to leave or conside more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Sept. 17, 2026, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function" by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities: Structural Features and Function This report describes the structure, activities, legislative history, and funding history of the 11 federal regional commissions and authorities. Those commiss more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Sept. 17, 2026, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 1 of 5) * * * Delta Regional Authority The Delta Regional Authority was established in 2000 to address economic distress in the Mississippi River Delta region./54 The DRA aims to "create jobs, build communities, and improve the lives of those that reside in the region,"/55 which includes 255 designated c more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Sept. 17, 2026, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 2 of 5) * * * Great Lakes Authority The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (P.L. 117-328, Division O, Title IV, Sec.401) amended 40 U.S.C. Sec.15301(a) to establish the Great Lakes Authority. The structure and functions of the GLA are based on the model of the NBRC, SCRC, and SBRC, which were establish more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Sept. 17, 2026, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 3 of 5) * * * Southeast Crescent Regional Commission The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission was created by the 2008 farm bill,/186 which also created the NBRC and the Southwest Border Regional Commission. All three commissions share common authorizing language modeled after the ARC. The SCRC received more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45997) on Sept. 17, 2026, entitled "Federal Regional Commissions and Authorities - Structural Features and Function:" (Continued from Part 4 of 5) * * * Southwest Border Regional Commission The Southwest Border Regional Commission was created with the enactment of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008, or the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-234), which also created the NBRC and the SCRC. All three commissions (and the GLA, MARC, and SNERC) more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Sept. 18, 2026, entitled "Fishery Resource Disaster Assistance" by natural resources policy analyst Anthony R. Marshak. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Oceanic conditions, climate, human activities, and weather events can affect fishery resources and commercial infrastructure, such as boats, shoreside processing, and ports. Congress authorized the Secretary of Commerce (the Secretary) to provide disaster assistance to the fishi more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Sept. 18, 2026, entitled "Fishery Resource Disaster Assistance:" (Continue from Part 1 of 3) * * * Secretarial Disaster Determinations Since 1994, the Secretary of Commerce has made 144 different fishery disaster determinations, of which 130 were original determinations and 14 were continuations to existing determinations./86 Since fishery disaster assistance began, the Secretary has issued determinations valuing approximately  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34209) on Sept. 18, 2026, entitled "Fishery Resource Disaster Assistance:" (Continue from Part 2 of 3) * * * Issues for Congress Commercial fisheries are strongly influenced by environmental conditions that affect the abundance and distribution of fishery resources and fishing infrastructure. Changes in these conditions often take place suddenly with little or no warning, such as in the cases of severe storms, oil spills, and harmful alga more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46435) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Foreign Agents Registration Act: Background and Issues for Congress" by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY On June 9, 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) into law (22 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.611-621). As initially enacted, FARA sought to expose foreign influence in American politics, with a specific focus on identifying and makin more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R46435) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Foreign Agents Registration Act - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Summary of Current FARA Provisions Today, FARA is generally focused on individuals conducting political or advocacy work on behalf of "foreign principals" within the United States. These "agents of a foreign principal" are required to register with the Department of Justice and to disclose their relat more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12743). The white paper is written by natural resources policy specialists Pervaze A. Sheikh, Anthony R. Marshak and Eric P. Nardi. Here are excerpts: * * * International Conservation Funding, FY2023-FY2027 Request The United States provides foreign assistance to address international conservation in the form of financial, programmatic, and technical support. International conservation activities include protecting biodiversit more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10761) by natural resource policy specialists Eva Lipiec and Pervaze A. Sheikh. Here are excerpts: * * * The International Joint Commission (IJC) The International Joint Commission (IJC) was established under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 between the United States and Canada. The treaty directs IJC to aid in the resolution and prevention of disputes concerning the waters that cross (transboundary) or form (boundary) the i more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45154) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2024 (74th-118th Congresses)" by Congress and legislative process analyst Jane A. Hudiburg. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY A "lame duck" session of Congress occurs whenever one Congress meets after its successor is elected but before the end of its own constitutional term. Under present conditions, any meeting of Congress between election day in November and the follo more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45154) on Sept. 15, 2026, entitled "Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2024 (74th-118th Congresses):" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Characteristics of Lame Duck Sessions, 1935-1998 Lame duck sessions were used sporadically by Congress from 1935, when the Twentieth Amendment became effective, to 1998, when just the House met following the election. During this period, there were 12 lame duck sessions; see Table 1. Lame duck sessions  more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R49350) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Selected Issues for Congress" by environmental policy analysts Jonathan D. Haskett and Omar M. Hammad. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress passed the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 to provide "a more effective program to improve the quality of the Nation's air." This legislation included provisions that helped regulate criteria air pollutants present nat more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R49350) on Sept. 14, 2026, entitled "National Ambient Air Quality Standards and Selected Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Timeline of a New or Revised NAAQS Once a substance has been listed as a criteria air pollutant under Section 108 of the CAA, Section 109 requires the EPA Administrator to propose a NAAQS for that criteria air pollutant within 12 months./72 Once a NAAQS has been promulgated, the NAAQS must be rev more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41759) on Sept. 16, 2026, entitled "Past Government Shutdowns: Key Resources" by senior research librarians Justin Murray and Carol Wilson: * * * SUMMARY When federal government agencies and programs lack budget authority after the expiration of either full-year or interim appropriations, they experience a "funding gap," also known as a lapse in appropriations. In many cases, under the Antideficiency Act (31 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.1341 et seq.), agen more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R41759) on Sept. 16, 2026, entitled "Past Government Shutdowns - Key Resources:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Office of Personnel Management OPM has some information publicly available on the internet related to government shutdowns and furloughs: * OPM, Pay and Leave Furlough Guidance, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/#url=Shutdown-Furlough. The website includes links to guidance related to admin more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12148) by environmental policy specialist Laura Gatz: * * * Regulating PFAS Under the Clean Water Act In recent decades, improvements in analytical methods and monitoring technologies, along with health research, have increased national attention to the presence of emerging contaminants in surface water. Detections of one particular group of contaminants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have heightened public and co more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12629) by international trade and finance specialist Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaac and Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * Regulation of U.S. Outbound Investment to China The U.S. government generally has supported an open investment environment at home and abroad to promote U.S. economic growth, sustain the U.S. position as a top destination for foreign direct investment (FDI), and ensure U more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12742). The white paper is written by international trade and finance specialist Christopher A. Casey and agricultural policy analysts Benjamin Tsui and Stephanie Rosch. Here are excerpts: * * * Suspension of Countervailing Duties on Phosphate Fertilizer: Options for Congress On June 29, 2026, President Donald J. Trump, citing Section 318(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C. 1318(a)), proclaimed an emergency and authorize more PR

WASHINGTON, Sept. 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13322) by health policy specialists Kavya Sekar and Alexandria K. Mickler. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Measles Outbreaks 2025-2026: Overview and Issues for Congress As of September 24, 2026, the United States has seen the highest number of annual reported measles cases since 1991, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. This 2026 total has already exceeded the 2025 total, which was also signific more PR