WASHINGTON, May 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. IF11797) by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert and Army fellow Ebrima M'Bai: Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) The Significance of the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S. national security posed by Russia and China. The Army believes to address this threat, it must be able to  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11737) by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * China: Nuclear and Missile Proliferation The U.S. government for decades has expressed concerns about China's proliferation of nuclear- and missile-related technologies to other countries, with recent focus on the threat of Chinese acquisition of U.S.-origin nuclear technology. (See CRS In Focus IF11050, New U.S. Policy R more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12689) by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke. Here are excerpts: * * * Colombia's 2026 Presidential Election On May 31, Colombia, a top U.S. security partner in Latin America, is scheduled to convene an election to replace President Gustavo Petro (2022-present), who is constitutionally barred from seeking reelection. U.S. officials and some Members of Congres more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Budget Office issued the following report entitled "Increasing the Size and Missile Capability of the Navy's Fleet Within the Next Five Years." Here are excerpts: * * * Summary This report presents three options to quickly increase the offensive lethality (that is, the capacity to destroy, neutralize, or kill enemy ships, land-based installations and weapons, or personnel) of the U.S. Navy's fleet of surface ships. The growing power of China' more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11618) by American national government analyst Sarah J. Eckman: * * * Congressional Redistricting Criteria and Considerations Congressional redistricting involves creating geographic boundaries for U.S. House districts within a state. Following each decennial census, House districts are first allocated among states through apportionment (or reapportionment), then allocated within more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13229) by American national government specialist Garrett Hatch: * * * Executive Order 14395, "Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud" Background Fraud, the act of obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation, is a growing concern for the federal government. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, convictions for government benefits fraud increase more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12940) by macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte. Here are excerpts: * * * The Federal Reserve's Mandate: Policy Options The Federal Reserve (Fed) is responsible for monetary policy, which it conducts mainly by setting short-term interest rates to affect economic activity. (For more information, see CRS In Focus IF11751, Introduction to U.S. Economy: Monetary Policy.) Mon more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13223) by natural resources policy specialist Alicyn R. Gitlin. Here are excerpts: * * * The Federal Role in Hazardous Wildfire Fuel Treatments Introduction Hazardous fuels are combustible vegetation that accumulates on the landscape, presenting a threat of starting and spreading wildfires that resist control. Hazardous fuels and their associated wildfire threats cross land ma more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13231) by economic policy specialist Jane G. Gravelle and economics specialist Mark P. Keightley. Here are excerpts: * * * Indexing Capital Gains Taxes for Inflation: Marginal Effective Tax Rates and Revenue Estimates Proposals to index capital gains taxes for inflation have recently generated public debate. For example, S. 798 and H.R. 1857 would inflation index capital gains  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11504) by section research manager Michael J. Vassalotti. Here are excerpts: * * * Infertility in the Military Over the past two decades, Congress has considered various legislative actions concerning the provision of infertility services and reproductive care for servicemembers and their families. The Department of Defense (DOD), which is "using a secondary Department of War d more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11070) by social policy analyst Patrick A. Landers: * * * John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Children are removed from families and placed into foster care due to incidents of abuse, neglect, or other family crisis. On September 30, 2025, more than 102,000 young people aged 14 or older were in foster care. More than 15,000 young people eman more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48952) entitled "Opportunity Zones Round Two Selection Process: Frequently Asked Questions" by public finance specialists Anthony A. Cilluffo and Donald J. Marples. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Opportunity Zone program provides tax incentives to taxpayers who invest in certain designated geographic areas. The program was enacted in 2017, as part of P.L. 115-97, and began operations in more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12670) by flood insurance and emergency management specialist Diane P. Horn and financial economics specialist Baird Webel: * * * Parametric Insurance for Natural Disasters: Frequently Asked Questions The Administration and Congress are considering reform to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The FEMA Review Council issued its final report on May 7, 2026. One of the  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12519) on May 18, 2026, by international trade and finance analyst Kyla H. Kitamura and senior research librarian Keigh E. Hammond. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 232 Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum In 2025, President Trump expanded and increased existing steel and aluminum tariffs, imposed since 2018 under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 (19 U.S.C. Sec.1862). Sec more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12125) by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * Section 301 and China: The U.S.-China Phase One Trade Deal On January 15, 2020, then-President Donald J. Trump signed a trade agreement with then-Vice Premier Liu He of the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China). The agreement sought to resolve some long-standing complaints by U.S. govern more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10213) by foreign affairs analyst William Piekos. Here are excerpts: * * * Sri Lanka: Background and Issues for Congress The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a constitutional democracy situated off the southeastern tip of India. A democracy since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is located along key sea lines  more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44027) entitled "Tracking Federal Awards: USAspending.gov and Other Data Sources" by senior research librarian Jennifer Teefy. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary USAspending.gov, available at http://www.USAspending.gov, is a government source for data on federal awards by state, congressional district (CD), county, city, and zip code. The awards data in USAspending.gov are provided by federal a more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12735) by defense policy analyst Anya L. Fink. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Extended Deterrence and Regional Nuclear Capabilities One of the stated goals of U.S. nuclear weapons policy has been to extend deterrence to over 30 U.S. "allies and partners" and assure these countries that the United States will come to their aid, including potentially by using U.S. nuclear weapons, more PR

WASHINGTON, May 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11175) on May 18, 2026, by international trade and finance analyst Danielle M. Trachtenberg. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations The 119th Congress is engaged in a range of legislative and oversight activities related to trade policy toward Mexico, which in 2025 was the largest U.S. trading partner in total trade (exports plus imports) of goods and services. Me more PR

WASHINGTON, May 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13232) by income security specialists Julie M. Whittaker and Katelin P. Isaacs: * * * Unemployment Compensation, Strikes and Lockouts in 2025 Introduction Eligible unemployed workers may receive weekly income support from the joint federal-state Unemployment Compensation (UC) program while they search for new work. In general, such workers must have lost their jobs through no f more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42504) entitled "VA Home Loan Programs" by housing policy specialist Libby Perl. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has assisted veterans with homeownership since 1944, when Congress enacted the loan guaranty program to help veterans returning from World War II purchase homes. The loan guaranty program assists veterans by insuring mortgages made by privat more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42504) entitled "VA Home Loan Programs:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Requirements for Appraisals and Closing Costs Improving Access to the VA Home Loan Benefit Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-308) P.L. 117-308, enacted on January 27, 2022, directed VA to "prescribe updated regulations or program requirements to clarify when an appraisal is required, how an appraisal is to be conducted, and who more PR

WASHINGTON, May 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R42504) entitled "VA Home Loan Programs:" (Continued from Part 3 of 3) * * * The VA Loan Funding Fee The costs of the VA guaranteed and direct loan programs are supported, in part, by fees paid by borrowers. VA loan fees were instituted as a regular requirement as part of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1982 (P.L. 97-253)./139 The funding fee is a percentage of the loan amount, and v more PR