WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12660) on Feb. 26, 2026, by social policy specialist Jessica Tollestrup and foreign affairs analyst Cory R. Gill: * * * The Child Support Enforcement Passport Denial Program The Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Passport Denial Program is a mandatory enforcement mechanism that applies to noncustodial parents who owe past-due child support. The program was originally enacted as par more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12265) on Feb. 24, 2026, by foreign affairs specialist Michael A. Weber and Asian affairs analyst Caitlin Campbell: * * * China Primer: Human Rights Overview The People's Republic of China (PRC or China)'s party-state is an "authoritarian regime" that "has become increasingly repressive in recent years," according to the nongovernmental human rights organization Freedom House. more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11399) on Feb. 25, 2026, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Circuit Splits from January 2026 The U.S. Courts of Appeals for the thirteen "circuits" issue thousands of precedential decisions each year. Because relatively few of these decisions are ultimately reviewed by the Supreme Court, the U.S. Courts of Appeals are ofte more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13168) on Feb. 27, 2026, by financial economics specialist Andrew P. Scott: * * * Data Privacy vs. Bank Secrecy: Regulating the Flow of Information Within Bank-Fintech Partnerships Banks are increasingly interconnected with nonbank financial technology. As this trend continues, policy responses to update regulatory frameworks may be proposed. Bank-nonbank relationships - parti more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10540) on Feb. 19, 2026. The white paper is written by defense policy analyst Nicholas M. Munves, senior research librarian Carly A. Miller, Army fellow Ebrima M'Bai. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Reserve Forces The term reserve component (RC) refers collectively to the seven individual reserve components of the Armed Forces: (1) the Army National Guard; (2) the Ar more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48768) on Feb. 24, 2026, entitled "The Department of Education's Proposed Rule to Define "Professional Student": Frequently Asked Questions" by social policy specialist Alexandra Hegji. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Title VIII of P.L. 119-21 (also referred to as the FY2025 budget reconciliation law) amended the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA) to update several aspects of the William D. more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48768) on Feb. 24, 2026, entitled "The Department of Education's Proposed Rule to Define "Professional Student" - Frequently Asked Questions:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * ED Rulemaking to Implement P.L. 119-21's Amendments to Loan Limits How would the proposed rule define "graduate student" and "professional student" for purposes of the new loan limits? The proposed rule would defin more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11400) on Feb. 27, 2026, by Legislative Attorney Bryan L. Adkins: * * * Does Federal Law Preempt Negligent Selection Claims Against Freight Brokers? In the trucking industry, freight brokers serve as intermediaries that match clients who have cargo to ship with trucking companies that provide trucks and drivers to complete the shipment. When a truck crash involves a truck more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11141) on Feb. 25, 2026, by public finance analyst Anthony A. Cilluffo: * * * Employer Tax Credit for Paid Family and Medical Leave Employers providing paid family and medical leave to their employees may be able to claim a tax credit under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 45S. This In Focus provides an overview of the employer credit for paid family and medical leave, its l more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R46858) Feb. 26, 2026, by senior research librarian Sofia Plagakis. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Introduction ... 1 European Elections in 2026 ... 2 European Parliamentary and Presidential Elections ... 4 Figures Figure 1. European Elections in 2026 ... 3 Tables Table 1. European Parliamentary and Presidential Elections ... 4 Contacts Author Information ... 7 * * * In more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IF11665) on Feb. 19, 2026, by Asian affairs specialist Susan V. Lawrence. Here are excerpts: * * * FEMA's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): Recent Developments On April 4, 2025, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) press release indicated that FEMA would be ending a pre-disaster mitigation grant program known as Building Resilient Infrastructure an more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13169) on Feb. 26, 2026, by legislative attorneys Cassandra J. Barnum and Peter G. Berris: * * * Fourth Amendment Search Warrant Requirements The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. As a result, law enforcement generally must obtain a search warrant from a "neutral and detached magistrate" before entering a private space to look for evidence. The Amen more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47037) on Feb. 23, 2026, entitled "Geographic Cost of Living Differences: In Brief" by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Cost of Living: When (Inflation) Versus Where (Geographic Differences) ... 1 Measures of Geographic COL Differences ... 1 Economic Considerations ... 4 Why Disparities Persist ... 4 Proxies for COL ... 4 Home Prices more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11793) on Feb. 24, 2026. The white paper is written by energy policy specialists Corrie E. Clark, Mark Holt and Lexie Ryan. Here are excerpts: * * * Indian Energy Programs at the Department of Energy Indian energy programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) are carried out primarily by the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs (IE) and the Loan Programs Office (LPO). IE  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12661) on Feb. 27, 2026, by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea: * * * Law Enforcement and the Evolving Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Landscape As the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) - commonly referred to as drones - for both commercial and recreational purposes has increased, so too has law enforcement agencies' use of this technology. Simultaneousl more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13116) on Feb. 27, 2026, by natural resources policy specialist Andrew P. Scott. Here are excerpts: * * * National Park Service: FY2026 Appropriations The National Park Service (NPS) administers the National Park System, which includes 433 units valued for their natural, cultural, and recreational importance. System lands cover 81 million federal acres and 4 million nonfederal more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11665) on Feb. 19, 2026, by Asian affairs specialist Susan V. Lawrence. Here are excerpts: * * * President Reagan's Six Assurances to Taiwan Introduction Under the U.S. "one-China" policy, the U.S. government has, since 1979, maintained official relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and unofficial relations with self-governed Taiwan, over which the PRC claims so more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13017) on Feb. 23, 2026, by natural resources policy analyst Anthony R. Marshak. Here are excerpts: * * * President Trump's April 2025 Executive Order on American Seafood Competitiveness: Considerations for U.S. Fisheries Introduction On April 17, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14276, "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness," which required multiple f more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12902) on Feb. 24, 2026. The white paper is written by American national government specialists Sarah J. Eckman and R. Sam Garrett and legislative attorney L. Paige Whitaker: * * * Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act) and Federal Voter Registration Policy and Law This CRS In Focus provides an overview of existing voter registration policy and law in fede more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12310) on Feb. 27, 2026, by economic development policy analyst Adam G. Levin. Here are excerpts: * * * The Small Business Administration's Growth Accelerator Fund Competition Small businesses and startups sometimes benefit from assistance growing their companies, including support for commercialization, mentorship programs, and capital access. Accelerators - organizations oft more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11398) on Feb. 23, 2026, by acting section research manager Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * Supreme Court Rules Against Tariffs Imposed Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) On February 20, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump and Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc., two appeals concerning ta more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12640) on Feb. 26, 2026, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter and international trade and finance specialist Michael D. Sutherland. Here are excerpts: * * * TikTok and China's Digital Platforms: Issues for Congress Congress and U.S. policymakers at the federal and state levels have taken steps to address their national security-related concerns about the exten more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 24 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13025) on Feb. 23, 2026, by acting section research manager Anna E. Normand. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2026 Appropriations Background The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in the Department of the Interior (DOI) provides scientific information to support the management of water, energy, mineral, biological, and land resources and to help commun more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10538) on Feb. 25, 2026, by intelligence and national security analyst Michael E. DeVine. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Intelligence Community (IC): Appointment Dates and Appointment Legal Provisions for Selected IC Leadership This In Focus provides the names and appointment provisions for selected Intelligence Community (IC) senior officials, as reflected in U.S. Code, public more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12473) on Feb. 26, 2026, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist and Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-China Competition in Emerging Technologies: LiDAR The governments of the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC or China) have both identified strategic and emerging technologies a more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12990) on Feb. 26, 2026, by 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 polic more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12964) on Feb. 26, 2026, by Defense Policy analyst Anya L. Fink: * * * U.S.-Russian Nuclear Arms Control: Overview and Potential Considerations for Congress The United States has periodically sought to advance its national security interests through the negotiation and conclusion of nuclear arms control agreements with its adversaries. Throughout 2025 and in 2026, President Don more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 25 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10256) on Feb. 24, 2026, by Asian trade and finance specialist Karen M. Sutter. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Taiwan Trade and Economic Relations Taiwan is a top U.S. trade partner and a key link in global technology supply chains. Taiwan's economy is highly dependent on global trade; exports account for about 70% of its gross domestic product (GDP). Taiwan's policies are seek more PR