WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13334) by R. Corinne Blackford, Analyst in Small Business and Economic Development Policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * ANC, Tribal, NHO, and CDC Participation in the 8(a) Business Development Program Introduction Congress has historically sought to help small, "socially and economically disadvantaged" business owners overcome barriers to participating in federal contracting and compete in the national economy through t more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13334) by R. Corinne Blackford, Analyst in Small Business and Economic Development Policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * ANC, Tribal, NHO, and CDC Participation in the 8(a) Business Development Program Introduction Congress has historically sought to help small, "socially and economically disadvantaged" business owners overcome barriers to participating in federal contracting and compete in the national economy through t more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11797) by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert and Army fellow Robert Holcombe. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force The Significance of the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Congress has expressed concern about the military threat posed by Russia and China. The Army believes to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, information) env more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11170) by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * Circuit Split on Constitutionality of Federal Felon-in-Possession Prohibition Persists After Supreme Court Denies Review Federal appeals courts disagree as to whether the federal ban on individuals convicted of felonies from possessing firearms - located at 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g)(1) and commonly known as the "felon-in-possession" prohibition - violates the Second Amendme more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12597) by legislative attorney Jared P. Cole: * * * The Clery Act, as Amended by the Stop Campus Hazing Act Allegations in fall 2026 of campus sexual assault have renewed debate on the scope of responsibility for postsecondary institutions to maintain and foster an educational environment free of sexual harassment and violence. Federal law requires colleges and universities to implement several institutional policies aimed at  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11490) Oct. 16, 2026, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * The Commerce Clause and Federal Firearms Prohibitions "Most" modern federal criminal laws are predicated on Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce. Federal firearms offenses are no different in this respect. For example, 18 U.S.C. Sec. 922(g)(1), which prohibits felons from possessing firearms "in or affecting commerce," stems from Congress's Co more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11911) by senior research librarian Claire M. Jordan: * * * Connecting Constituents with Federal Programs for Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects Congress has established programs to assist constituents - including individuals, organizations, and local governments - with drinking water and wastewater infrastructure projects. This In Focus includes a list of selected federal grant, loan, and other programs tha more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34480) on Sept. 23, 2026, entitled "Enrollment of Legislation: Relevant Congressional Procedures" by Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen: * * * SUMMARY An enrolled bill or resolution is the form of a measure finally agreed to by both chambers of Congress. Enrollment occurs in the chamber where the measure originated and is carried out by enrolling clerks under the supervision of the Clerk of the House of Represent more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12201) by agricultural policy analyst Stephanie Rosch. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Federal Crop Insurance Program The federal crop insurance program (FCIP) offers insurance coverage for crops and livestock to help mitigate potential financial consequences of adverse growing and market conditions. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates the policies offered and subsidizes the premiums that farmers pa more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12140) by agricultural policy analyst Stephanie Rosch. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: MAL and LDP Farm Support Programs The Marketing Assistance Loan (MAL) program has been a significant feature of U.S. farm commodity support policy and farm bills since the 1930s. The MAL program provides low-interest loans to eligible farmers collateralized by eligible stored commodities. MALs help farmers meet cash flow needs wh more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13249) by agricultural policy analyst Zachary T. Neuhofer: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Rural Development Title The rural development title of the farm bill reauthorizes, amends, and creates programs administered by agencies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development (RD) mission area. These programs focus on rural broadband, rural utilities, business development, and community facilities. The rural developm more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11492) by Legislative Attorneys Cassandra J. Barnum and Todd Garvey: * * * The Fourth Amendment and the Speech or Debate Clause Various searches by federal agents of sitting Members of Congress can raise questions about the intersection of Fourth Amendment principles and the privilege held by Members under the Speech or Debate Clause of the Constitution. In one of these examples, reporting indicates that agents from Home more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13331) by Linda R. Rowan, natural resources and earth sciences analyst: * * * Geothermal Resources for Energy Development in the United States The U.S. Geological Survey, a science agency in the Department of the Interior, assesses geothermal resources (Earth heat sources) for the development of geothermal energy in surface and subsurface geologic formations (i.e., layers of rock) in the United States as part of its mission an more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11808) by public finance analyst Victoria M. Martinez: * * * The IRS Free File Program: An Overview The Internal Revenue Service's (IRS's) Free File Program (FFP) is a public-private partnership between the IRS and Free File, Inc. (FFI), a group of tax software companies. The FFP allows certain taxpayers to electronically file (e-file) their federal income tax return free of charge using guided software provided by participati more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11491) by legislative attorney Justin C. Chung: * * * IRS Proposed Regulations on Racial Nondiscrimination in Private Schools On September 4, 2026, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations that would add a rule to provide that "all forms of racial discrimination in education, regardless of the intent behind or the legality of such discrimination" are against "fundamental public policy" and, thus, more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12889). The white paper is written by health care financing analyst Laura A. Wreschnig, legislative attorney Hannah-Alise Rogers and senior research librarian Michele L. Malloy. Here are excerpts: * * * Medicare Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration Introduction Medicare Part D is a voluntary federal program that provides outpatient prescription drug coverage to 54 million beneficiaries. Premiums for Part D plans are i more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48859) on Sept. 23, 2026, entitled "Mexico: Background and Key Issues in U.S. Relations" by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke and international trade and finance analyst Danielle M. Trachtenberg. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Mexico, the 10th-most-populous country and 13th-largest economy in the world, is bound to the United States by geography and deep economic, cultural, and historical ties. In addition to sharing  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48859) on Sept. 23, 2026, entitled "Mexico - Background and Key Issues in U.S. Relations:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Collaboration on Migration Trump Administration actions to counter unauthorized migration into the United States have affected Mexicans in the United States and migrants seeking to enter the United States from third countries through Mexico. The Trump Administration reportedly has included renewed U.S. demands for M more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13332) by natural resources policy specialist Mariel J. Murray and environmental policy analyst Heather McPherron. Here are excerpts: * * * Opportunities for Tribal Engagement in National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Reviews The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.4321 et. seq.) sets forth a national policy with respect to environmental quality and a procedural framework for integrating environmental more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12809) by public finance analyst Nicholas E. Buffie: * * * The Section 45X Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit P.L. 117-169, commonly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), enacted a tax credit for the production of component parts and critical minerals used in clean energy equipment. The credit is referred to as the Advanced Manufacturing Production Credit or the 45X credit based on its Internal Revenue Code more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12323) by social policy analyst Zhe Li. Here are excerpts: * * * The Social Security Retirement Age: An Overview Introduction Social Security is a work-based federal insurance program that provides monthly cash benefits to workers and their eligible family members in the event of a worker's retirement, disability, or death. The Social Security retirement age (42 U.S.C. Sec.416(l)(1)) is the age at which workers can first cla more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10275) by Asian affairs specialist Susan V. Lawrence. Here are excerpts: * * * Taiwan: Background and U.S. Relations Introduction Taiwan, which also calls itself the Republic of China (ROC) and was once known as Formosa, is a self-governing East Asian democracy located across the Taiwan Strait from mainland China. Taiwan's popularly elected leaders govern 23.2 million people on the main island of Taiwan; the archipelagoes of more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R49346) by immigration policy analyst Jill H. Wilson. Here are excerpts: * * * Congress created Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in 1990 to provide safe haven to noncitizens in the United States, regardless of immigration status, who are nationals of countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disaster, or other extraordinary circumstances that prevent their safe return./1 A foreign national from a designated country who is granted T more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13092) by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The U.S. Army's Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) The Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) The ISV (Figure 1) is a lightweight, unarmored ground transport vehicle being developed by GM Defense (headquartered in Detroit, MI) intended to enhance the mobility of Army Mobile Brigade Combat Teams (MBCTs), Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs), and Army  more PR

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12665) by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr and defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger: * * * U.S. Military Operations Against Iran's Missile and Nuclear Programs On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched military operations against Iran. The same day, President Donald Trump listed among the operation's objectives preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, destroying Iran's missiles, and "[raz more PR