WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12700) by legislative attorney Kevin J. Hickey: * * * "Skinny Labels" for Generic Drugs Under Hatch-Waxman New "brand-name" drugs are often protected from generic competition by patents. In general, a drug manufacturer intending to market a generic version of a brand-name drug must either wait for those patents to expire or challenge the validity or applicability of the patents in court. While some drug patents cover the acti more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13274) on July 24, 2026, by income security specialists John J. Topoleski and Elizabeth A. Myers. Here are excerpts: * * * Access to Retirement Benefits in the Private Sector: 2010-2025 Access to employer-sponsored pensions among private sector workers increased by seven percentage points from 2010 to 2025. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data indicated that 65% of private sector workers had access to all retirement benefits more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11352) by legislative attorney Jared P. Cole: * * * Appellate Courts Divided on Scope of Title IX Liability for Schools in Cases of Sexual Harassment Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Recipient schools can be liable under Title IX for an insufficient response to sexual harassment by a teacher more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12171) by income security specialists John J. Topoleski and Elizabeth A. Myers: * * * Benefit Reductions to Participants in Delphi Pension Plans Introduction Delphi Technologies is a parts and components supplier to automakers that was spun off from General Motors (GM) in 1999. In May 2009, Delphi's pension plans were terminated, and responsibility for the payment of plan participants' benefits was turned over to the Pension  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12684) by health policy specialists Kavya Sekar and Alexandria K. Mickler. Here are excerpts: * * * Changes to CDC Vaccine Recommendations in 2025 and 2026 Since U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (hereinafter, HHS Secretary) was sworn in on February 13, 2025, HHS and one of its operating divisions, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), have changed several long-s more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11463) by Legislative Attorneys Hillel R. Smith and Kristen Hite: * * * The Department of Homeland Security's Authority to Determine Detention Locations The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may detain aliens who have violated federal civil immigration laws and who are placed in removal proceedings or ordered removed. To carry out this function, Congress has directed the DHS Secretary to "arrange for appropriate plac more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13273) on July 24, 2026, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu and firearms policy analyst Jordan B. Cohen: * * * The Department of Justice Proposed Rule to Restore Firearms Rights to "Prohibited Persons" The Gun Control Act (GCA) categorically prohibits certain classes of individuals, including individuals convicted of felony offenses, from possessing, receiving, shipping, or transporting a firearm connected with interstate o more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12267) on July 24, 2026, by social policy specialist Alexandra Hegji. Here are excerpts: * * * Direct Loan Program Student Loans: Terms and Conditions The William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) program is the largest source of federal financial aid supporting students' postsecondary educational pursuits. As of March 31, 2026, $1.6 trillion in Direct Loans, borrowed by or on behalf of 38.5 million individuals, were  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13278) on July 28, 2026, by energy policy analyst Morgan Smith: * * * Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) Commercialization Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) use directional drilling and hydraulic stimulation technologies to add porosity and fluid circulation to locations of naturally occurring underground heat to create conditions necessary for geothermal energy production. Related closed-loop systems use some of the same techn more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12733) by environmental policy analyst Jonathan D. Haskett. Here are excerpts: * * * Extreme Heat and Climate Change Scientific consensus supports a causal relationship between increasing global temperatures and the incidence of extreme heat. Extreme heat can have a range of serious consequences, with record-breaking temperatures and heatwaves occurring in recent years. For example, global temperature datasets from the Nation more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10767) on July 28, 2026, by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Credit Administration and Its Board Members Overview Congress oversees the Farm Credit Administration (FCA), which is the federal financial regulator responsible for ensuring the safety and soundness of Farm Credit System (FCS) institutions and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac). FCA is directed by a th more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11459) by legislative attorney Milan N. Ball: * * * Fifth and Sixth Circuits Divided on Whether the Necessary and Proper Clause Authorizes Federal Ban on At-Home Spirit Distilling For more than 150 years, federal law has banned individuals from distilling spirits at home. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Sec.Sec. 5601(a)(6) and 5178(a)(1)(B) prohibit individuals from producing spirits at home for personal consumption by restr more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12704) on July 24, 2026, by Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen and defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2027 NDAA: Status of Legislative Activity On April 3, 2026, President Donald Trump submitted documentation supporting the President's FY2027 budget request, including proposed funding for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), atomic energy defense activities prima more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12703) on July 24, 2026, by defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger. Here are excerpts: * * * Nuclear Risk Reduction: Executive Branch Policies and Congressional Approaches in the 119th Congress Following the February 2026 expiration of the 2010 New START arms control agreement, which reduced U.S. and Russian strategic offensive nuclear forces, some Members of the 119th Congress have held hearings and debated legislative pr more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13275) on July 28, 2026, by natural resource policy specialist Eva Lipiec. Here are excerpts: * * * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) FY2027 Budget Request and Appropriations The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency in the Department of Commerce. NOAA's stated mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts; to share that information; and  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12717) on July 24, 2026, by defense policy specialist Anya L. Fink and nonproliferation specialist Mary Beth D. Nikitin: * * * Nuclear Risk Reduction: Executive Branch Policies and Congressional Approaches in the 119th Congress Following the February 2026 expiration of the 2010 New START arms control agreement, which reduced U.S. and Russian strategic offensive nuclear forces, some Members of the 119th Congress have held hearin more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS20544) on July 28, 2026, entitled "The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and Senate" by Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen: * * * The House and the Senate each has an Office of the Parliamentarian to provide expert advice and assistance on questions relating to the meaning and application of that chamber's legislative rules, precedents, and practices. The Speaker began naming a parliamentarian in 1927;/1  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45576) on July 21, 2026, entitled "An Overview of Small Business Contracting" by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has broad authority to impact the federal procurement process and how agencies purchase goods and services from private sector firms. One way in which Congress has exercised this authority is by adopting measures to promote contracts and subco more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45576) on July 21, 2026, entitled "An Overview of Small Business Contracting:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Small Business Mentor-Protege Programs and Joint Ventures/81 Small business mentor-protege programs typically seek to pair new businesses with more experienced businesses in mutually beneficial relationships. Proteges may receive financial, technical, or management assistance from mentors in obtaining and performing federal cont more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12720) by Congress and legislative process specialists Megan S. Lynch and James V. Saturno: * * * Reconciliation 4.0: How Many Opportunities Does Congress Have to Use Reconciliation? Reconciliation legislation is unique in that it is considered under expedited parliamentary procedures that do not require the support of three-fifths of Senators to end debate, allowing the Senate to pass spending, tax, and debt limit reconciliati more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13279) by domestic security specialist Kristin Finklea: * * * Regulating State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Law Enforcement Actions to Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) The use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS, or drones) has increased for commercial and recreational purposes; so too have concerns about their potential public safety and security risks. Since 2018, federal law enforcement agencies within the U.S. De more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13226) by natural resources policy specialists Caitlin Keating-Bitonti and Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * Seabed Mining on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: Recent Developments As part of a national effort to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals, President Trump issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14285 of April 24, 2025, "Unleashing America's Offshore Critical Minerals and Resources." One potential source of off more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11462) by legislative attorney Kevin J. Hickey: * * * Supreme Court Limits Patent Infringement Liability for "Skinny Label" Generic Drugs On June 4, 2026, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA Inc. v. Amarin Pharma, Inc., a closely watched patent-infringement case with significant consequences for the generic-drug industry. Hikma v. Amarin concerned what are sometimes called the "skinny label more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12719) by public finance analyst Nicholas E. Buffie. Here are excerpts: * * * Technology-Neutral Clean Electricity Tax Credits Under the IRA and the OBBBA When the FY2022 reconciliation law, also known as the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), was enacted, it brought about a shift in the energy tax credit landscape. Among other changes, the IRA scheduled the two largest renewable energy tax credits to begin phasing out after 2024, more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11437) by Christina L. Arabia, security assistance, security cooperation and the global arms trade analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Transfer of Defense Articles: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Overview Under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, authorized by Congress in the Arms Export Control Act of 1976 (AECA; P.L. 90-629; 22 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.2751 et seq.), as amended, the U.S. government sells or transfers U.S. defense  more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11441) by Christina L. Arabia, security assistance, security cooperation and the global arms trade analyst: * * * Transfer of Defense Articles: Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) Overview The Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) program, authorized by Congress in the Arms Export Control Act (AECA; 22 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.2751 et seq.), as amended, provides for the export of U.S. defense articles and services from U.S. companies to foreign coun more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13276) on July 28, 2026, by military ground forces specialist Andorra Bruno. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Marine Corps Ground Combat Element (GCE) 2040 Initiative Introduction In March 2020, the U.S. Marine Corps announced a major force design initiative it referred to as "Force Design 2030," now known as "Force Design." As part of this 10-year initiative, the Marines planned to redesign the service to prioritize naval expe more PR

WASHINGTON, July 30 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13277) on July 28, 2026, by immigration policy specialist Andorra Bruno. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Refugee Admissions Program in FY2025 and FY2026 The U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) is in uncharted territory. It has been suspended since late January 2025. Under the suspension, only refugees who qualify for an exception are being admitted to the United States. The refugee ceiling (the maximum number of refugees th more PR

WASHINGTON, July 28 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10246) by Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin and nonproliferation specialist Mary Beth D. Nikitin. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-North Korea Relations Since the breakdown in 2019 of negotiations between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to freeze and dismantle the North's nuclear weapons program, North Korea (the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) largely has ignored U.S. and South K more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12721) by Russian and European Affairs analyst Andrew S. Bowen: * * * Ukrainian Military Leadership Changes On July 15, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ukraine's minister of defense, Mykhailo Fedorov, after six months in office and amid a wider government overhaul. Zelensky then appointed Evgeniy Khmara, head of the Security Service of Ukraine, as acting defense minister. Changes in Ukraine's military lea more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11464) by legislative attorney Sean Stiff: * * * The Uniform Grants Regulation: OMB's Relation to Federal Grantmaking Agencies On May 29, 2026, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 41 executive branch grantmaking agencies published in the Federal Register a proposed joint interagency rule. The proposed rule would establish a Uniform Grants Regulation (UGR) that would change how executive branch agencies make and more PR

WASHINGTON, July 31 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13280). The white paper is written by internet and telecommunication policy specialist Patricia Moloney Figliola, telecommunication policy specialist Colby Leigh Pechtol and legislative attorney Chris D. Linebaugh: * * * The Universal Service Fund Contribution Base: Considerations for Congress Introduction The Universal Service Fund (USF), comprising four federal broadband-related programs, is funded by mandatory fees on tel more PR