WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R44263) on the Veterans Day speech resources on Nov. 9, 2023, by Maya V. Thomas, reference and digital services librarian: * * * Veterans Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet Introduction Veterans Day is a federal holiday honoring people who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. It is recognized annually on November 11./1 This fact sheet is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12465) on the 5G Fund for Rural America on Nov. 13, 2023, by telecommunications policy analyst Jill C. Gallagher: * * * 5G Fund for Rural America: Current Status and Issues On October 27, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) created the 5G Fund for Rural America (5G Fund). The FCC directed that $9 billion over the next 10 years from the Universal Service Fund (USF) be used   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11999) on AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation on Nov. 15, 2023, by nonproliferation specialists Paul K. Kerr and Mary Beth D. Nikitin: * * * AUKUS Nuclear Cooperation On December 1, 2021, President Joseph Biden submitted to Congress an "Agreement among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States for the Exchange of Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information." This In Focus explains the agreemen  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12532) on the Compacts of Free Association on Nov. 13, 2023, by labor policy specialist Sarah A. Donovan and legislative attorney Jon O. Shimabukuro. Here are excerpts: * * * The Compacts of Free Association Overview The Compacts of Free Association govern the relationships between the United States and the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), a  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12531) on the District of Columbia Courts on Nov. 13, 2023, by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion and legislative attorney Matthew D. Trout: * * * The District of Columbia Courts: A Brief Introduction The Superior Court of the District of Columbia (DC) and the DC Court of Appeals (the DC Courts) exercise jurisdiction over local matters in Washington, DC. Although th  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11930) on the European Parliament and U.S. interests on Nov. 17, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * The European Parliament and U.S. Interests A Key EU Institution The European Parliament (EP) is the only directly elected institution of the 27-country European Union (EU). The EP's current 705 members represent the EU's roughly   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12532) on the Fair Labor Standards Act Exemption for Executive, Administrative and Professional employees on Nov. 13, 2023, by labor policy specialist Sarah A. Donovan and legislative attorney Jon O. Shimabukuro. Here are excerpts: * * * The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Exemption for Executive, Administrative, and Professional (EAP) Employees: 2023 Proposed Rule The Fair Labor Standa  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12532) on the federally funded construction and the payment of locally prevailing wages on Nov. 13, 2023, by labor policy analyst Elizabeth Weber Handwerker and legislative attorney Jon O. Shimabukuro: * * * Federally Funded Construction and the Payment of Locally Prevailing Wages Introduction Since the 1930s, numerous statutes have been enacted that establish minimum labor standards fo  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10587) on human trafficking and U.S. foreign policy on Nov. 16, 2023, by foreign affairs analyst Michael A. Weber. Here are excerpts: * * * Human Trafficking and U.S. Foreign Policy: An Introduction What is human trafficking? Human trafficking (also known as trafficking in persons) refers to the subjection of men, women, or children to exploitative conditions that may be tantamount to m  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12533) on meeting locations of Congress and predecessor legislatures on Nov. 13, 2023, by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * Meeting Locations of Congress and Predecessor Legislatures In 1987, as part of the Bicentennial Celebration of the Constitution, Congress held a joint commemorative meeting in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA - site of the Constitu  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12532) on the naval forces on Nov. 14, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke: * * * Defense Primer: Naval Forces "Naval Forces" Refers to Both the Navy and Marine Corps Although the term naval forces is often used to refer specifically to Navy forces, it more properly refers to both Navy and Marine Corps forces, because both the Navy and Marine Corps are naval services. For   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11679) on the Navy DDG(X) next-generation destroyer program on Nov. 13, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's DDG(X) program envisages procuring a class of next-generation guided-missile destroyers (DDGs) to replace the Navy's Ticonderoga (CG-4  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11826) on the Navy next-generation attack submarine (SSN[X]) program on Nov. 13, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Next-Generation Attack Submarine (SSN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy wants to begin procuring a new class of nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN), called the Next-Generation Attack Subm  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11208) on the Pacific Islands on Nov. 14, 2023, by Asian affairs specialist Thomas Lum and research assistant Joseph O. Yinusa. Here are excerpts: * * * The Pacific Islands Overview The Pacific Islands region in the Southwest Pacific has emerged as an area of growing interest to major powers, due to the region's strategic location and significant resources. The region has strategic sig  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11930) on Syria and U.S. policy on Nov. 15, 2023, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Syria and U.S. Policy Since 2011, conflict between the government of Syrian President Bashar al Asad and opposition forces seeking his removal has displaced roughly half of the country's population and killed over half a million people. Five countries  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12534) on the U.S. commercial shipbuilding in a global context on Nov. 15, 2023, by transportation policy specialist John Frittelli. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Commercial Shipbuilding in a Global Context Introduction Congress has long-standing concern with the state of the U.S. commercial (i.e., non-Navy) shipbuilding industry. Now that China has become the world's leading shipbuild  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12510) on the U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement on Nov. 17, 2023, by Karen M. Sutter, Asian trade and finance specialist, and John F. Sargent Jr., science and technology policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-China Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement On January 31, 1979, weeks after the United States and the People's Republic of China (PRC, or C  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12278) on bank exposure to commercial real estate on Nov. 16, 2023, by financial economics analyst Andrew P. Scott. Here are excerpts: * * * Bank Exposure to Commercial Real Estate The economic turmoil resulting from the pandemic negatively affected commercial real estate (CRE), particularly by leading to a sharp, albeit temporary, increase in delinquencies among commercial mortgage-back  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11829) on debt limit suspensions on Nov. 14, 2023, by economic policy analyst D. Andrew Austin. Here are excerpts: * * * Debt Limit Suspensions Updated November 14, 2023 From 2013 until 2019, and again in June 2023, Congress chose to suspend the statutory limit on the amount of federal debt outstanding for set periods of time, rather than increase the limit by a dollar amount. In Octobe  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12277) on emergency management Post-Katrina Emergency Management Reform Act on Nov. 13, 2023, by William L. Painter, homeland security and appropriations specialist: * * * HSA@20 Episode Companion: Emergency Management Post-PKEMRA This Insight accompanies the "Emergency Management Post-PKEMRA" episode of The Homeland Security Act at 20 podcast series and includes background information on  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12204) on FBI headquarters site selection process on Nov. 14, 2023, by American national government specialist Garrett Hatch: * * * FBI Headquarters Site Selection Process Identification of Potential Sites On February 8, 2016, the General Services Administration (GSA) submitted a prospectus to Congress for the construction of a new headquarters facility for the Federal Bureau of Investig  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12280) on the federal guidelines, testing and certification for electronic poll books on Nov. 16, 2023, by American national government analyst Andrew P. Scott. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Guidelines, Testing, and Certification for Electronic Poll Books (E-Poll Books) The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) oversees a program to test and certify voting systems to a set of volu  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12279) on growth in electric vehicle manufacturing on Nov. 16, 2023, by transportation and industry analyst Steven H. Bayless: * * * Growth in Electric Vehicle Manufacturing: A Factor in the 2023 United Auto Workers (UAW) Negotiations The United Auto Workers (UAW) began a strike against the "Big Three" automakers - General Motors (GM), Ford, and Stellantis - on September 15, 2023, followi  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11532) on TRICARE Cost-Sharing Changes in 2024 on Nov. 13, 2023, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * TRICARE Cost-Sharing Changes in 2024 The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) administers a statutory health entitlement (under Title 10, Chapter 55, of the U.S. Code) through the Military Health System (MHS). The MHS offers health care benef  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11077) on Armed Career Criminal Act on Nov. 16, 2023, by Charles Doyle, American public law senior specialist: * * * Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA): When Does a Prior Drug Offense Qualify? Introduction It is a federal crime for a convicted felon, among others, to possess a firearm. Under the Armed Career Criminal Act (ACCA), the offense carries a mandatory minimum term of impris  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11074) on free speech constraints on public officials' social media pages on Nov. 13, 2023, by legislative attorney Valerie C. Brannon: * * * Free Speech Constraints on Public Officials' Social Media Pages On October 31, 2023, the Supreme Court heard oral argument in two cases challenging public officials' social media activity, O'Connor-Ratcliff v. Garnier and Lindke v. Freed. Gov  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11076) on marijuana banking on Nov. 15, 2023, legislative attorney David H. Carpenter: * * * Marijuana Banking: Legal Issues and the SAFE(R) Banking Acts A number of states have adopted laws permitting marijuana sales and other marijuana-related activities, even though those same activities remain unlawful under federal drug and financial laws. Due to the legal risks under federal   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11075) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Nov. 6 - Nov. 12, 2023, on Nov. 13, 2023, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Rosemary W. Gardey: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (November 6 - November 12, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11078) on the Supreme Court adopts a Code of Conduct on Nov. 17, 2023, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * The Supreme Court Adopts a Code of Conduct On November 13, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court announced the adoption of the Code of Conduct for Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States (Justices' Code of Conduct). The Justices' Code of Conduct is a set of five e  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40962) on Oct. 30, 2023, entitled "Members' Representational Allowance: History and Usage" by Congress specialist Ida A. Brudnick. Here are excerpts: * * * Members of the House of Representatives have one consolidated allowance, the Members' Representational Allowance (MRA), with which to operate their offices. The MRA was first authorized in 1996 and was made subject to regulations and adjust  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R40962) on Oct. 30, 2023, entitled "Members' Representational Allowance - History and Usage:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Fiscal Year Appropriations: Funding History The MRA is funded in the House "Salaries and Expenses" account in the annual legislative branch appropriations bills. One single line-item provides funding for all Members' MRAs. The FY2010 MRA funding level of $660.0 mill  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47052) on Nov. 9, 2023, entitled "Nigeria: Overview and U.S. Policy" by African affairs analyst Tomas F. Husted. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Overview. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country, largest economy, and top oil producer. It is the United States' second-largest trade partner and third-largest destination for U.S. foreign direct investment in Africa, and it routinely ranks amon  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47052) on Nov. 9, 2023, entitled "Nigeria - Overview and U.S. Policy:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Security Challenges The sections below provide overviews of select security issues in Nigeria that have attracted attention from some Members of Congress and other U.S. policymakers. Some general trends may be observed across patterns of insecurity and government responses: Security forc  more