WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12558) on indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contracts on Dec. 21, 2023, by Dominick A. Fiorentino, government organization and management analyst, and Alexandra G. Neenan, defense infrastructure policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity Contracts The federal government has multiple contracting methods for use in procuring goods and service  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12556) on the Jackson-Vanik amendment and permanent normal trade relations on Dec. 20, 2023. The white paper was written by Asian policy analyst Liana Wong, Maria A. Blackwood and international trade and finance specialists Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Liana Wong. Here are excerpts: * * * https://crsreports.congress.gov December 20, 2023 The Jackson-Vanik Amendment and Permanent Norm  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10165) on local fiscal effects of disasters on Dec. 21, 2023, by Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin and international trade and finance analyst Liana Wong. Here are excerpts: * * * Local Fiscal Effects of Disasters In addition to potential loss of life and property, natural disasters and other emergencies can cause negative fiscal consequences for local governments. This can occur   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12554) on low unemployment in 2023 on Dec. 19, 2023, by macroeconomic policy specialists Marc Labonte and Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Low Unemployment in 2023: Can It Last? The United States has experienced unusually low unemployment in the past two years: The unemployment rate has been 4% or lower in every month since December 2021. It hit its lowest level (3.4%) since   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12553) on National Park System - air tour management issues on Dec. 18, 2023, by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * National Park System: Air Tour Management Issues The statutory and regulatory framework for conducting air tours over units of the National Park System has been of ongoing interest to Congress. The National Parks Air Tour Managemen  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12552) on the National Spectrum Strategy for Wireless Technologies on Dec. 18, 2023, by telecommunications policy analyst Ling Zhu. Here are excerpts: * * * The National Spectrum Strategy for Wireless Technologies: Priorities, Objectives, and Congressional Considerations Most wireless technologies and services, including mobile communications, radio-navigation systems, radar systems, sa  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11679) on Navy DDG(X) Next-Generation Destroyer program on Dec. 20, 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-47) c  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11674) on Navy Light Replenishment Oiler program on Dec. 20, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy Light Replenishment Oiler (TAOL) (Previously Next-Generation Logistics Ship [NGLS]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy's Light Replenishment Oiler (TAOL) program, previously called the Next-Generation Logistics Ship  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11838) on Navy TAGOS-25 ocean surveillance shipbuilding program on Dec. 20, 2023, by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Navy TAGOS-25 Ocean Surveillance Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Navy in FY2022 procured the first of a planned class of seven new TAGOS-25 class ocean surveillance ships at a cost of $434.4 mil  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10472) on North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile programs on Dec. 19, 2023, by nonproliferation specialist Mary Beth D. Nikitin: * * * North Korea's Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs Overview North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs despite UN Security Council sanctions and high-level diplomatic efforts. Recent ballistic missile tests and military   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12555) on permanent employment-based immigration on Dec. 20, 2023, by immigration policy specialist William A. Kandel: * * * Permanent Employment-Based Immigration: Labor Certification and Schedule A In recent years, U.S. employers have reported widespread shortages of workers in various occupations. These reported labor shortages reinforce long-standing concerns about U.S. international  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10165) on South Korea on Dec. 21, 2023, by Asian affairs specialist Mark E. Manyin and international trade and finance analyst Liana Wong. Here are excerpts: * * * South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations Overview South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Trea  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10213) on Sri Lanka on Dec. 18, 2023, by section research manager Colin Willett. Here are excerpts: * * * Sri Lanka: Background and Issues for Congress Background The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a constitutional democracy situated off the southeastern tip of India's Deccan Peninsula and proximate to key sea lines of communication in the Indian Ocean. The Biden Adminis  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11197) on U.S. arms sales and human rights on Dec. 18, 2023, by nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr and foreign affairs analyst Michael A. Weber: * * * U.S. Arms Sales and Human Rights: Legislative Basis and Frequently Asked Questions U.S. law establishes the conditions under which the U.S. government and U.S. commercial entities may sell defense articles to foreign countries. This   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10199) on the U.S.-Japan relations on Dec. 21, 2023. The white paper was written by Asian affairs specialists Mark E. Manyin and Caitlin Campbell and international trade and finance specialists Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs and Kyla H. Kitamura. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Japan Relations Overview Japan, a U.S. treaty ally since 1951, is a constructive U.S. partner in several foreign po  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12290) entitled "'Who Says It's a Disaster?': Podcast Companion" on Dec. 19, 2023. The white paper was written by homeland security and appropriations specialist William L. Painter, natural resources policy analyst Anthony R. Marshak, flood insurance and emergency management specialist Diane P. Horn, agricultural conservation and natural resources policy specialist Megan Stubbs, American na  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12291) on new regulation on Consumer Data Rights proposal on Dec. 19, 2023, by financial economics analyst Cheryl R. Cooper: * * * CFPB Proposes New Regulation on Consumer Data Rights On October 31, 2023, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) proposed a new regulation, referred to as the Personal Financial Data Rights rule, to implement Section 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11869) on Russia's war against Ukraine on Dec. 20, 2023, by Cory Welt, Russian and European affairs specialist: * * * Russia's War Against Ukraine: Overview of U.S. Assistance and Sanctions On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a new war against Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded in 2014 and has partially occupied for almost a decade. The United States, member states of NATO and the   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11090) on the recent appellate decisions of interest to lawmakers, Dec. 11 - Dec. 17, 2023, on Dec. 18, 2023, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Karen Sokol: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (December 11-December 17, 2023) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases i  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL31913) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Debt Limit Legislation: The House "Gephardt Rule" by Congress and legislative process analyst Bill Heniff Jr. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Essentially all of the outstanding debt of the federal government is subject to a statutory limit, which is set forth as a dollar limitation in Title 31, Section 3101(b), of the U.S. Code. From time to time, Congress   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44692) on Nov. 8, 2023, entitled "Five-Year Offshore Oil and Gas Leasing Program: Status and Issues in Brief" by natural resources policy specialist Laura B. Comay. Here are excerpts: * * * Contents Leasing Program Status ... 1 Selected Issues for Congress ... 4 Number of Sales in the 2024-2029 Program ... 4 Timing Considerations for the Five-Year Program ... 5 Regional Leasing Decisio  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47875) on Dec. 14, 2023, entitled "Military Tuition Assistance Program: Background and Issues" by military manpower specialist Kristy N. Kamarck. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Congress has provided authority to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to fund off-duty voluntary education for Active and Reserve Component servicemembers. Congress and DOD have conceived of tuition assistance (TA)  more