WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R47272) on Oct. 13, 2023, by senior technical information specialist Gary Sidor. Here are excerpts: * * * National Disability Employment Awareness Month: Fact Sheet Introduction National Disability Employment Awareness Month is observed annually in October. It celebrates the contributions of people with disabilities to America's workplaces and the economy, and "reaffirms the commitment to  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10932) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Latin American affairs analyst Karla I. Rios. Here are excerpts: * * * Argentina: An Overview Located on the Atlantic coast of South America's Southern Cone, Argentina has a vibrant democratic tradition and is one of the largest economies in Latin America. U.S.Argentina relations have been strong in recent years, and many Members of Congress maintain interest  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12550) on Jan. 23, 2024. The white paper was written by Asian affairs specialists Caitlin Campbell, Ben Dolven and Thomas Lum. Here are excerpts: * * * China-Philippines Tensions in the South China Sea Overview In 2023, the People's Republic of China (PRC, or China) increased pressure on the Philippines to abandon one of its nine outposts in the Spratly Islands chain in the South Chin  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11672) on Jan. 25, 2024, by naval affairs specialist Paul K. Kerr. Here are excerpts: * * * Coast Guard Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) Program: Background and Issues for Congress Introduction The Coast Guard's Waterways Commerce Cutter (WCC) program envisages procuring 30 replacements for the Coast Guard's 35 aging river buoy tenders (WLRs), inland construction tenders (WLICs), and in  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12101) on Jan. 24, 2024, by Megan Stubbs, agricultural conservation and natural resources policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Disaster Assistance A number of federal programs help agricultural producers recover from the effects of natural disasters, including the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), livestock and fruit tree disaster programs, and   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11218) on Jan. 24, 2024, by Latin American affairs analyst June S. Beittel. Here are excerpts: * * * Ecuador: Country Overview and U.S. Relations Ecuador is an ethnically and geographically diverse country of 18.3 million people encompassing portions of South America's Pacific coast, Amazon Basin, and Andean highlands. Ecuador's strategic port city of Guayaquil has become a major hub fo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10831) on Jan. 23, 2024, by defense budget specialist Brendan W. McGarry and defense infrastructure policy analyst Alexandra G. Neenan. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP) Background The Future Years Defense Program (FYDP, commonly pronounced "fye-dip") is a projection of the forces, resources, and programs to support Department of Defense (DOD  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11808) on Jan. 22, 2024, by public finance analyst Gary Guenther: * * * The Internal Revenue Service's Free File Program (FFP): Current Status and Policy Issues The Internal Revenue Service first allowed individual income tax returns to be filed electronically (e-filed) through a pilot program that began in 1986 and involved five tax preparers. Since then, e-filing has grown to the point  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10644) on Jan. 25, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Jim Zanotti. Here are excerpts: * * * The Palestinians: Overview, Aid, and U.S. Policy Issues The Palestinians are an Arab people whose origins are in present-day Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip. The October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel - led by the Iran-backed Sunni Islamist group Hamas (a U.S.-designated foreign terr  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11056) on Jan. 22, 2024, by health policy specialist Amanda K. Sarata: * * * Prescription Drug Importation In the context of rising drug prices, the possibility of importing prescription drugs from other countries at lower prices is again being debated. Generally, the importation or reimportation of a prescription drug that does not meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements is  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12202) on Jan. 26, 2024, by agricultural policy analyst Joel L. Greene. Here are excerpts: * * * Farm Bill Primer: Support for the Dairy Industry The Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program was enacted in the 2018 farm bill (P.L. 115-334) to support dairy operations. The DMC program replaced the 2014 farm bill's Margin Protection Program (MPP; P.L. 113-79, as amended by P.L. 115-123, the B  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11197) on Jan. 22, 2024, by foreign affairs analyst Michael A. Weber and nonproliferation specialist Paul K. Kerr: * * * 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 In Focus provides an overview of the  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12575) on Jan. 26, 2024. The white paper was written by international trade and finance specialists Shayerah I. Akhtar, Andres B. Schwarzenberg and Danielle M. Trachtenberg: * * * U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council: Background and Issues The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) is a high-level forum between the United States and European Union (EU) that aims to: enhance coopera  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11255) on Jan. 25, 2024, by Asian affairs specialist Thomas Lum. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-Papua New Guinea Relations: Issues for Congress Overview The Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG) lies in a region of the southwest Pacific known as Melanesia on the eastern side of the island of New Guinea. It is the most populous Pacific Island country (PIC), with about 9.8 million re  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10715) on Jan. 26, 2024, by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke: * * * Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions Policy Since 2005, the United States has imposed targeted sanctions on Venezuelan individuals and entities that have engaged in criminal, antidemocratic, or corrupt actions. In response to increasing human rights abuses and corruption by the government of Nicola  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12308) on Jan. 25, 2024, by Meghan M. Stuessy, government organization and management analyst: * * * The AI Executive Order and Considerations for Federal Privacy Policy On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued Executive Order (E.O.) 14110 on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence. This E.O. advances a coordinated approach to the responsible develo  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12306) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Public Finance specialist Margot L. Crandall-Hollick. Here are excerpts: * * * How Would the Child Credit Be Calculated for 2023 Under H.R. 7024? H.R. 7024, ordered to be reported by the House Ways and Means committee on January 19, includes several provisions that would expand the child tax credit for low-income families by increasing the refundable portion o  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12226) on Jan. 22, 2024, by public finance analyst Gary Guenther: Here are excerpts: * * * The Debate over Extending the Section 199A Deduction for Qualified Business Income The 2017 tax law (P.L. 115-97, commonly known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act or TCJA) made significant changes to the taxation of business income. For C corporations, the act permanently reduced the corporate tax rate   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12147) on Jan. 25, 2024, by acting section research manager Grant A. Driessen and public finance analyst Brendan McDermott. Here are excerpts: * * * Debt Limit Policy Questions: How Long Do Extraordinary Measures Last? "Extraordinary measures" are operations undertaken by the Department of Treasury to prevent a binding debt limit. Federal debt subject to the statutory limit, codified at   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12254) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Cameron M. Keys, defense logistics and resource management policy analyst, and Alexandra G. Neenan, defense infrastructure policy analyst: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Department of Defense Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) The U.S. Department of Defense's (DOD) Office of Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation (CAPE) provides independent analysis of  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12299) on Jan. 26, 2024, by foreign policy legislation specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Foreign Country Actions to Place the Israel-Hamas Conflict Before International Courts The escalation since October 7, 2023, in the Israel-Hamas conflict has reportedly resulted in significant civilian casualties; destruction of civilian residential areas and infrastructur  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12158) on Jan. 23, 2024, by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 Agriculture Appropriations: Status and Scope Status of Agriculture Appropriations The Agriculture appropriations bill - formally known as the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12309) on Jan. 26, 2024, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Iraq: Attacks and U.S. Strikes Reopen Discussion of U.S. Military Presence Iran-backed armed groups have attacked U.S. personnel in Iraq more than fifty times since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel and the onset of the war in Gaza. In response President Joe Bid  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12263) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Military Mental Health Strategy Development and Program Assessment Provisions Background Congress authorizes, through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Department of Defense (DOD) mental health programs and services that support servicemembers,  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12268) on Jan. 23, 2024, by Bryce H. P. Mendez, defense health care policy specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * FY2024 NDAA: Military Mental Health Workforce Provisions Background Congress authorizes, through the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Department of Defense (DOD) mental health programs and services that support servicemembers, military retirees, and their fami  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12307) on Jan. 24, 2024, by Congress and legislative process analyst Christopher M. Davis: * * * September 12, 2023, Is Estimated to Be the Beginning of the Congressional Review Act "Lookback" Period The Congressional Review Act (CRA, 5 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.801-808) is an oversight tool that Congress may use to consider a joint resolution overturning a rule issued by a federal agency. Under the  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11110) on Jan. 24, 2024, by legislative attorney April J. Anderson: * * * "Tester" Lawsuits Under the Americans with Disabilities Act This term, the Supreme Court granted review in Acheson Hotels, LLC v. Laufer, a case asking whether "testers" (people who seek to identify legal violations but do not necessarily intend to patronize the business they are investigating) have standing   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11109) on Jan. 23, 2024, by deputy assistant director Michael John Garcia and legislative attorney Daniel T. Shedd: * * * Congressional Court Watcher: Recent Appellate Decisions of Interest to Lawmakers (January 16 - January 21, 2024) The federal courts issue hundreds of decisions every week in cases involving diverse legal disputes. This Sidebar series selects decisions from the p  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11107) on Jan. 24, 2024, by legislative attorney Kate R. Bowers: * * * Supreme Court to Consider Request to Stay EPA's Good Neighbor Interstate Air Pollution Rule On February 21, 2024, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear argument on applications to postpone implementation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) "Good Neighbor Plan," a rule addressing interstate tra  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47612) on Oct. 17, 2023, entitled "Building Resilience: FEMA's Building Codes Policies and Considerations for Congress." The report was written by Diane P. Horn, flood insurance and emergency management specialist, and Erica A. Lee emergency management and disaster recovery analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The built environment plays a critical role in determining the severity of a   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47612) on Oct. 17, 2023, entitled "Building Resilience - FEMA's Building Codes Policies and Considerations for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * FEMA: Code Requirements for Funded Projects Code Requirements: Authorities, Developments, and Variations across Programs The Stafford Act, the National Flood Insurance Act, federal regulations, and FEMA policy generally require recipient  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Jan. 17, 2024, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Required number of polar icebreakers. The Coast Guard testified in April, June, and November 2023 that a new Coast Guard fleet mix analysis concluded that the service will require a total of eight to ni  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Jan. 17, 2024, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 3) * * * Coast Guard Great Lakes Icebreakers Current Fleet The Coast Guard's current Great Lakes icebreaker fleet consists of nine cutters: * one heavy icebreaker - Mackinaw (WLBB-30), a 240-foot ship displacing 3,500 tons; * six 140-foot Bay-class  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RL34391) on Jan. 17, 2024, entitled "Coast Guard Polar Security Cutter Program - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 3) * * * PSC Program: Medium-Speed Diesel Engines Another potential issue for Congress concerns the medium-speed diesel engines for the PSCs, which are to be made by Caterpillar. A July 14, 2021, press report states 'American engine-builder Caterpilla  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43539) on Oct. 17, 2023, entitled "Commemorations in Congress: Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups, and Events." The report was written by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus, American national government specialist Garrett Hatch, Congress and legislative process specialist Valerie Heitshusen, and government organization and management analyst Michelle D. Christensen: * * * SUMMARY Since  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43539) on Oct. 17, 2023, entitled "Commemorations in Congress - Options for Honoring Individuals, Groups, and Events:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Overview of Options Discussed Congress's commemorative options fall into two general categories: legislative options and nonlegislative options. All legislative options require passage of a bill or resolution by the House, the Senate, or bot  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47020) on Dec. 5, 2023, entitled "A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards." by research librarians Barbara Salazar Torreon and Ben Leubsdorf. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY A Guide to Major Congressional and Presidential Awards This report is intended to help congressional offices obtain information about awards authorized by Congress and the President. It provides details   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45106) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Medicare and Budget Sequestration" by health care financing analyst Ryan J. Rosso. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Medicare and Budget Sequestration Sequestration is the automatic reduction (i.e., cancellation) of certain federal spending, generally by a uniform percentage. The sequester is a budget enforcement tool that was established by Congress in the   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45106) on Nov. 14, 2023, entitled "Medicare and Budget Sequestration:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Medicare Sequester Execution Timing Once a sequester is triggered, OMB issues a sequestration order for, at most, one fiscal year, and additional orders are issued for each subsequent fiscal year, as necessary. These orders can be issued either before or during the fiscal year in which t  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R45483) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Statistics on Women in National Governments Around the Globe" by research librarian Travis A. Ferrell. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction Women and girls make up half of the world's population; however, in most countries, women are underrepresented in the political process at the national level. Possible causes include discriminatory laws and practices, g  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government: A Primer" government organization and management analyst Ben Wilhelm. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY This report provides an overview of statutory inspectors general (IGs) in the federal government, including their structure, functions, and related issues for Congress. Statutory IGs - established by   more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47627) on Nov. 13, 2023, entitled "Statutory Inspectors General in the Federal Government - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Reporting Requirements Statutory IGs have various reporting obligations to Congress, the Attorney General, agency heads, and the public. Some reporting requirements are periodic, while others are triggered by a specific event. The subsections below highlig  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47798) on Oct. 18, 2023, entitled "Uzbekistan: Background and Issues for Congress" by Asian policy analyst Maria A. Blackwood. Here are excerpts: * * * Uzbekistan: Background and Issues for Congress Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Because it has the largest population in the region (approximately 36 million) and is the only country that borders all four other Central Asian  more

WASHINGTON, Jan. 21 (TNSrep) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47798) on Oct. 18, 2023, entitled "Uzbekistan - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Terrorism and Violent Extremism Terrorist attacks within Uzbekistan are rare, but Uzbek nationals have been involved in international terrorist activity. Government crackdowns drove domestic Islamist extremist groups out of the country in the 1990s, and some Uzbek militants  more