WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11797) on June 30, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) The Significance of the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S. national security posed by Russia and China. The Army believes to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a mul  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11797) on July 2, 2025, by military ground forces specialist Andrew Feickert. Here are excerpts: * * * The Army's Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) The Significance of the Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S. national security posed by Russia and China. The Army believes to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a mult  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12581) on July 1, 2025, by American national government specialist R. Sam Garrett: * * * Campaign Finance Policy and Campaign Security Federal campaign finance law does not specifically address the permissibility of spending funds for campaign security, but Federal Election Commission (FEC) rules issued in 2024 do (11 C.F.R. Sec.113.1(g)(10)). This CRS Insight provides a brief ov  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11332) on July 3, 2025, by legislative attorney Christopher T. Zirpoli: * * * Court Decisions Regarding Tariffs Imposed Under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) In 2025, President Donald Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs on most U.S. imports. Several parties filed lawsuits asserting that IEEPA does   more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13050) on July 1, 2025, by Laurie Harris, science and technology policy analyst: * * * DeepSeek and the Race to Develop Artificial Intelligence DeepSeek is an artificial intelligence (AI) start-up founded in 2023 and based in Hangzhou, China. DeepSeek's CEO, Liang Wenfeng, also created High-Flyer, a hedge fund that is reportedly the sole funder of DeepSeek. Some have asserted th  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13054) on July 2, 2025, by economic development policy analyst Julie M. Lawhorn: * * * EDA's Role in Developing Blue Economies In recent years, Congress has considered legislation to advance regional economic development in marine and coastal areas as one of several types of blue economy policies. Definitions of the term blue economy vary. In economic development, the term gener  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13053) on July 2, 2025, by economic policy senior specialist Jane G. Gravelle: * * * The Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (GSTT) The U.S. estate and gift tax system includes a generation-skipping transfer tax (GSTT) to address circumstances in which wealth is transferred to younger generations (such as grandchildren) or unrelated persons more than 37.5 years younger than the dec  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12576) on July 3, 2025, by defense policy analysts Hannah D. Dennis and Daniel M. Gettinger. Here are excerpts: * * * Golden Dome: Proposed Funding in H.R. 1 Introduction Title II, Section 20003, of the House- and Senate-passed versions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) would provide approximately $24.7 billion and $24.4 billion, respectively, for integrated air and mi  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13052) on July 2, 2025, by energy policy analyst Morgan Smith: * * * H.R. 1 Provisions Affecting Renewable Energy On May 22, 2025, the House passed its version of H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. On July 1, the Senate passed its version of the bill. The bill would reduce tax rates, adjust spending for various federal programs, increase the statutory debt limit, and otherw  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11459) on June 30, 2025, by Kelley M. Sayler, advanced technology and global security specialist. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) is pursuing two types of hypersonic weapons technologies: boost-glide systems that place a maneuverable glide vehicle atop a ballistic missile or rocket booster, and cruise   more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R44076) on July 1, 2025, by senior knowledge management librarian Caitlin Curran: * * * Independence Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet Introduction Independence Day, often called the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday recognizing the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776. This guide is designed to assist congressional offices with work related to Independence Day ev  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13048) on June 30, 2025. The white paper is written by Shayerah I. Akhtar and M. Angeles Villarreal, international trade and finance specialists and Keigh E. Hammond, senior research librarian. Here are excerpts: * * * International Trade Administration: Overview and Issues The International Trade Administration (ITA), a unit of the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce), play  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13047) on June 30, 2025, by macroeconomic policy specialists Marc Labonte and Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Trade Deficit What Is the Trade Deficit? The trade balance measures the difference between how much the United States spends on importing foreign goods and services and how much foreigners spend on exports of U.S. goods and ser  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11798) on June 30, 2025, by energy policy specialist Paul W. Parfomak. Here are excerpts: * * * Line 5 Pipeline: Relocation and Permitting The Line 5 Pipeline is a 30-inch diameter, 645-mile pipeline owned by Enbridge carrying up to 540,000 barrels per day of crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, WI, to Sarnia, Ontario (Figure 1). A key segment of Line 5 is an underwa  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11788) on June 30, 2025, by military personnel specialist Kristy N. Kamarck. Here are excerpts: * * * Defense Primer: Military Service Academies Overview The U.S. military service academies are tuition-free, four-year degree-granting institutions operated by the military departments. The academies are a major officer commissioning source, along with the Senior Reserve Officer   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on June 30, 2025, entitled "Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Rules for giving certain types of names to certain t  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on June 30, 2025, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 4) * * * Frigates (FFGs) Current Navy plans call for procuring a total of 20 Constellation (FFG-62) class frigates./54 The first six ships in the class were named for people and U.S. Navy ships of the Revolutionary War and the early republic: * On October 7, 2020, the Navy announced that  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on June 30, 2025, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 2 of 4) * * * Ships Named for the Confederacy or Confederate Officers Section 1749 of FY2020 NDAA Section 1749 of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) (S. 1790/P.L. 116-92 of December 20, 2019) prohibited the Secretary of Defense, in naming a new ship (or other asset) or renam  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. RS22478) on June 30, 2025, entitled "Navy Ship Names - Background for Congress:" (Continued from Part 3 of 4) * * * Changes to Names of Navy Ships Statutory Provision 10 U.S.C. Sec.8662(b) states, "The Secretary of the Navy may change the name of any vessel bought for the Navy." Using this authority, the Secretary of the Navy may select a new name for an existing ship that has been purchased   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13049) on June 30, 2025, by environmental policy specialist Jonathan L. Ramseur. Here are excerpts: * * * The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund Tax: Background and Selected Issues The Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) provides an immediate source of funds for federal responses to oil spills and compensation for certain damages. Historically, the OSLTF has been financed primar  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN11701) on June 30, 2025, by disability policy analyst Scott D. Szymendera. Here are excerpts: * * * Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Regulation of Employee Exposure to Heat Employees who work outdoors, including those in industries such as construction and agriculture, may be exposed to extreme heat conditions. Similarly, certain indoor work situations - such  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13055) on July 3, 2025, by Michelle D. Christensen, government organization and management analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Postal Primer: Overview of the Postal Regulatory Commission The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) is an independent regulatory agency responsible for oversight of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). Formerly the Postal Rate Commission, the PRC was establishe  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12864) on July 3, 2025, by Michelle D. Christensen, government organization and management analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Postal Primer: Overview of the USPS Board of Governors The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is under the direction of the Postal Board of Governors, which USPS describes as "comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation." Created by the Postal Reo  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12580) on July 1, 2025, by Cameron M. Keys, defense logistics and resource management policy analyst and Daniel M. Gettinger, defense policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Proposed Defense Funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, Title II) Introduction In April 2025, the House and Senate adopted H.Con.Res. 14, a budget resolution for FY2025, which included reconcil  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11104) on July 1, 2025, by legislative attorney Dave S. Sidhu: * * * The Second Amendment and the Federal Prohibition on Unlawful Drug Users from Possessing Firearms The Gun Control Act of 1968 bars nine categories of individuals from possessing firearms or ammunition. Following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen,   more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10155) on June 30, 2025, by African affairs specialist Lauren Ploch Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Somalia Instability and humanitarian crises have beset Somalia for decades. After the authoritarian Siad Barre regime fell amid civil war in 1991, the country became a "failed state." The formation of a federal government in 2012 was a turning point, and, with international s  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11331) on July 1, 2025, by legislative attorney Joanna R. Lampe: * * * On June 27, 2025, the Supreme Court issued a decision in Trump v. CASA, Inc., a trio of consolidated cases in which the Court limited the ability of federal courts to block federal laws and policies. The Court held that the Judiciary Act of 1789 does not authorize nationwide injunctions that reach more b  more

WASHINGTON, July 1 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48587) on June 30, 2025, entitled "U.S. Coal Industry Trends" by energy policy analyst Lexie Ryan. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The U.S. coal industry has seen a decline in the amount of coal mined and consumed - although mining efficiency has improved. The industry's U.S. employment has declined 92% over a century. U.S. coal consumption and production peaked in 2007 and 2008, respectivel  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12949) on July 3, 2025, by agricultural policy analyst Lia Biondo. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. Egg Production and Retail Prices According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. national average retail price of eggs per dozen hit an all-time high of $6.23 in March 2025 (Figure 1). Experts attribute this in part to an outbreak of a highly contagious and deadly viral d  more

WASHINGTON, July 4 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11353) on July 3, 2025, by defense policy analyst Daniel M. Gettinger: * * * Defense Primer: U.S. Precision-Guided Munitions The effectiveness, cost, and availability of U.S. precision-guided munitions (PGMs) are subjects of long-standing congressional interest and debate. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has requested funds from Congress to increase the U.S. military's proc  more

WASHINGTON, July 2 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13050) on July 1, 2025, by foreign affairs analyst Daniel J. Longo and legislative attorney Karen Sokol. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S.-South Korea Special Measures Agreements (SMAs): Legal and Policy Issues for Congress Overview The United States and South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) forged a military alliance in the wake of the Korean War (1950-1953). Und  more