Congressional Research Service reports
The Congressional Research Service is the nonpartisan policy-research arm of Congress. CRS analysts write briefings (long-form Reports, short-form Insights, 2-page In Focus sheets) that members + staff use to understand the substance of every active issue. Until FY2019 NDAA §1141, these were not public; now the Library of Congress publishes them and we mirror via api.congress.gov.
3,118 reports in the mirror. Filtered to Resources. Each report's bill-citation list (curated by CRS in relatedMaterials) projects into cited_in_report edges so every bill page surfaces the CRS briefs Congress had on the topic.
Reports (3,118)
Showing the 100 most recently published.
| Published | ID | Type | Title | Bills cited |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-22 | IF13233 | Resources | Medicare’s Site-Neutral Payment Policy Overview
By law, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) determines Medicare program Parts A and B payments to providers and suppliers for services furnished to covered beneficiaries through multiple payment systems. Some Medicare payment systems pay for services furni… by Jim Hahn, Wen W. Shen | |
| 2026-05-21 | IF11070 | Resources | John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood Children are removed from families and placed into foster care due to incidents of abuse, neglect, or other family crisis. On September 30, 2025, more than 102,000 young people aged 14 or older were in foster care. More than 15,000 young people emancipated from care in FY2025, me… by Patrick A. Landers | 1 |
| 2026-05-21 | IF11504 | Resources | Infertility in the Military Over the past two decades, Congress has considered various legislative actions concerning the provision of infertility services and reproductive care for servicemembers and their families. The Department of Defense (DOD), which is “using a secondary Department of War designation”… by Bryce H. P. Mendez, Michael J. Vassalotti | 2 |
| 2026-05-21 | IF12125 | Resources | Section 301 and China: The U.S.-China Phase One Trade Deal On January 15, 2020, then-President Donald J. Trump signed a trade agreement with then-Vice Premier Liu He of the People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China). The agreement sought to resolve some long-standing complaints by U.S. government and businesses asserting that China was e… by Karen M. Sutter | |
| 2026-05-21 | IF12735 | Resources | U.S. Extended Deterrence and Regional Nuclear Capabilities One of the stated goals of U.S. nuclear weapons policy has been to extend deterrence to over 30 U.S. “allies and partners” and assure these countries that the United States will come to their aid, including potentially by using U.S. nuclear weapons, if they are attacked. The 2010… by Anya L. Fink | |
| 2026-05-21 | IF12940 | Resources | The Federal Reserve’s Mandate: Policy Options The Federal Reserve (Fed) is responsible for monetary policy, which it conducts mainly by setting short-term interest rates to affect economic activity. (For more information, see CRS In Focus IF11751, Introduction to U.S. Economy: Monetary Policy.) Monetary policy is guided by t… by Marc Labonte | 1 |
| 2026-05-21 | IF13232 | Resources | Unemployment Compensation, Strikes and Lockouts in 2025 Introduction
Eligible unemployed workers may receive weekly income support from the joint federal-state Unemployment Compensation (UC) program while they search for new work. In general, such workers must have lost their jobs through no fault of their own and be able, available, … by Julie M. Whittaker, Katelin P. Isaacs | 5 |
| 2026-05-20 | IF13231 | Resources | Indexing Capital Gains Taxes for Inflation: Marginal Effective Tax Rates and Revenue Estimates Proposals to index capital gains taxes for inflation have recently generated public debate. For example, S. 798 and H.R. 1857 would inflation index capital gains on assets held for at least three years. Some Members of Congress have also advocated for the Administration to adopt … by Jane G. Gravelle, Mark P. Keightley | 2 |
| 2026-05-19 | IF10213 | Resources | Sri Lanka: Background and Issues for Congress The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a constitutional democracy situated off the southeastern tip of India. A democracy since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1948, Sri Lanka (known as Ceylon until 1972) is located along key sea lines of communication in t… by Colin Willett, William Piekos | |
| 2026-05-19 | IF11737 | Resources | China: Nuclear and Missile Proliferation The U.S. government for decades has expressed concerns about China’s proliferation of nuclear- and missile-related technologies to other countries, with recent focus on the threat of Chinese acquisition of U.S.-origin nuclear technology. (See CRS In Focus IF11050, New U.S. Policy… by Paul K. Kerr, Paul K. Kerr | |
| 2026-05-19 | IF13223 | Resources | The Federal Role in Hazardous Wildfire Fuel Treatments Introduction
Hazardous fuels are combustible vegetation that accumulates on the landscape, presenting a threat of starting and spreading wildfires that resist control. Hazardous fuels and their associated wildfire threats cross land management and ownership boundaries. Federal an… by Alicyn R. Gitlin | 2 |
| 2026-05-19 | IF13229 | Resources | Executive Order 14395, “Establishing the Task Force to Eliminate Fraud” Background
Fraud, the act of obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation, is a growing concern for the federal government. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, convictions for government benefits fraud increased 242% between 2020 and 2024. During the pa… by Garrett Hatch | |
| 2026-05-18 | IF11175 | Resources | U.S.-Mexico Trade Relations The 119th Congress is engaged in a range of legislative and oversight activities related to trade policy toward Mexico, which in 2025 was the largest U.S. trading partner in total trade (exports plus imports) of goods and services. Mexico’s proximity to the United States and the … by Danielle M. Trachtenberg | |
| 2026-05-18 | IF11797 | Resources | 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 multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, info… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | |
| 2026-05-18 | IF13230 | Resources | Current Hantavirus Outbreak and Considerations for Congress Background and Current Hantavirus Outbreak
Hantavirus is a zoonotic pathogen carried by rodents (e.g., mice and rats) and transmitted to humans generally from contact with their droppings, urine, and saliva. On May 2, 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) received notificati… by Todd Kuiken, Kavya Sekar, Pervaze A. Sheikh | |
| 2026-05-15 | IF13228 | Resources | Department of Labor’s Proposed Regulation on Fiduciary Duties in Selecting Designated Investment Alternatives Introduction
The fiduciary standards in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA; P.L. 93-406) require that individuals (referred to as fiduciaries) who make decisions in private-sector pension plans adhere to specified standards of conduct. The standards includ… by John J. Topoleski, Elizabeth A. Myers | |
| 2026-05-14 | IF11459 | Resources | Defense Primer: Hypersonic Boost-Glide Weapons The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD; currently “using a secondary Department of War designation” under Executive Order 14347 dated September 5, 2025) is pursuing two types of hypersonic weapons technologies: boost-glide systems that place a maneuverable glide vehicle atop a balli… by Kelley M. Sayler | |
| 2026-05-14 | IF11729 | Resources | Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Background
The Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) Family of Vehicles (FoV) is an Army-led, joint-service program designed to replace a portion of each service’s light tactical wheeled vehicle fleets. The JLTV FoV consists of two variants: the four-seat Combat Tactical Vehicle (C… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | 1 |
| 2026-05-14 | IF13077 | Resources | National Landslide Preparedness Act and the Status of Landslide Risk Reduction In 2021, Congress passed the National Landslide Preparedness Act (NLPA; P.L. 116-323, 43 U.S.C. §§3101 et seq.). Among its provisions, the NLPA directs the Secretary of the Interior (hereinafter, the Secretary), acting through the Director of the U.S Geological Survey (USGS), to … by Linda R. Rowan | 5 |
| 2026-05-14 | IF13227 | Resources | The McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) Introduction
The McNamara-O’Hara Service Contract Act (SCA) of 1965, 41 U.S.C. §§ 6701-6707, requires the payment of locally prevailing wages and fringe benefits to employees working pursuant to contracts that
are made by the federal government or the District of Columbia;
involv… by Elizabeth Weber Handwerker, Jon O. Shimabukuro | 4 |
| 2026-05-13 | IF13226 | Resources | Seabed Mining on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf: Background and 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 offshore critical minerals is the federal… by Caitlin Keating-Bitonti, Laura B. Comay | 3 |
| 2026-05-12 | IF11836 | Resources | Defense Primer: Quantum Technology Quantum technology translates the principles of quantum physics into technological applications. Quantum technology has not yet reached maturity for most applications; however, it could hold significant implications for the future of military sensing, encryption, and communicatio… by Kelley M. Sayler, Kelley M. Sayler | |
| 2026-05-12 | IF11953 | Resources | Evergrande Group and China’s Debt Challenges Since 2021, some Members of Congress have raised issues about debt levels of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) and possible risks of U.S. exposure to China in the event of PRC corporate defaults or a broader financial crisis. The 2021 default on its domestic and forei… by Karen M. Sutter, Michael D. Sutherland | |
| 2026-05-12 | IF12042 | Resources | Defense Primer: Military Separation and Severance Pay Congress has authorized separation or severance pay for involuntarily and voluntarily discharged servicemembers throughout most of the military’s history (see Table 1). The purposes for these authorities have been three-fold: (1) to ease the transition to civilian life for servic… by Kristy N. Kamarck | |
| 2026-05-12 | IF12601 | Resources | ESEA: Charter Schools Program Charter schools are public schools of choice that are created in accordance with state laws and are publicly funded and tuition-free. They are operated according to the terms of charters or contracts granted by a charter authorizer (e.g., local educational agency [LEA], state-lev… by Rebecca R. Skinner | |
| 2026-05-12 | IF13133 | Resources | Overview of the Medicare Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model On June 22, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new prior authorization (PA) initiative in traditional Medicare, the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) model, which is to be tested in six states from January 1, 2026, to December … by Thomas P. Hackman, Michele L. Malloy | |
| 2026-05-12 | IF13224 | Resources | Federal Requirements for Student Consumer Information Transparency in Higher Education In light of rising college costs and growing student loan debt, the availability of practical information about college costs, value, and quality has garnered congressional interest. Students and their families may consult various sources to inform their decisions about pursuing … by Rita R. Zota | 4 |
| 2026-05-12 | IF13225 | Resources | Farm Bill Primer: Horticulture Title Congress has included a horticulture title in the farm bill since the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-234). The horticulture title of a farm bill generally contains reauthorizations, amendments, and new programs that support specialty crops (defined as fruits… by Zachary T. Neuhofer, Jason O. Heflin | |
| 2026-05-11 | IF10119 | Resources | China Primer: U.S.-China Relations Introduction
The second Trump Administration has shifted the framing of U.S. policy toward the People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China) away from that of the first Trump and Biden Administrations. Rather than portraying the United States and China as engaged in strategic compet… by Susan V. Lawrence, Karen M. Sutter | 3 |
| 2026-05-11 | IF11755 | Resources | The Marine Corps’ Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) Background
The Marine Corps describes the Amphibious Combat Vehicle (ACV) as a
next-generation, eight-wheeled vehicle designed to move Marines from ship to shore. The vehicle will be the primary means of tactical mobility for the Marine infantry battalion at sea and ashore, repl… by Andrew Feickert | |
| 2026-05-11 | IF13222 | Resources | Fees to Administer Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act: Authority, Implementation, and Reauthorizing Legislation In June 2016, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act (LCSA; P.L. 114-182) amended Title I of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA; 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.) to provide the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with more authorities to gather informa… by Jerry H. Yen, Angela C. Jones | |
| 2026-05-08 | IF11667 | Resources | China’s Economy: Current Trends and Issues The government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) is targeting China’s per capita gross domestic product (GDP) to reach that of a middle-income developed country by 2035. Several factors—slowing growth, an aging population, local government debt, a reliance on fixed… by Michael D. Sutherland, Karen M. Sutter | |
| 2026-05-08 | IF12835 | Resources | The Rice’s Whale: Conservation Efforts, Implications for Ocean Sectors, and Considerations for Congress The Rice’s whale (Balaenoptera ricei; Figure 1) is a recently described species of baleen whale (i.e., whales that contain baleen plates in their mouths for sieving plankton) and one of the rarest whale species in the world. This medium-sized whale is sighted year-round in the no… by Laura B. Comay, Anthony R. Marshak | 4 |
| 2026-05-08 | IF12959 | Resources | The Cybersecurity Information Sharing Act of 2015: Expiring Provisions A decade ago, Congress authorized a cybersecurity information sharing structure that allows the federal government to collect and disseminate threat information, and enabled private sector entities to voluntarily share that information with the government, as well as among themse… by Chris Jaikaran | |
| 2026-05-08 | IF13219 | Resources | Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: Candidate Qualifications and Noncongressional Nominating Authorities Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies. These schools are the U.S. Military Academy (USMA); U.S. Naval Academy (USNA); U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA); and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). A fifth servic… by R. Eric Petersen, Sarah J. Eckman | |
| 2026-05-08 | IF13220 | Resources | Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: Member Office Management Considerations Members of Congress are authorized by law to nominate candidates for appointment to four U.S. service academies: the U.S. Military Academy (USMA); U.S. Naval Academy (USNA); U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA); and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA). A fifth service academy, the U.S… by Sarah J. Eckman, R. Eric Petersen | |
| 2026-05-08 | IF13221 | Resources | Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery: A Primer In response to some disasters, Congress has provided supplemental funding for long-term disaster recovery and other related purposes under the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program’s statutory authority (42 U.S.C. §§5301 et seq.). Administered by the Department of Hous… by Joseph V. Jaroscak | 2 |
| 2026-05-07 | IF10298 | Resources | India’s Domestic Political Setting Overview
According to its Constitution, India is a “sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic” where the bulk of executive power rests with the prime minister and his/her Council of Ministers. The Indian president is a ceremonial chief of state with limited executive pow… by K. Alan Kronstadt | |
| 2026-05-07 | IF11831 | Resources | Marine Corps Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) What Is the Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV)?
According to the Marine Corps,
The Advanced Reconnaissance Vehicle (ARV) [Figure 1] is a planned effort by the Marine Corps to provide a purpose-built family of vehicles, with new capabilities to support Mobile Reconnaissance, a… by Andrew Feickert | |
| 2026-05-07 | IF12023 | Resources | Farm Bill Primer: Agricultural Research and Extension The farm bill is a multiyear, omnibus law that governs a wide range of federal agricultural and food policy programs. Since 1977, each farm bill has included a title that authorizes and amends agricultural research, extension, and education programs administered by the U.S. Depar… by Eleni G. Bickell | 2 |
| 2026-05-07 | IF12047 | Resources | Farm Bill Primer: Overview and Status A farm bill is a collection of laws and changes to laws that authorize, reauthorize, or amend various food, agriculture, and rural policies. Congress has passed farm bills about every five years for nearly a century. A periodic farm bill provides Congress with an opportunity to r… by Jim Monke, Megan Stubbs | 3 |
| 2026-05-07 | IF13210 | Resources | The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA): Issues for the 119th Congress The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, as amended (MSA; 16 U.S.C. §1801 et seq.), is the primary law authorizing the conservation and management of U.S. federal marine fisheries (i.e., those occurring in waters up to 200 nautical miles beyond state or terri… by Anthony R. Marshak | 16 |
| 2026-05-06 | IF10981 | Resources | The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): An Overview The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is an independent federal agency that is charged with helping election officials to improve the administration of elections and voters to participate in the electoral process. It was established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (H… by Karen L. Shanton | |
| 2026-05-06 | IF11681 | Resources | Defense Primer: LGM-35A Sentinel Intercontinental Ballistic Missile The LGM-35A Sentinel is envisioned as an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) system that is expected to replace the Minuteman III (MMIII) ICBM in the U.S. nuclear force structure. MMIII has served as the ground-based leg of the U.S. nuclear triad—land-based ICBMs, submarine… by Anya L. Fink | |
| 2026-05-06 | IF12668 | Resources | U.S. Army Small Uncrewed Aircraft Systems Programs The U.S. Army operates uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS), including small UAS (sUAS, commonly referred to as drones). These systems support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); target acquisition and strike; electronic warfare operations; and other missions. Congre… by Daniel M. Gettinger | 1 |
| 2026-05-06 | IF12994 | Resources | The Cook Islands and Niue: States in Free Association The Pacific Islands region comprises a variety of polities including fully independent nations, overseas territories, and self-governing states in “Free Association” with other nations. Successive U.S. presidential Administrations and some Members of Congress have identified U.S.… by Jared G. Tupuola | 1 |
| 2026-05-06 | IF13218 | Resources | Endangered Species Committee (“God Squad”) Exemption of Oil and Gas Activities in the Gulf of America Introduction
On March 31, 2026, the Endangered Species Committee (ESC; also known as the “God Squad”) voted to issue an exemption from Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities in the Gulf of America (G… by Anthony R. Marshak, Pervaze A. Sheikh, Laura B. Comay | |
| 2026-05-05 | IF11007 | Resources | Defense Primer: Personnel Tempo (PERSTEMPO) United States military operations around the globe may lead to prolonged, recurrent deployments for some U.S. servicemembers. Those servicemembers and/or their families may face deployment-related stress. In addition, preparation for deployments (e.g., training, exercises, tempor… by Kristy N. Kamarck | |
| 2026-05-05 | IF13212 | Resources | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: FY2027 Appropriations Congress generally funds and provides related policy direction to the civil works activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in annual Energy and Water Development appropriations acts and their accompanying documents. USACE primarily plans and constructs authorized wa… by Nicole T. Carter, Anna E. Normand | 1 |
| 2026-05-05 | IF13217 | Resources | Federal Government and Anthropic: Considerations for AI Innovation and Competition On February 27, 2026, President Trump directed federal agencies to stop using technology developed by the U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) company Anthropic, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced he was directing the Department of Defense (DOD) to designate Anthropic a… by Laurie Harris, Clare Y. Cho | |
| 2026-05-04 | IF10211 | Resources | Foreign Leaders Addressing Congress Foreign leaders are periodically invited to address Congress. The first address by a foreign dignitary occurred on December 10, 1824, when Revolutionary War hero the Marquis de Lafayette addressed the House. The most recent address took place on April 28, 2026, when His Majesty K… by Jacob R. Straus | |
| 2026-05-04 | IF11360 | Resources | Section 307 and Imports Produced by Forced Labor The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimated that in 2021 on any given day, 27.6 million people were forced to labor against their will globally, which generated more than $200 billion in profits annually per ILO estimates. The products of that forced labor enter global s… by Michael A. Weber, Christopher A. Casey, Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs | 3 |
| 2026-05-04 | IF12213 | Resources | The Vaccine Injury Compensation Program and the Office of Special Masters In 1986, Congress passed the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA; 42 U.S.C. §§ 300aa-10–300aa-34), which created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP). The VICP is a no-fault compensation program that allows individuals to file a petition against the Se… by Hannah-Alise Rogers | |
| 2026-05-04 | IF13096 | Resources | The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Introduction
The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) provides federal funding for the protection, conservation, and restoration of Pacific salmon species (Oncorhynchus spp.) and steelhead trout (O. mykiss) that are listed or at risk of being listed as threatened or endan… by Anthony R. Marshak | 1 |
| 2026-05-04 | IF13214 | Resources | Private Equity in Selected Industries: Policy Background Private equity (PE)—which falls within a broader set of investment products often called alternative investments, private capital, or private funds—is a pooled investment vehicle that generally raises money from accredited investors and invests primarily in private (non-publicly … by Eva Su | |
| 2026-05-04 | IF13215 | Resources | Office of Strategic Capital: Overview and Considerations Technological advantage has long contributed to the dominance of the U.S. Armed Forces. Some analysts and policymakers also suggest that U.S. technological superiority—and, by extension, national security—is at risk due to a number of factors. They include a rapidly evolving glob… by Marcy E. Gallo | 1 |
| 2026-05-04 | IF13216 | Resources | Connecting Constituents with Federal Programs for Historic Preservation Congress has established programs and provided grant funding to assist constituents—including individuals, organizations, and state, tribal, and local governments—with historic preservation efforts. This In Focus lists selected federal programs that may be used to further histori… by Scott Vierick, Mark K. DeSantis | |
| 2026-05-01 | IF11436 | Resources | U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) DFC, a federal agency, uses financial tools to promote private investment overseas. Its purpose is to advance U.S. development and foreign policy interests, accounting for economic and financial soundness of projects. DFC is authorized by the Better Utilization of Investments Lea… by Shayerah I. Akhtar, Nick M. Brown, Shayerah I. Akhtar | 3 |
| 2026-05-01 | IF13213 | Resources | Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administers several life insurance programs. Two of these programs, the now-closed Service-Disabled Veterans’ Insurance (S-DVI) program and the recently launched Veterans Affairs Life Insurance (VALife) program, provide life insurance for c… by T. Lynn Sears | |
| 2026-04-29 | IF10335 | Resources | Defense Primer: DODEA Domestic School System The Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) manages federally funded, domestic and overseas school systems that provide pre-kindergarten (pre-K) through grade 12 education, primarily for the children of active duty servicemembers living on military installations. Note th… by Kristy N. Kamarck | |
| 2026-04-29 | IF10472 | Resources | North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons and Missile Programs Overview
Over the past decade, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) has advanced its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, which has raised the threat Pyongyang poses to the U.S. homeland, U.S. allies in East Asia, and U.S. interests. In Apri… by Mary Beth D. Nikitin, Mary Beth D. Nikitin, Daniel M. Gettinger | |
| 2026-04-29 | IF10754 | Resources | Rules of Origin Rules of origin (ROO) are laws, regulations, and procedures used for ascertaining the country of origin of imported products. ROO are important for assessing tariffs, enforcing U.S. trade laws, establishing eligibility for trade preference programs and free trade agreements (FTAs… by Liana Wong | 4 |
| 2026-04-29 | IF11991 | Resources | The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle What Is the Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon?
The Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)—also known as Dark Eagle (Figure 1)—with a reported range of 1,725 miles, consists of a ground-launched missile equipped with a hypersonic glide body and associated transport, support,… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | |
| 2026-04-29 | IF13211 | Resources | Fossil Fuel Tax Benefits In recent years, lawmakers have expressed interest in federal subsidies for the domestic fossil fuel industry. This In Focus provides high-level descriptions of fossil fuel income tax benefits and their costs, including tax benefits that discourage greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions … by Donald J. Marples, Nicholas E. Buffie | |
| 2026-04-28 | IF10177 | Resources | Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) is an interagency body chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury. It serves the President in overseeing the potential national security risks of certain foreign direct investment (FDI) in the U.S. economy. CFIUS juri… by Cathleen D. Cimino-Isaacs, Karen M. Sutter | |
| 2026-04-28 | IF11732 | Resources | U.S. Secret Service: Direct Assaults and Assassination Attempts on Sitting Presidents and Vice Presidents Overview
USSS has two mandated missions: (1) criminal investigations, and (2) protection of persons and facilities. Criminal investigations focus primarily on financial crimes, whereas protection focuses on the safety and security of specific government officials and specifically… by Shawn Reese | |
| 2026-04-28 | IF12397 | Resources | U.S. Army’s Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense (MSHORAD) System—SGT Stout Background
The Army is developing a new maneuver short-range air defense system (M-SHORAD) to perform short-range air defense (SHORAD). On June 14, 2024, the Army designated the M-SHORAD the “SGT Stout” in honor of Sergeant (SGT) Mitchell William Stout, an Air Defense Artillery (… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | |
| 2026-04-28 | IF12627 | Resources | Defense Primer: FY2025 Department of Defense Audit Results The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-576) requires annual audits of financial statements for federal executive agencies, among other requirements. Under the act, audits of federal agencies are the responsibility of each agency’s inspector general (IG), but the IG ma… by Raj Gnanarajah, Cameron M. Keys | |
| 2026-04-28 | IF13034 | Resources | Offshore Wind: Status and Issues for the 119th Congress The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, as amended (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. §1337(p)), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to lease submerged lands on the U.S. outer continental shelf (OCS) for development of renewable energy, including wind energy. The Department of the Interior’s … by Laura B. Comay, Donald J. Marples, Corrie E. Clark | 12 |
| 2026-04-28 | IF13057 | Resources | What Is Disparate-Impact Discrimination? Many federal antidiscrimination laws encompass two theories of discrimination: disparate treatment and disparate impact. Disparate-treatment discrimination involves intentional harm based on race, sex, disability, or some other proscribed motive. Disparate-impact discrimination o… by April J. Anderson | |
| 2026-04-27 | IF11741 | Resources | The Army’s Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) Background
The Army Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) is
the replacement for the M113 family of vehicles within the Armored Brigade Combat Team [ABCT], comprising approximately 30 percent of its tracked vehicle fleet. The Army’s worldwide fleet of AMPVs will include nearly 3,… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | |
| 2026-04-27 | IF12505 | Resources | China Primer: China’s Political System The People’s Republic of China (PRC, or China) is the only Communist Party-led state among the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and among the G-20 major economies. This report provides a brief introduction to its political system.
The Party-State
The… by Susan V. Lawrence | |
| 2026-04-24 | IF13173 | Resources | Federal Management of Tribal Trust Funds: Overview and Selected Issues for Congress Congress has passed various laws to fulfill the federal trust responsibility, a legal obligation under which the United States—through treaties, acts of Congress, and court decisions—“has charged itself with moral obligations of the highest responsibility and trust” toward federa… by Mariel J. Murray | |
| 2026-04-24 | IF13200 | Resources | Treasury’s Exchange Stabilization Fund The Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) is an emergency reserve fund of the Department of the Treasury created by Congress in 1934. The ESF has evolved from its original purpose of maintaining the fixed dollar exchange rate. Now, the value of the dollar is market-determined and the… by Rebecca M. Nelson, Marc Labonte | |
| 2026-04-24 | IF13208 | Resources | Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Non-Detained Docket (NDD) Background
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA, Title 8 of the U.S. Code) authorizes and sometimes requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain aliens (foreign nationals) who are subject to removal from the United States. This authority allows DHS to det… by William A. Kandel, Audrey Singer | |
| 2026-04-23 | IF10316 | Resources | Malaysia Overview
The Federation of Malaysia is a majority Muslim parliamentary democracy in Southeast Asia. It has an ethnically and religiously diverse population of 32.7 million, with an ethnic Malay majority and large ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities. Malaysia plays an active role… by Ben Dolven | 2 |
| 2026-04-23 | IF10753 | Resources | ENERGY STAR Program Overview
ENERGY STAR® is an internationally recognized voluntary labeling program for energy-efficient products, homes, buildings, and manufacturing plants that is managed jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The inten… by Corrie E. Clark, Corrie E. Clark | |
| 2026-04-23 | IF13209 | Resources | Work Requirements: Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rental Assistance, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Meeting health care and financial needs while preserving incentives to work is a central tension in policies related to low-income assistance. Policies to promote work vary across Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), housing assistance, and cash aid fro… by Gene Falk, Randy Alison Aussenberg, Evelyne P. Baumrucker | |
| 2026-04-22 | IF12094 | Resources | The Army’s XM-30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (Formerly the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle [OMFV]) Background
The Army’s XM-30, previously known as the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV), is being designed to replace the M-2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) (see Figure 1 for a notional example). Optionally manned means the OMFV is to have the capability to conduc… by Andrew Feickert, Ebrima M'Bai | |
| 2026-04-22 | IF12480 | Resources | The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Exemption for Executive, Administrative, and Professional (EAP) Employees The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes a federal minimum wage for most private and public sector employees and generally requires overtime compensation at a rate of one and one-half times an employee’s regular hourly rate for hours worked beyond a 40-hour workweek. While… by Jon O. Shimabukuro, Sarah A. Donovan | 2 |
| 2026-04-21 | IF12155 | Resources | Farm Bill Primer: Trade and Export Promotion Programs Agricultural exports are significant to farmers and the U.S. economy. With the productivity of U.S. agriculture growing faster than domestic demand, farmers and agriculturally oriented firms rely on export markets to sustain prices and revenue. The trade title of the Agriculture … by Benjamin Tsui | 20 |
| 2026-04-21 | IF13207 | Resources | Prediction Markets Legislation in the 119th Congress Prediction markets are exchange platforms that specialize in offering event contracts (i.e., contracts that allow parties to trade on the occurrence or nonoccurrence of specific events). Prediction markets have rapidly expanded in recent years, facilitated by judicial decisions a… by Karl E. Schneider, Alexander H. Pepper | 15 |
| 2026-04-20 | IF11233 | Resources | Defense Primer: Defense Working Capital Funds Since 1870, the U.S. military has operated various types of working capital funds to procure materiel and commercial products and services for its forces. Codified under Title 10, Section 2208, of the United States Code (U.S.C.), a defense working capital fund (DWCF) is a type of… by Brendan W. McGarry, Cameron M. Keys | |
| 2026-04-20 | IF11286 | Resources | Election Security: Federal Funding for Securing Election Systems Foreign efforts to interfere in the 2016 elections highlighted the potential for threats to the technologies, facilities, and processes used to administer elections. The federal government has responded to such threats, in part, by proposing and providing funding that can be used… by Karen L. Shanton | 6 |
| 2026-04-20 | IF11961 | Resources | Elections Grant Programs: Authorizations and Appropriations Congress first authorized major federal grant programs for elections in the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; P.L. 107-252). HAVA was enacted in response to issues with the conduct of the 2000 elections. Like previous federal elections statutes, it set requirements for the adm… by Karen L. Shanton | |
| 2026-04-20 | IF11962 | Resources | Establishing and Funding Elections Grant Programs: Policy Options Recent congressional activity on elections issues has often taken the form of action on grant programs or funding. One type of action Members have increasingly explored in recent legislative proposals is conditioning state or local access to federal funding on adoption of certain… by Karen L. Shanton | 4 |
| 2026-04-20 | IF12135 | Resources | The U.S. Army’s Typhon Mid-Range Capability (MRC) System What Is the Army’s Mid-Range Capability System?
Improved Chinese and Russian long-ranged artillery systems, uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), and the proliferation of special munitions have renewed concerns about the potential operational impact of Russian and Chinese fires agains… by Andrew Feickert | |
| 2026-04-20 | IF12501 | Resources | Private Funding for Election Administration State and local election offices sometimes receive private donations of money, goods, or services to help them carry out their work. Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the 2020 election cycle, private individuals funded grant programs for state and local election adm… by Karen L. Shanton | 11 |
| 2026-04-20 | IF13013 | Resources | Conditioning Federal Funding on Elections Policies: Options and Considerations for Congress Congress has broad authority to regulate many aspects of the administration of federal elections. Members might sometimes wish to influence state or local policy on aspects of election administration for which Congress’s authority to set requirements is more limited, however, or … by Karen L. Shanton | 8 |
| 2026-04-20 | IF13206 | Resources | Judiciary Budget Request for FY2027 Overview
The federal judiciary’s FY2027 budget request was made public by the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts on March 25, 2026. The request seeks $9.7 billion in discretionary funding (an increase of 4.9% over the FY2026 enacted level), as well as $826.5 million in mandator… by Barry J. McMillion | |
| 2026-04-17 | IF13131 | Resources | NIH Grants Policy Under the Second Trump Administration Since President Trump took office on January 20, 2025, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)—the nation’s leading health and medical research agency—changed grant policies, award processes, and the total number of grants … by Kavya Sekar | 5 |
| 2026-04-16 | IF11783 | Resources | Biometric Technologies and Global Security Biometric technologies use unique biological or behavioral attributes—such as DNA, fingerprints, cardiac signatures, voice or gait patterns, and facial or ocular measurements—to authenticate an individual’s identity. Although biometric technologies have been in use for decades, r… by Kelley M. Sayler, Kelley M. Sayler | |
| 2026-04-16 | IF11926 | Resources | Coins and Medals Celebrating the Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence On July 4, the United States celebrates the anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence with a federal holiday called Independence Day. For certain milestone anniversaries, Congress has authorized the temporary design of circulating coins, or the issuance o… by Jacob R. Straus | 2 |
| 2026-04-16 | IF12421 | Resources | The U.S. Army’s Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC) System Background
Protecting high-value military sites against enemy cruise missile (CM), uncrewed aerial system (UAS), and rocket, artillery, and mortar (RAM) attacks has long been an important consideration in protecting military forces. According to the U.S. Army, the Indirect Fire P… by Ebrima M'Bai, Andrew Feickert | |
| 2026-04-16 | IF13204 | Resources | China’s 15th Five-Year Plan: S&T and Economic Priorities On March 12, 2026, the legislature of the People’s Republic of China (PRC or China) approved China’s 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development (FYP) (2025-2030) and the Outline of Long-Term Goals to 2035. The plan received previous input and approval from t… by Karen M. Sutter | |
| 2026-04-16 | IF13205 | Resources | The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2027 Budget Request Background
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in the Department of the Interior (DOI), provides scientific information to support the management of water, energy, mineral, ecosystem, and land resources and to mitigate risks from natural hazards. The USGS also collects long-term d… by Anna E. Normand | |
| 2026-04-15 | IF12255 | Resources | Farm Bill Primer: SNAP and Nutrition Title Programs The Nutrition title of the farm bill typically reauthorizes a number of nutrition or domestic food assistance programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp program). These programs were last reauthorized by the Agriculture Improv… by Randy Alison Aussenberg, Gene Falk, Kara Clifford Billings | 4 |
| 2026-04-15 | IF12929 | Resources | New York City’s Central Business District Tolling Program: Background, Federal Role, and Selected Legal Issues Congress has prohibited tolling of federal-aid highways and passed a series of exceptions to the prohibition. One such exception is the Value Pricing Pilot Program (VPPP). On November 21, 2024, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and multiple New York transportation agencie… by Ali E. Lohman, Alexander H. Pepper | |
| 2026-04-15 | IF13203 | Resources | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2027 Budget Request Introduction
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), an agency within the Department of the Interior (DOI), has a mission to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats. Congress funds FWS through discretionary and mandatory appropriations. FWS … by Eric P. Nardi | |
| 2026-04-14 | IF12888 | Resources | The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA): Frequently Asked Questions What Is the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA)?
The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA; P.L. 116-152) established in the U.S. Treasury a new fund—the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund (LRF)—with mandatory spending authority to address deferred maintenance (DM)… by Laura B. Comay, Carol Hardy Vincent | 2 |