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- Hurricane Florence: Brief Overview of FEMA Programs and Resources
- This report provides a brief overview of emergency and major disaster declarations relevant to Hurricane Florence, and selected federal resources and links to CRS products related to emergency and disaster declarations, disaster response, and recovery.
- Membership of the 115th Congress: A Profile
- This report presents a profile of the membership of the 115th Congress (2017-2018) as of October 1, 2018. Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
- SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues
- This report provides an overview of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) programs to provide training and other assistants to veterans seeking civilian employment. It includes sections discussing SBA programs, an economic profile of veteran-owned businesses, veterans' employment and business development programs, veterans' access to capital, federal contracting goals for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and the military reservist economic injury disaster loan program.
- Global Trends in Democracy: Background, U.S. Policy, and Issues for Congress
- This report for Congress outlines and synthesizes information, analysis, and a variety of perspectives on issues regarding democracy around the world. In particular, it provides brief conceptual background on democracy and on democracy promotion's historical role in U.S. policy, analyzes aggregate trends in the global level of democracy using data from two major democracy indexes, and discusses some of the key factors that may be broadly affecting democracy around the world.
- Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
- This report describes the Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) benefits, which are available only to those individuals who have become unemployed as a direct result of a declared major disaster and information on how to ascertain if an individual is eligible for DUA benefits.
- Federal Research and Development (R&D) Funding: Fiscal Year 2019
- This report begins with a discussion of the overall level of President Trump's FY2019 R&D request, followed by analyses of the R&D funding request from a variety of perspectives and for selected multiagency R&D initiatives. The remainder of the report provides discussion and analysis of the R&D budget requests of selected federal departments and agencies that, collectively, account for approximately 99% of total federal R&D funding.
- Internships in Congressional Offices: Frequently Asked Questions
- This report addresses frequently-asked questions (FAQs) about congressional interns and internships. It is intended to provide information about the role of interns and to provide a summary of some of the policies and guidance provided by the House and the Senate related to internships. It addresses the House and Senate rules that apply to congressional internships, factors that may affect an office's selection process, and an individual's eligibility to serve in an internship, as well as some of the congressional resources and training opportunities available for interns.
- The Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV): Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Army's Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program and outlines its basic functions, procurement plans, and funding requests for FY2019.
- Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief
- This report discusses the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs including organizational structures, updates on activities and reforms, funding sources, and other relevant information.
- Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV) which is a newly-developed vehicle for the Army and Marine Corps. The major potential issues for Congress include whether an increase in endstrength and force structure might result in an increase in overall JLTV requirements, and possible effects of JLTV Foreign Military Sales.
- Comparing DHS Component Funding, FY2019: In Brief
- This report reviews the budget authority provided to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for FY2018, requested by the Trump Administration for FY2019, as well as the funding levels proposed in Senate and House Appropriations Committee-reported legislation for FY2019. It examines net discretionary annual appropriations for DHS--a perspective on the net impact of legislation funding DHS on congressionally tracked budget totals--and also provides a more inclusive look at the resources available to DHS components to perform their missions.
- Farm Bills: Major Legislative Actions, 1965-2018
- This report examines the major legislative milestones for the last 11 farm bills covering 53 years and illustrates trends that may provide useful background and context as the current farm bill debate proceeds.
- Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive
- This report provides a brief overview of the history of the negotiations regarding reunification of the island of Cyprus and a description of some of the issues involved in those talks.
- Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent.
- Lebanon
- This report provides an overview of Lebanon and current issues of U.S. interest. It provides background information, analyzes recent developments and key policy debates, and tracks legislation, U.S. assistance, and recent congressional action
- Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides an overview of Jordanian politics and current issues in U.S.-Jordanian relations. It provides a brief discussion of Jordan's government and economy and of its cooperation with U.S. policies in the Middle East.
- The Peace Corps: Current Issues
- This report discuses the Peace Corps functions and funding as well as current issues, including: the available funding for Peace Corps expansion, whether volunteers are able to function in a safe and secure environment, and volunteer access to abortion.
- Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): Overview, Issues, and Legislation
- This report discusses the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) which is administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and assists communities in building or restoring public water supply infrastructure to comply with federal standards for clean drinking water and public health safety.
- Immigration: Frequently Asked Questions about "Public Charge"
- This report provides answers to frequently-asked questions about current public charge policy, including the sources of laws that govern public charge determinations, who is subject to determinations, factors that are considered in determinations, and the consequences of determinations.
- Iran's Foreign and Defense Policies
- This report discusses Iran's foreign and defense policy and the reasoning behind it, as well as U.S. concerns regarding their power and nuclear weapon capability.
- Intellectual Property Law: A Brief Introduction
- This report provides a brief overview of each form of federal intellectual property (IP) protection, including patent law, copyright law, and trademarks.
- Agriculture in the WTO: Rules and Limits on U.S. Domestic Support
- This report provides a brief overview of the World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments that are most relevant for U.S. domestic farm policy. It includes a discussion regarding how WTO commitments may influence policies and questions for evaluating WTO compliance of domestic farm spending..
- Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides an overview of political and economic conditions in Mexico, followed by assessments of selected issues of congressional interest in Mexico: security and foreign aid, extraditions, human rights, trade, migration, energy, education, environment, and water issues.
- EPA Proposes the Affordable Clean Energy Rule to Replace the Clean Power Plan
- This report explores the legal basis for the proposed Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule and discusses the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) authority to consider various emission reduction options for existing power plants under the Clean Air Act (CAA).
- Electric Grid Cybersecurity
- This report discusses the current state of electric grid cybersecurity, and the interconnected dependency of critical infrastructure with regard to electric sector reliability. It includes discussions of recent developments, cyber and physical security, threats to the grid and supply chain risks, use of artificial intelligence, improvements to grid cybersecurity, recent legislation and other issues for Congress.
- Social Media Adoption by Members of Congress: Trends and Congressional Considerations
- This report examines Member adoption of social media platforms outside of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, such as Instagram, Flickr, and Google+, which have each been adopted by at least 2.5% of Representatives and Senators. It discusses the possible implications of the adoption of social media, including managing multiple platforms, the type of content and posting location, the allocation of office resources to social media communications, and archiving social media content.
- Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers
- This report is designed to provide an overview of key reserve component personnel issues. The term "Reserve Component" refers collectively to the seven individual reserve components of the Armed Forces: the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve.
- China's Engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean
- This report discusses the bilateral partnership agreements the People's Republic of China (PRC) has signed with multiple countries in the Latin American and Caribbean region, including "strategic partnerships" with Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela. The report also discusses concerns and considerations U.S. policymakers may want to address in response to these partnerships.
- NAFTA and the Preliminary U.S.-Mexico Agreement
- This report outlines the key provisions of the agreement between the U.S. and Mexico that is set to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
- Supreme Court Appointment Process: Senate Debate and Confirmation Vote
- This report provides information and analysis related to the final stage of the confirmation process for a nomination to the Supreme Court--the consideration of the nomination by the full Senate, including floor debate and the vote on whether to approve the nomination.
- Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act: Selected Military Personnel Issues
- This report highlights selected personnel-related issues that may generate high levels of congressional and constituent interest.
- Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses Qatar's governmental structure and politics, economy, foreign policy and regional disputes with other Gulf countries, U.S.-Qatar relations and security collaboration, and human rights issues.
- Spain and Its Relations with the United States: In Brief
- This report discusses relations between the U.S. and Spain and includes information on partnerships in counter-terrorism and military matters, economic ties, and political issues in Spain. It also provides an overview of the Catalan independence crisis and U.S. and EU views on the matter.
- Locomotive Idling, Air Quality, and Blocked Crossings
- This report discusses the risks and disruptions that occur when trains idle on the tracks and block crossings as well as possible responses to address the problem.
- American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
- This report provides U.S. war casualty statistics compiled from various Department of Defense (DOD) sources (listed at end). The first data table lists the number of casualties among American military personnel who served in principal wars and combat operations from 1775 to the present. Subsequent tables provide more specific information by conflict about the demographics of soldiers killed or wounded in action and information such as race and ethnicity, gender, branch of service, home state, and cause of death.
- Labor Market Patterns Since 2007
- This report uses data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to outline how various factors have affected the U.S. labor market from 2007-2018. It includes background and sections related to impacts of cyclical and structural change, full employment, the changing composition of employment -- both industry and occupation as well as demographics, and what to expect going forward.
- Military Survivor Benefit Plan: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report describes the categories of beneficiaries eligible for survivor benefits under the military Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP), the formulas used in computing the income level (including the integration of SBP benefits with other federal benefits), and the costs of SBP participation incurred by the retiree and/or the beneficiary. While this report focuses primarily on SBP, survivors of military members may be eligible for other benefits.
- Venezuela: Political and Economic Crisis and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses the ongoing political, economic, and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela under President Nicolás Maduro and U.S. responses.
- Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Mobility, Reconnaissance, and Firepower Programs
- This report discusses the Army's Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) and the transport and reconnaissance vehicles being developed for their use, as well as information about the FY2019 budget request for the program.
- The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief
- This report discusses the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program which is made up of four agencies (FEMA, The National Science Foundation, USGS, and National Institute of Standards and Technology) which are responsible for monitoring, reporting, and studying earthquakes and increasing resiliency to earthquakes through means such as stronger infrastructure, early warning systems, and recovery plans.
- Expedited Removal of Aliens: Legal Framework
- This report provides an overview of the statutory and regulatory framework that governs expedited removal of aliens under INA Section 235(b)(1) and exceptions to expedited removal -- including provisions to seek review of an asylum claim. Finally, the report addresses the scope of judicial review, some of the legal challenges that have been raised to the expedited removal process, and potential legal issues that may arise if expedited removal were expanded to cover additional categories of aliens present in the United States.
- WTO Disciplines on U.S. Domestic Support for Agriculture
- This report outlines the rules and disciplines the United States has committed to abide by as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
- Agency Delay: Congressional and Judicial Means to Expedite Agency Rulemaking
- This report outlines the various tools that Congress can use to encourage agencies to act within a particular time frame. It then analyzes how those tools inform judicial analysis of challenges to agency actions as "unreasonably delayed" or "unlawfully withheld" under the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and provides concluding remarks..
- Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress
- This report describes the naming process for U.S. naval ships and various regulations regarding the process. Recent legislation related to ship names is also included.
- Air Force B-21 Raider Long-Range Strike Bomber
- This report discusses the development of a new long-range bomber aircraft, the B-21 Raider (previously known as LRS-B). The U.S. Department of Defense proposes to acquire at least 100 of them, initially to replace the fleets of B-1 and B-2 bombers, and possibly to replace B-52s in the future.
- The Palestinians: Overview and Key Issues for U.S. Policy
- This report discusses key issues for the U.S. to consider in regard to policy toward the Palestinians, including Jerusalem, foreign aid, Hamas, Gaza, and the West Bank.
- Conflict in Mali
- This report outlines the security and governance challenges that Mali has faced since the 2011-2013 crisis that devastated the military, central government institutions, and northern populations and the peace accord that followed in 2015.
- Can a Foreign Employee of a Foreign Company be Federally Prosecuted for Foreign Bribery?
- This report discusses whether foreign nationals and companies may be federally prosecuted for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations under conspiracy and accomplice liability theories.
- Venezuela: Overview of U.S. Sanctions
- This report discusses the sanctions the U.S. employs against Venezuela related to terrorism, drug trafficking, trafficking in persons, antidemocratic actions, human rights violations, and corruption.
- Trade Related Agencies: FY2019 Appropriations, Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS)
- This report provides an overview of the FY2019 budget request and appropriations for the International Trade Administration (ITA), the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC), and the office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). These three trade-related agencies are funded through the annual Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriations act. This report also provides a review of these agencies' trade-related programs.