Congressional Research Service Reports - 43,134 Matching Results
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- Defense Primer: Defense Appropriations Process
- This report provides an overview of the defense appropriations process. The congressional appropriations process includes various rules and practices that Congress has adopted to distinguish appropriations measures and facilitate their consideration.
- The DOD's JEDI Cloud Program
- This report discusses the Deputy Secretary of Defense (DSD) Patrick Shanahan's memorandum calling for the accelerated adoption of a Department of Defense (DOD)-wide cloud computing system. Under the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure (JEDI) Cloud program, DOD seeks to "acquire a...cloud services solution that can support Unclassified, Secret, and Top Secret requirements," with a focus on commercially-available services.
- Defense Primer: Naval Forces
- This report provides an overview of the United States Naval Forces, which includes the Navy and Marine Corps.
- District Court Temporarily Blocks Implementation of Asylum Restrictions on Unlawful Entrants at the Southern Border
- This report discusses the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) barring the Trump Administration from implementing new asylum restrictions. The asylum restrictions were prompted by reports of a "migrant caravan" traveling through Mexico to the southern border of the United States.
- Infrastructure Investment and the Federal Government
- This report discusses federal infrastructure investment. The condition and performance of infrastructure are generally thought to be important for the nation's health, welfare, and economy.
- The Venezuela Regional Migration Crisis
- This report discusses the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Venezuela, which has elevated congressional concerns about the country. Venezuela remains in a deep political and economic crisis under the authoritarian rule of President Nicolás Maduro.
- Supersonic Passenger Flights
- This report provides an overview of the development of supersonic air travel, renewed interest in supersonic passenger flights, and issues and challenges related to supersonic flights.
- U.S. Tariff Policy: Overview
- This report provides a brief overview of United States tariff policy. A tariff is a customs duty levied on imported and exported goods and services, typically used to protect domestic industries or as leverage in trade negotiations and disputes.
- Defense Primer: United States Airpower
- This report provides an overview of the airpower of the United States military. This includes the U.S. Air Force, and Army, Naval, and Marine Corps aviation.
- Defense Primer: Congress's Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces
- This report provides an overview of Congress's war powers under the U.S. Constitution.
- Defense Primer: Legal Authorities for the Use of Military Forces
- This report provides an overview of United States war powers.
- Global Human Rights: Multilateral Bodies & U.S. Participation
- This report provides an overview of multilateral bodies regarding human rights, including the United Nations, International Criminal Court, and regional bodies.
- Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces
- This report outlines the organization of the Army, the U.S. military's primary ground force, and the Marine Corps, the Navy's land-based fighting force.
- U.S. Ground Forces Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI): Considerations for Congress
- This report discusses issues for Congress to consider regarding robotics and autonomous systems (RAS) and artificial intelligence (AI), which have the potential to change the nature of warfare. Other nations, notably peer competitors Russia and China, are aggressively pursuing RAS and AI for a variety of military uses, raising considerations about the U.S. military's response--to include lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS)--that could be used against U.S. forces.
- Immigration: "Recalcitrant" Countries and the Use of Visa Sanctions to Encourage Cooperation with Alien Removals
- This report discusses the use of visa sanctions by the Trump Administration, past uses of visa sanctions, and alternatives to visa sanctions to encourage countries to comply with repatriation of their citizens.
- What Role Might the Federal Government Play in Law Enforcement Reform?
- This report discuses policy options for Congress to consider in regard to law enforcement reform. Over the past few years, several high-profile police-involved shootings and alleged instances of excessive force have generated congressional interest in state and local policing.
- Global Trends in HIV/AIDS
- This report discusses positive developments, challenges, and outlook of HIV/AIDS around the globe.
- Defense Primer: Special Operations Forces
- This report provides an overview of U.S. military Special Operations Forces (SOF), including personnel selection, command structure, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), and Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs).
- Defense Primer: Department of the Army and Army Command Structure
- This report discusses the senior leadership and operational and institutional missions of the Department of the Army (DA).
- Defense Primer: The United States Air Force
- This report provides an overview of U.S. Air Force operations.
- Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
- This report discusses the role of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and how the position fits into the organizational structure of the Defense Department.
- United States and Saudi Arabia Energy Relations
- This report provides an overview of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia energy relationship that dates back to at least 1933. Since then, this relationship has witnessed the creation of the Arabian American Oil Company (Aramco), nationalization and ownership transfer of Aramco to Saudi Arabia (renamed Saudi Aramco), a Saudi-supported embargo of crude oil shipments to the United States, and various periods of energy cooperation. Today, the U.S.-Saudi energy relationship includes interests within three general categories: (1) energy trade, (2) business operations, and (3) global petroleum prices.
- Iran: Efforts to Preserve Economic Benefits of the Nuclear Deal
- This report discusses efforts by the non-U.S. parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)--the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, China, the European Union (EU), and Iran--to preserve the accord after the United States announced they would cease implementation.
- U.S. Secret Service Protection of Persons and Facilities
- This report discusses the history of U.S. Secret Service (USSS), specific protection activities, and USSS protection issues.
- U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues
- This report reviews the ongoing programs that will affect the expected size and shape of the U.S. strategic nuclear force structure. It includes information of the historic structure and changes over time as well as details about each category of delivery vehicle--land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and heavy bombers--focusing on their current deployments and ongoing and planned modernization programs. The report concludes with a discussion of issues related to decisions about the future of the U.S. strategic nuclear force.
- Protection of Executive Branch Officials
- This report discusses the possibility of protective details for executive branch officials, in response to recent attempted bombing attacks on current and former government officials.
- Who Can Serve as Acting Attorney General
- This report discusses the two primary arguments raised to challenge the President's decision to name Matthew Whitaker as Acting Attorney General: first, that the Vacancies Act does not apply because another statute, 28 U.S.C. § 508, provides that the Deputy Attorney General (DAG) serves as Acting AG in the event of a vacancy; and second, that the Appointments Clause prohibits Whitaker, a non-Senate-confirmed official, from serving as the head of the Department of Justice (DOJ).
- The SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act (P.L. 115-271): Food and Drug Administration and Controlled Substance Provisions
- This report summarizes the provisions in Title III--the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and Controlled Substance Provisions, as well as Section 4004 "Modernizing the Reporting Requirements of Biological and Biosimilar Products" in Title IV--Offsets.
- Guide to Individuals Seated on the Senate Dais
- This report outlines the members of the Senate who are seated on the dais during meetings in the Senate chamber of the Capitol.
- Congress Considers Possible Responses to the Killing of a Saudi Journalist
- This report discusses the potential responses by Congress regarding the killing of prominent Saudi Arabian journalist and former diplomatic advisor Jamal Khashoggi.
- Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Remittances
- This report examines developments in U.S. policy restricting travel and remittances to Cuba, current permissible travel and remittances, enforcement of the travel restrictions, and debate on lifting the travel restrictions.
- Guide to Individuals Seated on the House Dais
- This report outlines the members of the House of Representatives who are seated on the dais during meetings in the House chamber of the Capitol.
- Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses Oman's political and governmental structure, economy, foreign policy, and human rights concerns as well as U.S. security assistance and cooperation.
- Defense Primer: Personnel Tempo (PERSTEMPO)
- This report explains the Department of Defense's (DOD's) personnel tempo (PERSTEMPO) management, policies and programs. PERSTEMPO refers to the pace of operations for servicemembers and can affect quality of life, work satisfaction, and overall morale for members and their families.
- The European Union: Ongoing Challenges and Future Prospects
- This report provides a brief history of the European Union (EU) and the major challenges confronting the bloc. It also discusses the potential implications for the EU and for U.S.-EU relations.
- U.S.-India Trade Relations
- This report discusses trade relations between the United States and India. Many observers believe bilateral commercial ties could be more extensive if trade and investment barriers were addressed.
- Robbery, Extortion, and Bribery in One Place: A Legal Overview of the Hobbs Act
- This is a brief overview of the Hobbs Act and relevant court interpretations of its provisions.
- U.S. Sanctions on Russia
- This report provides a comprehensive overview of U.S. sanctions against Russia. It provides an overview of U.S. sanctions authorities and tools; describes various sanctions regimes that have been used and entities or that are available for this purpose, addressing authorities, tools, targets, and historical context; briefly discusses countersanctions by Russia; addresses the evolution of U.S. coordination with the European Union; and assesses the economic impact of sanctions on Russia at the level of the national economy and individual firms.
- Defense Primer: Department of the Navy
- This report provides basic information on the Department of the Navy, which includes both the Navy and the Marine Corps. It also describes the Coast Guard's relationship to the Department.
- Nuclear Energy: Overview of Congressional Issues
- This report discusses nuclear energy and various issues and concerns related to it use in six topics: radioactive waste, economic viability, safety, technological advances, security and emergency plans, and nuclear weapon nonproliferation.
- Points of Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the Senate
- This report describes the process of enforcing a rule of order in the U.S. Senate.
- Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design
- This report describes how world geography influences U.S. military strategy. Of particular importance to U.S. policymakers is preventing the emergence of a regional hegemony in one part of Eurasia.
- U.S.-Japan Announce New Limited Trade Negotiations
- This report discusses announced plans for bilateral negotiations for a trade agreement between the United States and Japan.
- The "National Security Exception" and the World Trade Organization
- This report examines the meaning of the national security exception in Article XXI of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)--a provision also implicated in a recent World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute between Russia and Ukraine; a blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates; and a few other disputes.
- The Global Compact on Migration (GCM) and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses the United Nations' Global Compact on Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM) and the Trump Administration's withdrawal of the United States from the GCM negotiations.
- Iran Sanctions
- This report discusses U.S. sanctions against Iran and the 2016 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement which led to the lifting of sanctions based on nuclear proliferation in Iran. It outlines the various sanctions against Iran and their current implementation status, international efforts to bring about compliance, and their effects; it also addresses recent discussions regarding President's Trump announcement that the U.S. was decertifying the nuclear agreement and the possibility of reinstating certain sanctions.
- Morocco: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report outlines the politics, economy, terrorism issues, and foreign relations of Morocco.
- The National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC): An Overview
- This report summarizes the background and functions of the U.S. National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC).
- Serbia: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides an overview of Serbia and its governmental structure, economy, and foreign relations with the U.S., Kosovo, Turkey, Russia, and the European Union (EU).
- U.S. Agent Orange/Dioxin Assistance to Vietnam
- This report discusses U.S. assistance to Vietnam for the environmental and health damage attributed to a dioxin contained in Agent Orange and other herbicides sprayed over much of the southern portion of the country during the Vietnam War, which remains a major issue in bilateral relations.