|
Date ↓
|
Report No.
|
Title |
| Date Feb. 26, 2019 |
Report No. IN11055 |
Title
INSIGHTi The Disaster Recovery Reform Act: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress Elizabeth M. Webster Analyst in Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery February 26, 2019 The Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA, Division D of P.L. 115-254), which became law on October 5, 2018, is the most comprehensive legislation on the Federal Emergency Management Agency s (FEMA s) disaster ...
|
| Date Feb. 26, 2019 |
Report No. IF11117 |
Title
February 26, 2019 Gulf of Guinea: Recent Trends in Piracy and Armed Robbery Armed attacks against ships in the oil-rich Gulf of Guinea surged in 2018, making these waters off West and Central Africa the world s most dangerous for piracy and armed robbery. The escalation confirms the Gulf of Guinea s status as the main locus for maritime insecurity in Africa, which had long been associated with the ...
|
| Date Feb. 26, 2019 |
Report No. IN11054 |
Title
After the President issues an emergency or major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) may provide various temporary housing assistance programs to meet disaster survivors' needs. However, limitations on these programs may make it difficult to transition ...
|
| Date Feb. 26, 2019 |
Report No. IF11114 |
Title
February 26, 2019 International Illegal Logging: Background and Issues Background Illegal logging is a pervasive problem throughout the world and generally is defined as the harvest, transport, purchase, or sale of timber in violation of national laws. Illegal logging can lead to degraded forest ecosystems and loss of biodiversity, impede economic development, challenge local governance, and ...
|
| Date Feb. 26, 2019 |
Report No. IF11119 |
Title
February 26, 2019 Federal Records: Types and Treatments The Federal Records Act The Federal Records Act (FRA; 44 U.S.C. Chapters 21, 29, 31, and 33), enacted in 1950 and amended since, governs the collection, retention, and preservation of federal agency records. Congress deemed federal records worthy of preservation for the information they provide on the transaction of public business and also ...
|
| Date Feb. 25, 2019 |
Report No. R45296 |
Title
Housing Issues in the 115th Congress Updated February 25, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45296 SUMMARY Housing Issues in the 115th Congress A variety of housing-related issues were active during the 115th Congress. These issues included topics related to housing finance, tax provisions related to housing, housing assistance and grant programs administered by ...
|
| Date Feb. 25, 2019 |
Report No. R45532 |
Title
Digital Services Taxes (DSTs): Policy and Economic Analysis February 25, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45532 SUMMARY Digital Services Taxes (DSTs): Policy and Economic Analysis R45532 February 25, 2019 Sean Lowry Several countries, primarily in Europe, and the European Commission have proposed or adopted Analyst in Public Finance taxes on revenue earned by ...
|
| Date Feb. 25, 2019 |
Report No. IN11056 |
Title
INSIGHTi Low Interest Rates, Part 2: Implications for the Federal Reserve February 25, 2019 Interest rates have been unusually low by historical standards since the 2007-2009 financial crisis. This Insight discusses the implications for monetary policy, and it frames this discussion in terms of the neutral interest rate. It is the sequel to a previous Insight, Low Interest Rates, Part 1. For ...
|
| Date Feb. 25, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10265 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Overview of Legal Challenges to the FCC s 5G Order on Small Cell Siting Chris D. Linebaugh Legislative Attorney February 25, 2019 On September 26, 2018, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Declaratory Ruling and Third Report and Order, titled Accelerating Wireless Broadband Deployment by Removing Barriers to Infrastructure Investment (the Order). In the Order, the ...
|
| Date Feb. 22, 2019 |
Report No. R45521 |
Title
Department of Defense Use of Other Transaction Authority: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress Updated February 22, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45521 SUMMARY Department of Defense Use of Other Transaction Authority: Background, Analysis, and Issues for Congress The Department of Defense (DOD) obligates more than $300 billion annually to buy goods ...
|
| Date Feb. 22, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10264 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Google Fined for Violation of EU Data Protection Law Stephen P. Mulligan Legislative Attorney February 22, 2019 In a decision testing what it means to give informed consent to online data collection, a French regulatory body recently fined Google LLC (Google) 50 million euro (approximately 56 million U.S. dollars) the largest fine issued to date for violating the European Union s ( ...
|
| Date Feb. 22, 2019 |
Report No. IF11112 |
Title
Updated February 22, 2019 Nexstar-Tribune Merger: Potential Competition Issues On December 3, 2018, Nexstar Media Group and Tribune Media Company announced a merger agreement that would create the largest broadcast television station owner in the United States. Nexstar values Tribune at approximately $6.4 billion. The proposed merger is subject to approval by both the Federal Communications ...
|
| Date Feb. 22, 2019 |
Report No. IF11113 |
Title
Updated February 22, 2019 Firearms Background Checks Under H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112 On February 13, 2019, the House Committee on the Judiciary ordered reported two bills (H.R. 8 and H.R. 1112) that would amend the federal firearms background check provisions in the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA; 18 U.S.C. 922 et seq.). Bipartisan Background Checks Act of 2019 (H.R. 8) H.R. 8 would make intrastate, ...
|
| Date Feb. 21, 2019 |
Report No. R45518 |
Title
Banking Policy Issues in the 116th Congress February 21, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45518 SUMMARY Banking Policy Issues in the 116th Congress Regulation of the banking industry has undergone substantial changes over the past decade. In response to the 2007-2009 financial crisis, many new bank regulations were implemented pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall ...
|
| Date Feb. 21, 2019 |
Report No. IF11111 |
Title
Updated February 21, 2019 2019 Tax Filing Season (2018 Tax Year): Examples of Deducting Interest on Mortgage Debt and Home Equity Loans Recent changes to the mortgage interest deduction have created some confusion among homeowners, particularly regarding the treatment of home equity loans. This In Focus explains the current tax treatment of mortgage interest and home equity loans resulting from ...
|
| Date Feb. 20, 2019 |
Report No. IN11052 |
Title
INSIGHTi The Defense Department and 10 U.S.C. 284: Legislative Origins and Funding Questions February 20, 2019 Introduction On February 15, President Donald J. Trump confirmed recent reports that described the Administration s consideration of Department of Defense (DOD) authorities and funds to emplace physical barriers along the U.S.-Mexico border. A White House fact sheet detailed the potential ...
|
| Date Feb. 20, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10196 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Are Excessive Fines Fundamentally Unfair? Charles Doyle Senior Specialist in American Public Law February 20, 2019 UPDATE 2/20/2019: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court held in Timbs v. Indiana that the Eighth Amendment s Excessive Fines Clause is incorporated in the Due Process Clause of the Fourth Amendment and is therefore binding on the States. The original post from September 12, ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. R45539 |
Title
Immigration: U.S. Asylum Policy February 19, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45539 Immigration: U.S. Asylum Policy Summary Asylum is a complex area of immigration law and policy. While much of the recent debate surrounding asylum has focused on efforts by the Trump Administration to address asylum seekers arriving at the U.S. southern border, U.S. asylum ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. R44477 |
Title
Department of Education Funding: Key Concepts and FAQ Updated February 19, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R44477 Department of Education Funding: Key Concepts and FAQ Summary Like most federal agencies, the Department of Education (ED) receives funds in support of its mission through various federal budget and appropriations processes. While not unique, the ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. IF11110 |
Title
February 19, 2019 U.S. Trade Debates: The Case For and Against Trade Restrictions Background The 116th Congress is positioned for continuing oversight of the Trump Administration s evolving trade policy. Congress role in trade policy stems from a number of overlapping responsibilities, beginning with Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which grants Congress the power to lay and collect taxes, ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. IN10977 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Macedonia Changes Name, Moves Closer to NATO Membership Updated February 19, 2019 (IN10977) | Related Author Sarah E. Garding | Sarah E. Garding, Analyst in Balkan and Southeast Europe Affairs (sgarding@crs.loc.gov, 7-4593) On February 12, 2019, Macedonia formally changed its name to become the Republic of North Macedonia. The name change resolves a long-standing dispute with Greece ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. IN11051 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT National Preparedness Policy: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress February 19, 2019 (IN11051) | Related Author Shawn Reese | Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy (sreese@crs.loc.gov, 7-0635) The United States is threatened by a wide array of hazards, including natural disasters, acts of terrorism, viral pandemics, and man-made disasters, ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. IN11048 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Protection of Executive Branch Officials: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress February 19, 2019 (IN11048) | Related Author Shawn Reese | Shawn Reese, Analyst in Emergency Management and Homeland Security Policy (sreese@crs.loc.gov, 7-0635) Due to the October 2018 attempted bombing attacks on current and former government officials (and others), there may be congressional ...
|
| Date Feb. 19, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10263 |
Title
Legal Sidebari NLRB Adopts New Standard for Identifying Covered Employees Jon O. Shimabukuro Legislative Attorney February 19, 2019 The classification of workers as employees rather than independent contractors is critical for purposes of most federal labor and employment laws. In general, the rights and protections afforded by these laws are available only to employees and not independent ...
|
| Date Feb. 18, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10242 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Can the Department of Defense Build the Border Wall? Updated February 18, 2019 UPDATE: On February 15, 2019, President Trump issued a proclamation declaring a national emergency at the southern border of the United States, and invoking, among other authorities, the military construction authority provided in 10 U.S.C. 2808. At the same time, the White House released a statement ...
|
| Date Feb. 15, 2019 |
Report No. R45516 |
Title
The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program William J. Mallett Specialist in Transportation Policy Updated February 15, 2019 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45516 SUMMARY The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) Program R45516 February 15, 2019 William J. Mallett The Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation ...
|
| Date Feb. 15, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10253 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Declarations under the National Emergencies Act, Part 2: Declarations No Longer in Effect Updated February 15, 2019 On February 15, 2019, President Trump declared a national emergency under the National Emergencies Act to aid in the construction of physical barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico. Besides raising questions about whether a national emergency declaration can ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. R44599 |
Title
Heroin Trafficking in the United States Updated February 14, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R44599 Heroin Trafficking in the United States Summary Over the past several years, the nation has seen an uptick in the use and abuse of opioids both prescription opioids and non-prescription opioids such as heroin. In 2016, there were an estimated 948,000 individuals ( ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. R45508 |
Title
Selected International Insurance Issues in the 116th Congress Updated February 14, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45508 SUMMARY Selected International Insurance Issues in the 116th Congress The growth of the international insurance market and trade in insurance products and services has created opportunities and new policy issues for U.S. insurers, Congress, ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10261 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Supreme Court Cert Grant Creates Uncertainty in Post-Heller World: Part I February 14, 2019 The Supreme Court recently granted certiorari in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. City of New York, in which it will review a portion of New York City s ( NYC or the City ) firearms licensing scheme that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ( Second Circuit ) ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. IN11045 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Latin America: Challenges for U.S. Policymakers in 2019 Updated February 14, 2019 (IN11045) | Related Author Mark P. Sullivan | Mark P. Sullivan, Specialist in Latin American Affairs (msullivan@crs.loc.gov, 7-7689) The 116th Congress faces a host of policy challenges in Latin America in 2019. Democratic practices have eroded in several countries, especially Venezuela and Nicaragua, and ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. IF11108 |
Title
Updated February 14, 2019 Ukraine s Presidential Election: A Preview On March 31, 2019, Ukraine is scheduled to hold its first presidential election since 2014, the year Russia began to occupy Ukraine s Crimea region and launched a separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine. Because Ukraine s president shares executive power with a prime minister, the election s full political significance will depend ...
|
| Date Feb. 14, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10262 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Supreme Court Cert Grant Creates Uncertainty in Post-Heller World: Part II Michael A. Foster Legislative Attorney February 14, 2019 As discussed in Part I of this two-part Sidebar, the Supreme Court recently granted certiorari in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. City of New York, agreeing to review a decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ( ...
|
| Date Feb. 13, 2019 |
Report No. TE10031 |
Title
Statement of David H. Carpenter Legislative Attorney Before Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Financial Institutions U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Challenges and Solutions: Access to Banking Services for Cannabis-Related Businesses February 13, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov TE10031 Congressional Research Service ...
|
| Date Feb. 13, 2019 |
Report No. IN11042 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Where's My Refund? A Look at Tax Refund Trends over Time and Across Income Levels Updated February 13, 2019 (IN11042) | Related Authors Molly F. Sherlock Margot L. Crandall-Hollick | Molly F. Sherlock, Specialist in Public Finance (msherlock@crs.loc.gov, 7-7797) Margot L. Crandall-Hollick, Specialist in Public Finance (mcrandallhollick@crs.loc.gov, 7-7582) The issue of tax refunds has ...
|
| Date Feb. 13, 2019 |
Report No. IN11043 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT 2019 Tax Filing Season and a Partial Government Shutdown Updated February 13, 2019 (IN11043) | Related Author Gary Guenther | Gary Guenther, Analyst in Public Finance (gguenther@crs.loc.gov, 7-7742) The possibility of a partial shutdown of the federal government beginning on February 16 is raising renewed concern about how it would affect Internal Revenue Service (IRS) operations ...
|
| Date Feb. 13, 2019 |
Report No. IN11041 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT The End of Intra-EU Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS): Implications for the United States Updated February 13, 2019 (IN11041) | Related Author Christopher A. Casey | Christopher A. Casey, Analyst in International Trade and Finance (ccasey@crs.loc.gov, 7-2408) On January 15, 2019, the 28 European Union (EU) member states declared that they will terminate all intra-European ...
|
| Date Feb. 12, 2019 |
Report No. IN11039 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT The Federal Income Tax: How Did P.L. 115-97 Change Marginal Income Tax Rates? Updated February 12, 2019 (IN11039) | Related Author Margot L. Crandall-Hollick | Margot L. Crandall-Hollick, Specialist in Public Finance (mcrandallhollick@crs.loc.gov, 7-7582) At the end of 2017, President Trump signed into law P.L. 115-97, which is commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, or ...
|
| Date Feb. 12, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10258 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Receipt of $4.7 Billion Is Not Always a Benefit Charles Doyle Senior Specialist in American Public Law February 12, 2019 According to the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit (First Circuit) in United States v. Bravo-Fern ndez, evidence that Puerto Rico received $4.7 billion in federal assistance is not enough to prove that the Commonwealth received at least $10,000 ...
|
| Date Feb. 12, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10259 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Supreme Court May Reconsider Establishment Clause Jurisprudence in Challenge to Cross Display: Part One Updated February 12, 2019 On February 27, in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument on the constitutionality of a large cross that was erected as a war memorial in Prince George s County, Maryland. Last year, the U.S. ...
|
| Date Feb. 12, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10260 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Supreme Court May Reconsider Establishment Clause Jurisprudence in Challenge to Cross Display: Part Two Updated February 12, 2019 On February 27, in American Legion v. American Humanist Association, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear oral argument on the constitutionality of a large cross that was erected as a war memorial in Prince George s County, Maryland. Last year, the U.S. ...
|
| Date Feb. 12, 2019 |
Report No. IF11104 |
Title
February 12, 2019 Salton Sea Management and Restoration Efforts The Salton Sea in Southern California is the state s largest inland body of water. The Salton Sea was created when a canal gate broke in 1905, allowing Colorado River water into the basin. It is now sustained by agricultural runoff from farmlands in the Imperial and Coachella Valleys. Though saltier than the ocean, it provides ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. R43783 |
Title
School Meals Programs and Other USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer Updated February 11, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R43783 School Meals Programs and Other USDA Child Nutrition Programs: A Primer Summary The child nutrition programs refer to the U.S. Department of Agriculture s Food and Nutrition Service (USDA-FNS) programs that provide food for children ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. R41930 |
Title
Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law Updated February 11, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R41930 SUMMARY Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law R41930 February 11, 2019 Charles Doyle The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the Senior Specialist in American Public ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. IN11040 |
Title
INSIGHTi Border Security Between Ports of Entry: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress Updated February 11, 2019 The United States southern border with Mexico runs for approximately 2,000 miles over diverse terrain, varied population densities, and discontinuous sections of public, private, and tribal land ownership. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Customs and Border Protection ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. R45500 |
Title
Transportation Security: Issues for the 116th Congress February 11, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R45500 SUMMARY Transportation Security: Issues for the 116th Congress The nation s air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them vulnerable to terrorist attack. While hardening the ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. R41931 |
Title
Mail and Wire Fraud: An Abbreviated Overview of Federal Criminal Law Updated February 11, 2019 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov R41931 SUMMARY Mail and Wire Fraud: An Abbreviated Overview of Federal Criminal Law R41931 February 11, 2019 Charles Doyle The mail and wire fraud statutes are exceptionally broad. Their scope has occasionally given the Senior Specialist in ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. IN11037 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Venezuela Oil Sector Sanctions: Market and Trade Impacts Updated February 11, 2019 (IN11037) | Related Author Phillip Brown | Phillip Brown, Specialist in Energy Policy (pbrown@crs.loc.gov, 7-7386) On January 28, 2019, the Trump Administration imposed sanctions on Venezuela's state-owned oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PdVSA), adding to existing Venezuela sanctions. The ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. IN11038 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT U.S. National Health Security: Homeland Security Issues in the 116th Congress February 11, 2019 (IN11038) | Related Author Sarah A. Lister | Sarah A. Lister, Specialist in Public Health and Epidemiology (slister@crs.loc.gov, 7-7320) In its quadrennial National Health Security Strategy, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) states: U.S. National Health Security actions ...
|
| Date Feb. 11, 2019 |
Report No. LSB10257 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Court Stays Enforcement of Louisiana Abortion Law Jon O. Shimabukuro Legislative Attorney February 11, 2019 The U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the enforcement of a Louisiana law that requires physicians who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within thirty miles of the location where the procedure is performed. The stay will continue until the Court acts on a ...
|
