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Report No.
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| Date Aug. 8, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10184 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Oops: When Does a Plain Error in Calculating a Defendant s Sentencing Guidelines Range Warrant Resentencing? August 8, 2018 In the federal criminal justice system, not all errors justify relief. Notably, under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 52(b), federal courts may, but are not required to, correct an error if a defendant failed to notify the district court about the error. ( ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2018 |
Report No. IN10953 |
Title
INSIGHTi Gun Control: 3D-Printed Firearms August 7, 2018 In May 2013, Defense Distributed, a federally licensed firearms manufacturer, posted on its website computer assisted design (CAD) files for three dimensional-printing (3D-printing) of a single-shot, smoothbore, .380 caliber pistol that could be made almost entirely with non-metallic material. The design of this firearm, the Liberator, does ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2018 |
Report No. IF10942 |
Title
August 7, 2018 FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act: An Overview of H.R. 5515 The FY2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) approved by Congress would authorize $708.1 billion in discretionary appropriations for national defense-related activities of the Department of Defense (DOD) and other agencies. The bill (H.R. 5515) would authorize $16 billion (2.3%) more than the amount ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2018 |
Report No. IN10949 |
Title
On July 31, 2018, the Department of the Treasury issued a report, "A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities: Nonbank Financials, Fintech, and Innovation," that examines financial institutions and activities for which the application of traditional regulation may present challenges due to advances in financial technology ("fintech"). It is the last in a series of four reports written ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2018 |
Report No. IF10943 |
Title
August 7, 2018 Nord Stream 2: A Geopolitical Lightning Rod At the July 2018 NATO Summit in Brussels, President Donald Trump criticized German support for a natural gas pipeline project, Nord Stream 2, that would allow Germany to increase the amount of natural gas it imports directly from Russia via the Baltic Sea (see Figure 1). Although the President later suggested he expected the project would ...
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| Date Aug. 7, 2018 |
Report No. IN10948 |
Title
In December 2017, after years of preparation, most commercial trucks were required to be equipped with an electronic logging device (ELD) that would automatically record how long the driver had been driving. There had been little controversy about this requirement during its two-year phase-in period, but after it took effect, portions of the commercial trucking industry began to complain about its ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. R45282 |
Title
Fees for Maintenance and Evaluation of Pesticide Registrations: Current Law and Legislation in the 115th Congress ,name redacted, Analyst in Environmental Policy ,name redacted, Specialist in Environmental Policy August 6, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45282 SUMMARY Fees for Maintenance and Evaluation of Pesticide Registrations: Current Law and Legislation in the 115th ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. R45281 |
Title
Iran s Threats, the Strait of Hormuz, and Oil Markets: In Brief Michael Ratner Specialist in Energy Policy August 6, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R45281 Iran s Threats, the Strait of Hormuz, and Oil Markets: In Brief Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. R45280 |
Title
U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors: Background, Pending Nominees, and Issues for Congress ,name redacted, Analyst in Government Organization and Management ,name r edacted, Analyst in Government Organization and Management August 6, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45280 U.S. Postal Board of Governors: Background, Nominees, and Issues Summary Unlike other executive ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. IN10946 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Proposals to Impose Sanctions on Russian Sovereign Debt August 6, 2018 (IN10946) | Related Author Rebecca M. Nelson | Rebecca M. Nelson, Specialist in International Trade and Finance (rnelson@crs.loc.gov, 7-6819) The United States imposes sanctions on hundreds of Russian individuals and entities for aggression against Ukraine, election interference, malicious cyber activity, human ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10183 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Advising the President: Rules Governing Access and Accountability of Presidential Advisors August 6, 2018 Media reports have raised questions regarding the extent to which federal ethics laws and regulations apply to Presidential advisors. Article II of the U.S. Constitution vests the President with broad authority to appoint advisors to key posts in the executive branch. The ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. IF10941 |
Title
August 6, 2018 Buy America and the Electric Bus Market Buy America requirements are an integral aspect of federal transportation funding. In a series of statutes, Congress has required that federally funded highway, public transportation, aviation, and intercity passenger rail projects use U.S.-made manufactured goods. But determining whether a product is made in the United States is not always ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. IN10947 |
Title
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated changes to airspace and flight procedures to take advantage of new technologies deployed under NextGen, a comprehensive air traffic modernization initiative that relies on satellite-based navigation and tracking to improve efficiency and airspace capacity. In some neighborhoods, however, FAA's changes have increased overflights triggering ...
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| Date Aug. 6, 2018 |
Report No. IF10945 |
Title
August 6, 2018 Maritime Fuel Regulations On January 1, 2020, new, more stringent maritime emission regulations are scheduled to take effect for all ocean-going vessels. Implementing major industry regulatory reform can cause uncertainty and market disruption. As a result, investment plans and market supply and demand might be affected, leading to rapid price changes. The International Maritime ...
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| Date Aug. 3, 2018 |
Report No. R45278 |
Title
Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Background and Issues for Congress name redacted Analyst in Natural Resources Policy August 3, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45278 SUMMARY Chesapeake Bay Restoration: Background and Issues for Congress The Chesapeake Bay (the Bay) is the largest estuary in the United States. It is recognized as a Wetlands of International Importance by the ...
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| Date Aug. 3, 2018 |
Report No. IF10940 |
Title
August 3, 2018 The James Webb Space Telescope Introduction The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) reported in March 2018 that it expects to breach the $8 billion cost cap established by Congress for formulation and development of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). If that occurs, NASA would have to stop work on the project unless Congress enacts legislation authorizing it to ...
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| Date Aug. 2, 2018 |
Report No. RS22378 |
Title
Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress Ronald O'Rourke Specialist in Naval Affairs August 2, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RS22478 Navy Ship Names: Background for Congress Summary Names for Navy ships traditionally have been chosen and announced by the Secretary of the Navy, under the direction of the President and in accordance with rules prescribed by Congress. Rules ...
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| Date Aug. 2, 2018 |
Report No. IF10939 |
Title
August 2, 2018 Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF): Cartel Lite? Background on the GECF Note: Units = billion cubic meters (bcm). From 2013 and 2017, global natural gas production and consumption grew about 9%. However, as part of the overall fuel mix, which rose 5%, the contribution of natural gas has declined 1 percentage point to 23% during the same time period, because renewable energy grew ...
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| Date Aug. 2, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10182 |
Title
Legal Sidebari D.C. Circuit Rules FTC Opinion Letter Not Final Agency Action Subject to Judicial Review August 2, 2018 Courts will typically only review agency orders, regulations, licenses, and other decisions that are final. In Soundboard Association v. Federal Trade Commission, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit (D.C. Circuit) held by a vote of ...
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| Date Aug. 1, 2018 |
Report No. R45143 |
Title
Seed Cotton as a Farm Program Crop: In Brief (name redacted) Specialist in Agricultural Policy August 1, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45143 Seed Cotton as a Farm Program Crop: In Brief Summary The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123; BBA), signed into law on February 9, 2018, included a provision Section 60101(a) which amended the 2014 farm bill (P.L. 113-79) to ...
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| Date Aug. 1, 2018 |
Report No. IN10918 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Cambodian Election August 1, 2018 (IN10918) | Related Author Thomas Lum | Thomas Lum, Specialist in Asian Affairs (tlum@crs.loc.gov, 7-7616) The Cambodian National Assembly election, held on July 29, 2018, resulted in a victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Critics viewed the election, in which the CPP likely won all 125 parliamentary seats, as neither free nor fair ...
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| Date Aug. 1, 2018 |
Report No. IF10937 |
Title
August 1, 2018 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Education Educational tools enabled by AI have recently attracted attention for their potential to improve education quality and enhance traditional teaching and learning methods. Although there is no single consensus definition, AI generally allows computers to perform tasks that are conventionally thought to require human intelligence. Congress may ...
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| Date July 31, 2018 |
Report No. R45099 |
Title
National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress Diane P. Horn Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management July 31, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R45099 National Flood Insurance Program: Selected Issues and Legislation in the 115th Congress Summary The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) was established by the National ...
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| Date July 31, 2018 |
Report No. R44808 |
Title
Federal Disaster Assistance: The National Flood Insurance Program and Other Federal Disaster Assistance Programs Available to Individuals and Households After a Flood Diane P. Horn Analyst in Flood Insurance and Emergency Management July 31, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R44808 Federal Disaster Assistance: NFIP and Other Federal Programs Summary After a flood, people are ...
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| Date July 31, 2018 |
Report No. IN10945 |
Title
INSIGHTi The World Trade Organization (WTO): U.S. Participation at Risk? (name redacted) Analyst in International Trade and Finance July 31, 2018 Trump Administration Approach to the WTO In a break from past administrations, the Trump Administration has expressed doubt over the value of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to the U.S. economy. The United States was a key architect of the WTO the 164 ...
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| Date July 31, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10180 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Family Separation at the Border and the Ms. L. Litigation July 31, 2018 The separation of families of non-U.S. nationals (aliens) apprehended by immigration authorities near the border has prompted contentious debate among policymakers as well as legal challenge to immigration detention policies. Trump Administration officials have called for legislation addressing family separation ...
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| Date July 30, 2018 |
Report No. RL33536 |
Title
China-U.S. Trade Issues Wayne M. Morrison Specialist in Asian Trade and Finance July 30, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33536 China-U.S. Trade Issues Summary U.S.-China economic ties have expanded substantially since China began reforming its economy and liberalizing its trade regime in the late 1970s. Total U.S.-China merchandise trade rose from $2 billion in 1979 (when ...
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| Date July 30, 2018 |
Report No. R45270 |
Title
Child Welfare Funding in FY2018 (name redacted) Specialist in Social Policy July 30, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45270 Child Welfare Funding in FY2018 Summary Child welfare services are intended to prevent the abuse or neglect of children; ensure that children have safe, permanent homes; and promote the well-being of children and their families. For FY2018, an estimated ...
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| Date July 30, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10179 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Hostage-Taking Statute Covers Kidnapping for Ransom Abroad July 30, 2018 In the midst of a rash of kidnappings, a U.S. citizen living in Haiti was seized and held for ransom. In United States v. Noel, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Eleventh Circuit) recently upheld the conviction of one of the kidnappers under the federal hostage-taking statute. The statute ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. R41259 |
Title
North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation Emma Chanlett-Avery, Coordinator Specialist in Asian Affairs Mark E. Manyin Specialist in Asian Affairs Mary Beth D. Nikitin Specialist in Nonproliferation Caitlin Elizabeth Campbell Analyst in Asian Security Issues Wil Mackey Research Assistant July 27, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R41259 North Korea: ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. R45275 |
Title
The House and Senate 2018 Farm Bills (H.R. 2): A Side-by-Side Comparison with Current Law Mark A. McMinimy, Coordinator Section Research Manager July 27, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R45275 SUMMARY The House and Senate 2018 Farm Bills: A Sideby-Side Comparison with Current Law Congress sets national food and agriculture policy through periodic omnibus farm bills that ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IN10940 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Potential WTO Implications of USDA's Proposed Response to Trade-Retaliation July 27, 2018 (IN10940) | Related Author Randy Schnepf | Randy Schnepf, Specialist in Agricultural Policy (rschnepf@crs.loc.gov, 7-4277) On July 24, 2018, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be taking several actions to assist farmers in response ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IF10936 |
Title
July 27, 2018 FY2019 Defense Appropriations Bill: An Overview of S. 3159, as Reported The FY2019 Defense Appropriations Bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on June 28 would appropriate $668 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD). This amount excludes appropriations for military facility construction and family housing, which are provided in a separate appropriations bill. The ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IN10941 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Commodity Credit Corporation: Q&A July 27, 2018 (IN10941) | Related Author Megan Stubbs | Megan Stubbs, Specialist in Agricultural Conservation and Natural Resources Policy (mstubbs@crs.loc.gov, 7-8707) On July 24, 2018, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the use of up to $12 billion in funding authorized under the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to compensate ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IN10939 |
Title
INSIGHTi Ethiopia s New Prime Minister Visits the United States to Build Bridges name redacted Specialist in African Affairs July 27, 2018 Ethiopia s new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, arrived in the United States on July 26 for a three-city tour, with stops in Washington, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. It is his first U.S. trip since being elected by parliament on April 2, and the visit is focused on ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IN10942 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Pipeline Safety: Overdue Statutory Mandates July 27, 2018 (IN10942) | Related Author Paul W. Parfomak | Paul W. Parfomak, Specialist in Energy and Infrastructure Policy (pparfomak@crs.loc.gov, 7-0030) The safety of natural gas and hazardous liquid pipelines in the United States is regulated by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) within the Department of ...
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| Date July 27, 2018 |
Report No. IF10267 |
Title
Updated July 27, 2018 Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA): Reauthorization Issues for the 115th Congress In the 115th Congress, both chambers have continued efforts to reauthorize the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA; 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). The MSA governs management and conservation of commercial and recreational fisheries in the U.S. ...
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| Date July 26, 2018 |
Report No. IN10938 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT Australia and New Zealand React to China's Growing Influence in the South Pacific July 26, 2018 (IN10938) | Related Author Bruce Vaughn | Bruce Vaughn, Specialist in Asian Affairs (bvaughn@crs.loc.gov, 7-3144) Overview The July 24, 2018, Australia-United States Ministerial (AUSMIN) Joint Statement points to "deepening engagement [between the United States and Australia] in the Indo- ...
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| Date July 26, 2018 |
Report No. IN10937 |
Title
CRS INSIGHT History of Use of U.S. Military Bases to House Immigrants and Refugees July 26, 2018 (IN10937) | Related Authors Lawrence Kapp Barbara Salazar Torreon | Lawrence Kapp, Specialist in Military Manpower Policy (lkapp@crs.loc.gov, 7-7609) Barbara Salazar Torreon, Senior Research Librarian (btorreon@crs.loc.gov, 7-8996) Background On June 20, 2018, President Donald Trump signed an Executive ...
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| Date July 26, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10178 |
Title
Legal Sidebari Only Minimal Impact on Commerce Needed for Attempted Bombing July 26, 2018 The United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (Eleventh Circuit) recently held in United States v. Suarez that a minimal impact on commerce is sufficient to satisfy the jurisdictional requirement of the federal weapons of mass destruction statute. The decision seems to reflect a growing ...
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| Date July 26, 2018 |
Report No. IF10933 |
Title
Updated July 26, 2018 Zimbabwe: Forthcoming Elections On July 30, 2018, Zimbabwe is slated to hold presidential, parliamentary and local elections the first since the November 2017 transfer of presidential power from Robert Mugabe to Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mugabe s departure, after 37 years in office, raised hopes for the resolution of a persistent economic crisis and for a democratic transition ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. REFORM |
Title
MEMORANDUM July 25, 2018 Subject: Trump Administration Reform and Reorganization Plan: Discussion of 35 Government-Wide Proposals From: Henry B. Hogue, Coordinator, Specialist in American National Government, hhogue@crs.loc.gov, 7-0642 Clinton T. Brass, Coordinator, Specialist in Government Organization and Management, cbrass@crs.loc.gov, 7-4536 This memorandum was prepared to enable distribution ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. M20180725 |
Title
MEMORANDUM July 25, 2018 Subject: Trump Administration Reform and Reorganization Plan: Discussion of 35 Government-Wide Proposals From: Henry B. Hogue, Coordinator, Specialist in American National Government, hhogue@crs.loc.gov, 7-0642 Clinton T. Brass, Coordinator, Specialist in Government Organization and Management, cbrass@crs.loc.gov, 7-4536 This memorandum was prepared to enable distribution ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. TE10027 |
Title
Statement of William R. Morton Analyst in Income Security Before Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Social Security U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Examining Changes to Social Security s Disability Appeals Process July 25, 2018 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov TE10027 Congressional Research Service 1 Chairman Johnson, Ranking Member Larson, and ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. R45180 |
Title
OPIC, USAID, and Proposed Development Finance Reorganization (name redacted) Specialist in International Trade and Finance (name redacted) Specialist in Foreign Assistance Policy July 25, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov R45180 OPIC, USAID, and Proposed Development Finance Reorganization Summary Members of Congress and Administrations have periodically considered reorganizing ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. TE10026 |
Title
Statement of Brent D. Yacobucci Section Research Manager Before Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment U.S. House of Representatives Hearing on Background on Renewable Identification Numbers under the Renewable Fuel Standard July 25, 2018 Congressional Research Service https://crsreports.congress.gov TE10026 Congressional Research Service 1 Good morning Chairman Shimkus, ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10177 |
Title
Legal Sidebari The Essential Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh Reader: What Cases Should You Read? July 25, 2018 Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, whom President Trump has nominated to fill the impending Supreme Court vacancy caused by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy s retirement from the Court, has amassed a voluminous record of judicial writings during his legal career. These writings are certain to be a key topic of ...
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| Date July 25, 2018 |
Report No. LSB10101 |
Title
Legal Sidebari UPDATE: Fannie & Freddie Investors Turn to Congress After S. Ct. Declines to Resurrect Their Legal Claims Updated July 25, 2018 UPDATE: On July 16, 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, in Collins v. Mnuchin, became the fourth U.S. Court of Appeals to dismiss statutory claims asserted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders challenging the terms of the mortgage ...
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| Date July 24, 2018 |
Report No. R45229 |
Title
Indexing Capital Gains Taxes for Inflation Jane G. Gravelle Senior Specialist in Economic Policy July 24, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R45229 Indexing Capital Gains Taxes for Inflation Summary Recently, proposals to index capital gains for inflation have re-entered the public debate. The proposed change would eliminate the part of capital gains that reflects inflation by ...
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| Date July 24, 2018 |
Report No. RL31286 |
Title
Debt-for-Nature Initiatives and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act (TFCA): Status and Implementation Pervaze A. Sheikh Specialist in Natural Resources Policy July 24, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL31286 Debt-for-Nature Initiatives and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act SUMMARY In the late 1980s, extensive foreign debt and degraded natural resources in developing ...
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