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Medication Abortion: A Changing Legal Landscape [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Following the Supreme Court's recent decision in 'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization,' [hyperlink] questions have been raised about continued access to medication abortion [hyperlink], a pregnancy termination method involving the use of prescription drugs regulated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [hyperlink] (FD&C Act). Recent attention [hyperlink] has centered on the availability of these drugs, as the drugs' availability may allow those residing in areas with few or no abortion providers to have access to an elective abortion. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the distribution of mifepristone [hyperlink] (sold under the brand name Mifeprex), and the agency's current policies allow the drug to be prescribed via telehealth and sent to patients through the mail under specified conditions. At the same time, state legislatures have taken steps to regulate access to medication abortion, including, since the Court's decision in 'Dobbs,' proposing specific bans [hyperlink] on medication abortion drugs under particular circumstances. Prior to 'Dobbs,' such restrictions may have been subject to legal challenge based on the Court's abortion decisions in 'Roe v. Wade' and 'Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey,' as well as other cases that recognized a woman's constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy. Now that the Court's majority opinion in 'Dobbs' has overruled 'Roe' and 'Casey,' a state's ability to restrict or prohibit access to these drugs may solely depend on the interplay between state and federal law. This Legal Sidebar explores federal regulations of medication abortion drugs under the FD&C Act, state efforts to regulate access to medication abortion and issues regarding federal preemption, and considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shimabukuro, Jon O.; Staman, Jennifer A.
2022-07-08
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Redefining 'Waters of the United States' (WOTUS): Recent Developments [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Summary: "Congress established the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, also known as the Clean Water Act (CWA), to restore and protect the quality of the nation's surface waters. The CWA protects 'navigable waters,' defined in the statute as 'waters of the United States, including the territorial seas.' The CWA does not further define the term 'waters of the United States' (WOTUS), which determines which waters are federally regulated. Thus, in implementing the CWA, the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)--the two agencies that administer the statute--have defined the term in regulations. However, Congress's intent as to the meaning of WOTUS has been debated and litigated for more than four decades. For much of the past several decades, regulations promulgated by the Corps and EPA in the 1980s have been in effect. The agencies supplemented these regulations with guidance developed in 2003 and 2008 in response to two Supreme Court rulings--'Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,' in 2001, and 'Rapanos v. United States,' in 2006--which interpreted the CWA's scope more narrowly than the Corps and EPA had done previously in regulations and guidance, but also created uncertainty about the intended scope of waters protected by the CWA. The Corps and EPA acknowledged that their guidance did not provide the public or agency staff with the information needed to ensure timely, predictable, and consistent jurisdictional determinations. Diverse stakeholders requested a formal rulemaking to revise existing regulations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Gatz, Laura; Bowers, Kate R.
2022-07-08
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Trade-Related Agencies: FY2022 Appropriations, Commerce, Science, Justice and Related Agencies (CJS) [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Summary: "This report provides an overview of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 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. This report also reviews these trade agencies' programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hammond, Keigh E.; Villarreal, M. Angeles
2022-07-08
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Department of Energy Funding for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Programs [July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Hydrogen Program, led by the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office (HFTO) within the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) addresses the development of applications that use hydrogen in place of today's fuels and technologies that provide modern energy services. DOE programs also consider hydrogen as an established chemical feedstock, for example, in petroleum refining. The DOE programs include over 400 projects of research and development (R&D), systems integration, demonstrations, and initial deployment activities performed by universities, national laboratories, and industry. These programs cover the hydrogen energy value chain starting with producing the hydrogen from diverse feedstocks; transporting and storing it; and finally using it in various applications. A future 'hydrogen economy' using hydrogen as an energy carrier and fuel could offer an alternative to today's economy with its prevalent combustion of fossil fuels. Initially thought of as a new technology for personal mobility services (e.g., cars) and high-value applications such as provision of electric power during space flight, hydrogen now is receiving attention for industrial processes, heavy vehicles, forklifts, portable power, and buffering and balancing of electric power."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Offutt, Martin C.
2022-07-08
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The CASES Act: Implementation and Issues for Congress [July 8, 2022]
From the Document: The CASES [Creating Advanced Streamlined Electronic Services for Constituents] Act is intended to modernize and simplify what has been an inconsistent and variable process of obtaining an individual's written consent for information disclosure. The act would enable constituents to provide electronic authorization to additional parties, such as Members of Congress and their offices, to resolve constituent inquiries, compared to the current range of requirements for verbal or email authorizations, or 'wet' signatures. The Creating Advanced Streamlined Electronic Services for Constituents Act of 2019, or the CASES Act (P.L. [Public Law] 116-50), is designed to improve access to, and the efficiency of, government services and agencies for constituents by updating the casework process for an increasingly digital environment. Processing casework information often requires the disclosure of the constituent's individually identifiable information to a congressional office, and is subject to disclosure restrictions under the Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. [United States Code] 552a). Generally, the Privacy Act prohibits disclosure of individually identifiable information by federal agencies to third parties, including congressional offices, without written consent."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Stuessy, Meghan M.; Petersen, R. Eric
2022-07-08
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Abortion, Data Privacy, and Law Enforcement Access: A Legal Overview [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "In light of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in 'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization' [hyperlink], some Members of Congress [hyperlink] and commentators [hyperlink] have expressed concerns that law enforcement officials may seek to collect abortion-related personal data for prosecutions in states that have criminalized abortions. In Dobbs, the Court overruled 'Roe v. Wade' [hyperlink] and held that the U.S. Constitution does not grant individuals a right to an abortion. States now have much more discretion to criminalize abortion. Moreover, in the years before the Dobbs decision, 13 states [hyperlink] passed 'trigger laws' that were set to prohibit abortion, either automatically or following action by a state official, if the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Various types of personal data--such as health records, financial records, geolocation information, and electronic communications--might shed light on an individual's abortion decision, and law enforcement could seek such information, either directly from the entity collecting the data or from another entity to whom the data has been shared or sold [hyperlink]. Federal law may affect law enforcement's ability to collect this information. [...] This Legal Sidebar provides a high-level survey of the relevant constitutional and statutory law on this topic, and it concludes with considerations for Congress and links to other relevant CRS [Congressional Research Service] products."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Linebaugh, Chris D.
2022-07-08
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Congressional Authority to Regulate Abortion [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion in 'Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization' [hyperlink], which overruled 'Roe v. Wade' [hyperlink] and 'Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey' [hyperlink] and held that there is no constitutional right to abortion. [...] 'Dobbs' has generated heightened interest [hyperlink] in federal abortion legislation, and raises [hyperlink] important issues about the scope of congressional power to regulate abortion under the Constitution. This Sidebar begins with an overview of Congress's constitutional authority to enact legislation and some limits on those powers. It then discusses in more detail three enumerated powers potentially relevant to legislative efforts to expand or restrict access to abortion--the Commerce Clause [hyperlink], the Spending Clause [hyperlink], and section 5 [hyperlink] of the Fourteenth Amendment--and the constitutional limits of those powers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hickey, Kevin J.; Novak, Whitney K.
2022-07-08
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Election Administration: Federal Grant Funding for States and Localities [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Introduction: "States and localities have primary responsibility for administering elections in the United States, but Congress has tools it can use to support or shape their efforts if it chooses to do so. One of those tools is funding. Congress can use its power to provide--and set conditions on--funding to encourage or help states and localities to adopt, reject, implement, or maintain election administration policies or practices. Congress has used or proposed using funding to engage with election administration issues in various ways. It has directed federal agencies to use some of their funding to support state and local elections work, for example, and authorized more general grant programs that have been used to fund elections-related projects. Members have also introduced bills that would condition eligibility for certain federal funds on adopting or rejecting election administration policies. Perhaps the most direct way in which Congress has used funding is by establishing and funding state and local grant programs specifically for election administration-related purposes. This report focuses on those types of grant programs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2022-07-08
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Elections Grant Programs: Authorizations and Appropriations [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress first authorized major federal grant programs for elections in the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; P.L. [Public Law] 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 administration of federal elections. Unlike previous elections statutes, it also provided for grant programs to help states meet those requirements and identify and implement other improvements to election administration. [...] This In Focus provides an overview of the elections-specific grant programs Congress has established and funded to date. It also briefly discusses non-elections-specific grant programs that have been used to support elections-related activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2022-07-08
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Election Security: Federal Funding for Securing Election Systems [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "State and local systems were targeted as part of efforts to interfere with the 2016 elections, according to the U.S. intelligence community. Reports of those activities highlighted the potential for threats to the technologies, facilities, and processes used to administer elections. Congress has responded to such threats, in part, by providing and proposing funding to help secure elections. This In Focus offers an overview of federal funding for securing election systems. It starts with some background on potential threats to state and local election systems and then summarizes the funding Congress has provided and proposed to help secure those systems."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2022-07-08
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Election Security: States' Spending of FY2018 and FY2020 HAVA Payments [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Congress has provided funding in response to efforts to interfere with U.S. elections. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (P.L. [Public Law] 115-141) included $380 million for payments to the 50 states, the District of Columbia (DC), American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands under the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; 52 U.S.C. §§20901-21145), for example, and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (P.L. 116-93) and Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103) provided $425 million and $75 million, respectively, for HAVA payments to those jurisdictions and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2022-07-08
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Elections Grant Programs: Policy Options [Updated July 8, 2022]
From the Document: "Recent congressional activity on elections issues has often taken the form of grant programs or funding. Congress responded to foreign interference in the 2016 elections and the effects of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on administration of the 2020 elections, in part, with funding for a grant program established by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA; P.L. [Public Law] 107-252). Multiple bills introduced in the 117th Congress--from the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-103) to the Freedom to Vote Act (S. 2747) to the Protecting the Right to Organized, Transparent Elections through a Constitutionally Trustworthy Electoral College (PROTECT Electoral College) Act (H.R. 4789/S. 519)--have funded or would authorize, fund, or set conditions for elections grant programs. This In Focus explores some issues that may be of interest to Members who are considering offering, supporting, opposing, or amending proposals to authorize, fund, or set conditions for elections grant programs. It starts by summarizing some general arguments for and against federal elections grant programs then introduces some considerations that might be relevant for development or evaluation of particular programs or proposals."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Shanton, Karen L.
2022-07-08
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Women in Congress, 1917-2022: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress [Updated July 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "In total 399 women have been elected or appointed to Congress, 259 Democrats and 140 Republicans. [...] This report includes brief biographical information, committee assignments, dates of service, district information, and listings by Congress and state, and (for Representatives) congressional districts of the 399 women who have been elected or appointed to Congress. It will be updated when there are relevant changes in the makeup of Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Brudnick, Ida A.
2022-07-07
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Women in Congress: Statistics and Brief Overview [Updated July 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "As of July 6, 2022, 151 women are serving in the 117th Congress. There are 127 women serving in the House (including 3 Delegates and the Resident Commissioner), 92 Democrats and 35 Republicans. There are 24 women in the Senate, 16 Democrats and 8 Republicans. [...] This report includes historical information, including the number of women in Congress over time; means of entry to Congress; comparisons to international and state legislatures; records for tenure; firsts for women in Congress; women in leadership; tallies of African American, Asian Pacific American, Hispanic, and American Indian women in Congress; and a brief overview of research questions related to the role and impact of women in Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Brudnick, Ida A.
2022-07-07
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Information Access for Congressional Advisory Commissions [July 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "Advisory commissions assist Congress with the development of public policy. Congressional advisory commissions are formal groups, usually composed of policy experts, that provide independent advice, recommend potential changes in public policy, and study or investigate a particular problem or event. Congressional advisory commissions can also commemorate an individual, group, or event. An advisory commission often completes its work by delivering written findings and recommendations to Congress. Advisory commissions can help develop policy recommendations on a myriad of policy areas, especially those that cut across the jurisdictions of multiple congressional committees. To accomplish its mission, a congressional advisory commission must have access to information to help it evaluate the policy sphere, develop potential recommendations, and report to Congress. To aid advisory commissions' work, laws creating congressional advisory commissions have traditionally provided several tools to help commissions gain access to necessary information. This report examines the most commonly provided information-gathering tools. These tools fall into three categories. First, commissions are provided certain statutory authorities. These commonly include the ability to hold hearings, contracting authority, and the ability to obtain information from government agencies. Occasionally, commissions are provided subpoena authority. Second, commissions often include subject-matter experts as commissioners and are provided the authority to hire staff to help meet their statutory mandate. Third, commissions use publicly available documents and the cooperation of interested individuals and parties to help gather information."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straus, Jacob R.; Wolanin, Tyler L.
2022-07-07
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Geoengineering: Ocean Iron Fertilization [July 7, 2022]
From the Summary: "Congress has shown growing interest in and support for geoengineering techniques as a means to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. 'Geoengineering' is a field of study that involves large-scale technological interventions to manipulate the processes that affect Earth's climate, generally with the aim of countering climate change. Geoengineering techniques that stimulate or amplify natural processes that remove CO2 from the atmosphere (e.g., afforestation, ocean fertilization) may be of particular interest to Congress, due to the relatively low cost of research, development, and deployment of these techniques compared with geoengineering techniques that rely on novel or industrial-scale technologies. For example, CO2 is transferred into the deep ocean via the physical process of overturning circulation and the biological process known as the 'biological pump.' Ocean iron fertilization (OIF), an ocean-based geoengineering technique, aims to increase the rate of atmospheric CO2 transfer to the deep ocean by stimulating the biological pump through the addition of iron (a key nutrient) to the surface of the ocean. Modeling studies indicate that OIF has the potential to remove CO2 from the atmosphere for hundreds to thousands of years."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Keating-Bitonti, Caitlin
2022-07-07
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Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF): In Brief [July 7, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Within the last year, multiple commercial airlines have announced sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchase agreements. Airlines report they are purchasing SAF, in part, to 'address the climate crisis' and to comply with international standards that would reduce the aviation sector's carbon footprint. SAF--in short, sustainable fuel (e.g., advanced biofuel) used for aircraft--production is limited. As such, airlines and others have requested federal assistance to spur SAF development and adoption. Both Congress and the Executive Branch have taken action to support SAF. Legislation pertaining to SAF (e.g., S. 4038, S. 2263, and S. 1608) has been introduced in the 117th Congress. In addition, the Build Back Better Act as passed by the House (BBBA; H.R. 5376) would establish a SAF tax credit, among other things. [...] This report discusses SAF--what it is, potential challenges and opportunities for adoption, production and cost, stakeholder positions, selected legislation that would support SAF including tax incentives, and other issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bracmort, Kelsi; Sherlock, Molly F.
2022-07-07
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Russia's 2022 Invasion of Ukraine: Overview of U.S. Sanctions and Other Responses [Updated July 6, 2022]
From the Document: "On February 24, 2022, Russia launched an undeclared war against Ukraine, a country Russia first invaded and partially occupied in 2014. The United States and many countries around the world have condemned Russia's 'unprecedented military aggression' as 'unprovoked and unjustified.' On March 2, 2022, the U.N. General Assembly voted 141-5 to demand Russia 'immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw' from Ukraine (47 countries, including China and India, abstained or did not vote). After Russia launched its 2022 war, the United States, the European Union (EU), and others substantially increased military, humanitarian, and economic assistance to Ukraine and imposed a series of increasingly severe sanctions on Russia. In addition, hundreds of U.S. and other companies have withdrawn, suspended, or curtailed operations in or with Russia."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Welt, Cory
2022-07-06
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U.S. Immigration Courts: Access to Counsel in Removal Proceedings and Legal Access Programs [July 6, 2022]
From the Document: "Immigration courts are within the Department of Justice's Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). During removal proceedings in immigration courts, immigration judges (IJs) determine whether noncitizens ('respondents') charged with an immigration violation by the Department of Homeland Security are removable and, if so, whether they qualify for relief from removal, such as asylum. Removal proceedings are conducted under Section 240 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). INA Section 240(b)(4) states that respondents 'shall have the privilege of being represented, at no expense to the Government, by counsel of the alien's choosing who is authorized to practice in such proceeding.' That is, respondents may obtain counsel at their own expense or pro bono; the federal government generally may not provide counsel."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Straut-Eppsteiner, Holly
2022-07-06
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Carson v. Makin: Using Government Funds for Religious Activity [July 6, 2022]
From the Document: "When the government decides whether to give public funds to religious entities, that decision can raise constitutional questions [hyperlink] under both of the First Amendment's Religion Clauses. For many years, Supreme Court precedent [hyperlink] focused primarily on whether federal, state, or local governments violated the Establishment Clause by funding religious activity. Accordingly, governments sometimes barred public funds from being given to religious activities or religious groups. In recent years, however, the Supreme Court has made clear [hyperlink] that governments may violate the Free Exercise Clause by barring religious entities from receiving public benefits because of their faith. Under prevailing precedent, then, governments might sometimes be constitutionally or statutorily barred [hyperlink] from giving public funds to religious activities but also cannot [hyperlink] exclude religious entities from eligibility solely because of their religious character. In 'Carson v. Makin' [hyperlink], issued on June 21, 2022, the Supreme Court held that states could not exclude religious schools from an indirect aid program based on the schools' religious use of the funds. This Legal Sidebar explains that decision and discusses possible implications for federal funding, as well as further implications stemming from the Supreme Court's subsequent Establishment Clause ruling in 'Kennedy v. Bremerton School District' [hyperlink]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Brannon, Valerie C.
2022-07-06
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Education Provisions in the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act [July 6, 2022]
From the Document: "On June 25, 2022, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA; P.L. [Public Law] 117-159) was signed into law. In addition to provisions addressing mental health services, firearms, and Medicare, the act requires the establishment of a Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Evidence-based Practices, provides additional appropriations for several programs authorized by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), and institutes a new ESEA prohibition related to dangerous weapons."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Skinner, Rebecca; Dragoo, Kyrie E.
2022-07-06
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Uruguay: An Overview [Updated July 5, 2022]
From the Document: "Uruguay, a small nation of 3.6 million people, is located on the Atlantic coast of South America between Brazil and Argentina. The country stands out in Latin America for its strong democratic institutions; high per capita income; and low levels of corruption, poverty, and inequality. Due to its domestic success and commitment to international engagement, Uruguay plays a more influential role in global affairs than its size might suggest. Successive U.S. Administrations have sought to work with Uruguay to address political and security challenges in the Western Hemisphere and around the world."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Meyer, Peter J.
2022-07-05
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SBA Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program (SVOG) [Updated July 5, 2022]
From the Summary: "The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several types of programs to support small businesses, including direct disaster loan programs to assist their recovery from natural disasters; loan guaranty and venture capital programs to enhance their access to capital; management and technical assistance training programs to assist business formation and expansion; and contracting programs to increase their opportunities in federal contracting. Congressional interest in the SBA's programs has always been high, but has become especially acute in the wake of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic's widespread adverse economic impact on the U.S. economy. During the 116th Congress, in an effort to assist small businesses adversely affected by COVID-19, Congress approved legislation that provided the SBA $1.088 trillion in appropriations, a 35,282% increase over the $3.075 billion the SBA received during the 115th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dilger, Robert Jay, 1954-; Levin, Adam G.
2022-07-05
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Federal Mandatory Minimum Sentences: The Safety Valve and Substantial Assistance Exceptions [Updated July 5, 2022]
From the Introduction: "The United States Code houses hundreds of offenses punishable by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment. Although only a handful of these mandatory minimum offenses are prosecuted with any regularity, drug trafficking offenses accounted for over three-quarters of the total. Congress has created three procedures that make punishment for these offenses a little less mandatory. One, the so-called safety valve (18 U.S.C. § 3553(f)), permits a sentencing court to disregard a statutory minimum sentence for the benefit of a low-level, nonviolent, cooperative defendant with a minimal prior criminal record, convicted under several mandatory minimum controlled substance offenses. The other two, 18 U.S.C. § 3553(e) and Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, afford a sentencing court comparable latitude but only on the motion of the prosecutor, based on the defendant's substantial assistance to the government, and without regard to the offense charged."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Doyle, Charles
2022-07-05
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Insurgency in Northern Mozambique: Nature and Responses [Updated July 5, 2022]
From the Document: "An armed Islamic State-linked insurgency in Mozambique's far north--launched in 2017 with an attack on several police posts in Cabo Delgado province--remains highly active and poses challenges to U.S. peace, security, and development goals in the country. The insurgency and state security responses to it have resulted in many serious human rights abuses and killings, widespread social trauma and property destruction, and massive population displacements, creating a complex humanitarian crisis. Insurgent attacks also prompted the French energy firm TotalEnergies (Total) to declare force majeure and suspend a $20 billion, partially U.S. government-financed natural gas processing project, one of several major projects designed to tap large gas fields discovered offshore in 2010."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cook, Nicolas
2022-07-05
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations in Brief [Updated July 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "Israel has forged close bilateral cooperation with the United States in many areas. A 10-year bilateral military aid memorandum of understanding--signed in 2016--commits the United States to provide Israel $3.3 billion in Foreign Military Financing and to spend $500 million annually on joint missile defense programs from FY2019 to FY2028, subject to congressional appropriations. Some Members of Congress have increased their scrutiny over Israel's use of U.S. security assistance, contributing to debate on the subject."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2022-07-01
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SCOTUS Bolsters State Criminal Jurisdiction on Tribal Lands [July 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Rejecting the view that states lack criminal jurisdiction on tribal reservations unless Congress specifically grants such jurisdiction, on June 29, 2022, the Supreme Court announced [hyperlink] in 'Oklahoma v. Castro-Huerta' that 'the default is that States have criminal jurisdiction in Indian country unless that jurisdiction is preempted.' In practice, this decision will allow Oklahoma--and likely other states that choose to follow Oklahoma's lead--to prosecute crimes involving non-Indian perpetrators within reservations and other Indian lands, even when the victims are members of federally recognized tribes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Schwartz, Mainon A.
2022-07-01
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Cryptocurrency in 401(k) Retirement Plans [July 1, 2022]
From the Document: "Digital assets, which include cryptocurrencies, crypto-assets, or digital tokens, among others, are digital representations of value and are issued and transferred using distributed ledger or blockchain technology. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin are among the most well-known cryptocurrencies. A November 2021 Pew Research Center and a March 2022 NBC [National Broadcasting Company] News poll found that around one-fifth of Americans indicated that they had invested, traded, or otherwise used cryptocurrency. In recent months, policymakers have paid increasing attention to the prospect of defined contribution (DC) pension plan participants being able to invest in cryptocurrency. While some contend that cryptocurrency in retirement accounts could benefit participants, others have expressed concern about its appropriateness as an investment option."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Topoleski, John J.; Myers, Elizabeth A. (Analyst in income security)
2022-07-01
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Israel: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated July 1, 2022]
From the Summary: "Since Israel's founding in 1948, successive U.S. Presidents and many Members of Congress have demonstrated a commitment to Israel's security and to close U.S.-Israel cooperation. Strong bilateral ties influence U.S. policy in the Middle East, and Congress provides active oversight of the executive branch's actions. Israel is a leading recipient of U.S. foreign aid and a frequent purchaser of major U.S. weapons systems. The two countries signed a free trade agreement in 1985, and the United States is Israel's largest trading partner. Legislation in Congress frequently includes proposals to strengthen U.S.-Israel cooperation. Israel has a robust economy and an active democracy. Israel has experienced a period of unprecedented political instability since April 2019."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Zanotti, Jim
2022-07-01
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Federal Support for Reproductive Health Services: Frequently Asked Questions [Updated July 1, 2022]
From the Introduction: "Human reproductive health services are preventive, diagnostic, and treatment services related to reproductive systems, functions, and processes. Federal support for these services is administered in different ways because federal agencies, departments, and programs have different missions. This report first defines six different types of reproductive health services that may receive federal support, noting restrictions where relevant. The report first discusses services related to fertility, then discusses screening, prevention, and treatment of reproductive health conditions, and concludes with a discussion of gender-affirming services."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Heisler, Elayne J., 1976-; Wyatt, Taylor R.; Siddalingaiah, Simi V.
2022-07-01