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Lame Duck Sessions of Congress, 1935-2016 (74th-114th Congresses) [April 6, 2018]
"A 'lame duck' session of Congress is one that takes place after the election for the next Congress has been held but before the current Congress has reached the end of its constitutional term. Since 1935, the constitutional term of a Congress has begun on January 3 of each odd-numbered year and has ended on January 3 of the next odd-numbered year. As a result, any meeting of Congress that occurs between the congressional election in November of an even-numbered year and the following January 3 is a lame duck session. The significant characteristic of a lame duck session is that its participants are the sitting Members of the existing Congress, not those who will be entitled to sit in the new Congress. For the purposes of this study, a lame duck session commences on the first day of consecutive sessions following an election. It ends on the day of final sine die adjournment."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Hudiburg, Jane A.
2018-04-06
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Navy Frigate (FFG[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [April 6, 2018]
"This report provides background information and discusses potential issues for Congress regarding the Navy's FFG(X) program, a program to procure a new class of 20 guided-missile frigates (FFGs). The Navy wants to procure the first FFG(X) in FY2020. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget requests $134.8 million in research and development funding for the program. The FFG(X) program presents several potential oversight issues for Congress. Congress's decisions on the program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base. This report focuses on the FFG(X) program. A related Navy shipbuilding program, the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program, is covered in a separate CRS report. Other CRS reports discuss the strategic context within which the FFG(X) program and other Navy acquisition programs may be considered."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-04-06
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Smart Grid: Status and Outlook [April 10, 2018]
"The electrical grid in the United States comprises all of the power plants generating electricity, together with the transmission and distribution lines and systems that bring power to end-use customers. The 'grid' also connects the many publicly and privately owned electric utility and power companies in different states and regions of the United States. However, with changes in federal law, regulatory changes, and the aging of the electric power infrastructure as drivers, the grid is changing from a largely patchwork system built to serve the needs of individual electric utility companies to essentially a national interconnected system, accommodating massive transfers of electrical energy among regions of the United States. The modernization of the grid to accommodate today's power flows, serve reliability needs, and meet future projected uses is leading to the incorporation of electronic intelligence capabilities for power control purposes and operations monitoring. The 'Smart Grid' is the name given to this evolving intelligent electric power network, with digital technologies increasingly replacing analog devices, thus enabling Smart Grid hardware and software functions."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Campbell, Richard J.
2018-04-10
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Federal Requirements on Private Health Insurance Plans [March 29, 2018]
"A majority of Americans have health insurance from the private health insurance (PHI) market. Health plans sold in the PHI market must comply with requirements at both the state and federal levels; such requirements often are referred to as market reforms. The first part of this report provides background information about health plans sold in the PHI market and briefly describes state and federal regulation of private plans. The second part summarizes selected federal requirements and indicates each requirement's applicability to one or more of the following types of private health plans: individual, small group, large group, and self-insured. The selected market reforms are grouped under the following categories: obtaining coverage, keeping coverage, developing health insurance premiums, covered services, cost-sharing limits, consumer assistance and other patient protections, and plan requirements related to health care providers. Many of the federal requirements described in this report were established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA; P.L. 111-148, as amended); however, some were established under federal laws enacted prior to the ACA."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mach, Annie L.; Fernandez, Bernadette
2018-03-29
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Tax Incentives for Opportunity Zones: In Brief [April 5, 2018]
"The 2017 tax revision (P.L. 115-97) temporarily authorized Opportunity Zone (OZ) tax incentives for investments held by Qualified Opportunity Funds (QOFs) in qualified OZs. The Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund (hereinafter, the 'Fund'), organized under the Department of the Treasury, will designate qualified census tracts that are eligible for OZ tax incentives. The Fund will also certify QOFs that are eligible to claim tax incentives for eligible activities within an OZ. Qualified OZ designations are in effect for 10 years. The tax benefits for these investments include a temporary tax deferral for capital gains reinvested in a QOF, a step-up in basis for any investment in a QOF held for at least five years (10% basis increase) or seven years (15% basis increase), and a permanent exclusion of capital gains from the sale or exchange of an investment in a QOF held for at least 10 years. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimated that the provision will cost $1.6 billion over 10 years. This report briefly describes what census tracts are eligible to be nominated as an OZ by the 'chief executive officer' (typically, the governor) of each state or territory, what types of entities can be certified as QOFs, and the tax benefits of investments in QOFs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lowry, Sean; Marples, Donald J.
2018-04-05
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U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues [March 6, 2018]
"During the Cold War, the U.S. nuclear arsenal contained many types of delivery vehicles for nuclear weapons, including short-range missiles and artillery for use on the battlefield, mediumrange missiles and aircraft that could strike targets beyond the theater of battle, short- and medium-range systems based on surface ships, long-range missiles based on U.S. territory and submarines, and heavy bombers that could threaten Soviet targets from their bases in the United States. The short- and medium-range systems are considered non-strategic nuclear weapons and have been referred to as battlefield, tactical, and theater nuclear weapons. The long-range missiles and heavy bombers are known as strategic nuclear delivery vehicles."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Woolf, Amy F.
2018-03-06
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International Trade and Finance: Overview and Issues for the 115th Congress [March 05, 2018]
"The U.S. Constitution grants authority to Congress to regulate commerce with foreign nations. Congress exercises this authority in numerous ways, including through oversight of trade policy and consideration of legislation to implement trade agreements and authorize trade programs. Policy issues cover areas such as U.S. trade negotiations, U.S. trade and economic relations with specific regions and countries, international institutions focused on trade, tariff and nontariff barriers, worker dislocation due to trade liberalization, enforcement of trade laws and trade agreement commitments, import and export policies, international investment, economic sanctions, and other trade-related functions of the federal government. Congress also has authority over U.S. financial commitments to international financial institutions and oversight responsibilities for trade- and finance-related agencies of the U.S. government."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Irace, Mary A.
2018-03-05
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Venezuela: Background and U.S. Relations [March 9, 2018]
"Venezuela, long one of the most prosperous countries in South America with the world's largest proven oil reserves, continues to be in the throes of a deep political and economic crisis. Whereas populist President Hugo Chávez (1998-2013) governed during a period of generally high oil prices, his successor, Nicolás Maduro of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), has exacerbated an economic downturn caused by low global oil prices with mismanagement and corruption. According to Freedom House, Venezuela has fallen from 'partly free' under Chávez to 'not free' under Maduro, an unpopular leader who has violently quashed dissent and undermined the National Assembly, then illegally replaced it with a National Constituent Assembly (ANC) elected under controversial circumstances on July 30, 2017. President Maduro is seeking to consolidate power by convening an early presidential election on May 20, 2018, despite international criticism of the lack of guarantees provided to the opposition."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nelson, Rebecca M.
2018-03-09
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Modes of Constitutional Interpretation [March 15, 2018]
"Early in the history of the United States, the Supreme Court began to exercise the power that it is most closely and famously associated with--its authority of judicial review. In its 1803 decision in 'Marbury v. Madison,' the Supreme Court famously asserted and explained the foundations of its power to review the constitutionality of federal governmental action. During the two decades following its holding in 'Marbury,' the Court decided additional cases that helped to establish its power to review the constitutionality of state governmental action. If a challenged governmental action is unconstitutional, the Court may strike it down, rendering it invalid. When performing the function of judicial review, the Court must necessarily ascertain the meaning of a given provision within the Constitution, often for the first time, before applying its interpretation of the Constitution to the particular governmental action under review."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Murrill, Brandon J.
2018-03-15
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Women in Congress, 1917-2018: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress [March 19, 2018]
"On November 9, 1916, Jeannette Rankin (R-MT) was elected to the House of Representatives as Montana's Representative-at-Large to the 65th Congress (1917-1919). This election win gave Representative Rankin the distinction of being the first woman elected to serve in Congress. The first woman to serve in the Senate was Rebecca Latimer Felton (D-GA). She was appointed in 1922 and served for one day. Including new Members sworn into office in January 2018,2 327 women have been elected or appointed to Congress.3 These figures include six non-voting Delegates, one each from Guam, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa, and two from the U.S. Virgin Islands, as well as one Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manning, Jennifer E.; Brudnick, Ida A.
2018-03-18
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Private Activity Bonds: An Introduction [March 9, 2018]
"The federal tax code classifies state and local bonds as either governmental bonds or private activity bonds. Governmental bonds are intended for governmental projects, and private activity bonds are for projects that primarily benefit private entities. Typically, the interest earned by holders of governmental bonds is exempt from federal income taxes. The federal tax code allows state and local governments to use tax-exempt bonds to finance certain projects that would be considered private activities. The private activities that can be financed with tax-exempt bonds are called 'qualified private activities.' Congress uses an annual state volume cap to limit the amount of tax-exempt bond financing generally and restricts the types of qualified private activities that would qualify for tax-exempt financing to selected projects defined in the tax code."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Maguire, Steven; Hughes, Joseph S.
2018-03-09
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Joint Resolution Seeks to End U.S. Support for Saudi-led Coalition Military Operations in Yemen [March 20, 2018]
From the Document: "In February 2018, Senators Sanders, Lee, and Murphy introduced S.J.Res. 54, a joint resolution that would direct the President to remove U.S. forces from 'hostilities in or affecting' Yemen (except for those U.S. forces engaged in counterterrorism operations directed at al Qaeda or associated forces). Since March 2015, the U.S. military has supported military operations in Yemen by a coalition of countries led by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The coalition operations, including airstrikes, have supported a broader campaign to reinstate the internationally recognized government of Yemeni President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. Hadi was ousted by force in early 2015 by the Ansar Allah/Houthi movement and loyalists of the previous president of Yemen, the late Ali Abdullah Saleh. Since 2015, some lawmakers have argued that U.S. support to the Saudi-led coalition makes the United States a party to the armed conflict."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Blanchard, Christopher M.; Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2018-03-20
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Northern Ireland, Brexit, and the Irish Border [March 12, 2018]
"As the 20th anniversary of the April 1998 peace accord for Northern Ireland (known as the Good Friday Agreement or the Belfast Agreement) approaches, concerns are increasing about how the expected exit of the United Kingdom (UK) from the European Union (EU)--or 'Brexit'--might affect Northern Ireland. The future of the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland has become a central issue in the UK's withdrawal negotiations with the EU. Once the UK ceases to be a member of the EU--likely in March 2019-- Northern Ireland will be the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state (Ireland and the UK both joined the EU in 1973). Agreeing upon arrangements for the post-Brexit UK-Irish border is particularly challenging because of Northern Ireland's history of political violence. Roughly 3,500 people died during 'the Troubles,' the 30-year sectarian conflict between unionists (Protestants who largely define themselves as British and support remaining part of the UK) and nationalists (Catholics who consider themselves Irish and may desire a united Ireland)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin; Mix, Derek E.
2018-03-12
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President's FY2019 Budget Request for the Department of Energy [March 9, 2018]
"The President's fiscal year (FY) 2019 budget request and the addendum include $30.6 billion for the Department of Energy (DOE), approximately $500 million (2%) more than the FY2017 enacted appropriations of $30.1 billion, accounting for rescissions (see P.L. 115-31 and Division D Explanatory Statement). This request would increase the total budget for DOE, increase overall funding for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), and increase funding for the Office of Environmental Management (EM). The request would maintain funding for the Office of Science, while it would reduce funding for the Offices of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Nuclear Energy (NE), and Fossil Energy (including the Fossil Energy Research and Development [R&D] program). It would also split the Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) into two accounts--grid reliability (Electricity Delivery, OE) and cybersecurity (Cyber Security, Energy Security, and Emergency response, CESER)--and reduce total combined funding to these offices. It would eliminate funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), Weatherization Assistance Program, State Energy Program, Energy Policy and Systems Analysis, and programs within the Loan Program Office."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Clark, Corrie E.
2018-03-09
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Class Action Lawsuits: A Legal Overview for the 115th Congress [April 11, 2018]
"This report serves as a primer on class action law and analyzes areas that have been the focus of congressional discussions concerning class actions. The report first discusses the broader public policy debate over class actions, including why class actions exist and what risks they pose to the American system of civil justice. The report then details what a plaintiff is required to show under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in order to achieve class action 'certification'--that is, in order to pursue an action on behalf of an entire class. Throughout, the report addresses the ways in which the Supreme Court and lower federal courts have attempted to balance the benefits of class actions against their potential drawbacks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lewis, Kevin M.; Freeman, Wilson C.
2018-04-11
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United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy [April 10, 2018]
"The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a significant U.S. partner in Gulf security for more than two decades, helping to address multiple regional threats. About 5,000 U.S. military personnel are stationed at UAE military facilities, hosted there under a 1994 U.S.-UAE defense cooperation agreement (DCA) that remains in effect. The UAE is a significant buyer of U.S. military equipment and it was the first Gulf state to order the most sophisticated missile defense system sold by the United States (the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense)), demonstrating support for U.S. efforts to forge a coordinated missile defense network. As the UAE has gained capability to project force, it has increasingly asserted itself in the region. The UAE is part of a Saudi-led military effort to counter the Iran-backed Zaidi Shiite Houthi rebels in Yemen, an effort to which the United States provides logistical support. In partnership with U.S. special operations forces, UAE forces are combatting Al Qaeda's affiliate in that country. In recent years, UAE forces have been deployed to several bases in East African countries to train allied forces and facilitate UAE operations in Yemen. The UAE is supporting a rebel military commander in Libya who is acting counter to U.N. and U.S. efforts to forge a unified political structure there."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-04-10
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Overview of Discretionary Reprieves from Removal: Deferred Action, DACA, TPS, and Others [April 10, 2018]
"The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) establishes a system of rules as to which non-U.S. nationals (aliens) may enter the United States and under what conditions. It sets forth, for instance, three primary categories--family-based, employment-based, and diversity-based-- through which an alien may qualify for an immigrant visa and thereby seek admission to the United States as a lawful permanent resident (LPR). The INA also establishes requirements for the admission of refugees, and delineates the categories of aliens who may be admitted temporarily as nonimmigrants for particular purposes such as study, tourism, or temporary work."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Harrington, Ben
2018-04-10
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U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel [April 10, 2018]
"Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of U.S. foreign assistance since World War II. To date, the United States has provided Israel $134.7 billion (current, or noninflation-adjusted, dollars) in bilateral assistance and missile defense funding. Almost all U.S. bilateral aid to Israel is in the form of military assistance, although in the past Israel also received significant economic assistance. At a signing ceremony at the State Department on September 14, 2016, representatives of the U.S. and Israeli governments signed a new 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on military aid covering FY2019 to FY2028. Under the terms of the MOU, the United States pledges to provide $38 billion in military aid ($33 billion in Foreign Military Financing grants plus $5 billion in missile defense appropriations) to Israel. This MOU replaces a previous $30 billion 10-year agreement, which runs through FY2018."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sharp, Jeremy Maxwell
2018-04-10
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Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Program: Background and Issues for Congress [April 5, 2018]
"The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) is a relatively inexpensive surface combatant equipped with modular mission packages. Navy plans call for procuring a total of 32 LCSs. The first LCS was procured in FY2005, and the Navy's proposed FY2018 budget requested the procurement of the 30th and 31st LCSs. As part of its action on the Navy's proposed FY2018 budget, Congress procured three LCSs--one more than the two that were requested. Thus, a total of 32 LCSs have been procured through FY2018. The Navy's proposed FY2019 budget, which was submitted to Congress before Congress finalized action on the Navy's FY2018 budget, requests $646.2 million for the procurement of one LCS. If Congress had procured two LCSs in FY2018, as requested by the Navy, the LCS requested for procurement in FY2019 would have been the 32nd LCS. With the procurement of three LCSs in FY2018, the LCS requested for procurement in FY2019 would be the 33rd LCS."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald
2018-04-05
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 and an FY2019 Budget Resolution [April 10, 2018]
"The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (BBA 2018, P.L. 115-123), enacted February 9, 2018, amended the statutory discretionary spending limits for FY2018 and FY2019. BBA 2018 comprised several other components as well, one of which was related to a congressional budget resolution for FY2019. These BBA 2018 'budget resolution' provisions (which may be referred to as a 'deemer' or a budget resolution substitute) provide the House and Senate with enforceable levels of spending and revenue for FY2019 in ways that a 'traditional' budget resolution would. While it is not unusual for Congress to employ such budget resolution substitutes, these substitutes differ from a 'traditional' budget resolution in several ways."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Lynch, Megan Suzanne
2018-04-10
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U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF): Background and Issues for Congress [April 13, 2018]
"Special Operations Forces (SOF) play a significant role in U.S. military operations and, in recent years, have been given greater responsibility for planning and conducting worldwide counterterrorism operations. U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) has about 70,000 Active Duty, National Guard, and reserve personnel from all four services and Department of Defense (DOD) civilians assigned to its headquarters, its four Service component commands, and eight sub-unified commands. In 2013, based on a request from USSOCOM (with the concurrence of Geographic and Functional Combatant Commanders and the Military Service Chiefs and Secretaries), the Secretary of Defense assigned command of the Theater Special Operations Commands (TSOCs) to USSOCOM. USSOCOM now has the responsibility to organize, train, and equip TSOCs. While USSOCOM is now responsible for the organizing, training, and equipping of TSOCs, the Geographic Combatant Commands will continue to have operational control over the TSOCs. Because the TSOCs are now classified as sub-unified commands, the Services are responsible to provide non-SOF support to the TSOCs in the same manner in which they provide support to the Geographic Combatant Command headquarters."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Feickert, Andrew
2018-04-13
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Corporation for National and Community Service: Overview of Programs and Funding [April 4, 2018]
"The NCSA (National and Community Service Act ) is designed to meet unmet human, educational, environmental, and public safety needs and to renew an ethic of civic responsibility by encouraging citizens to participate in national service programs. The major programs authorized by NCSA include AmeriCorps State and National Grants and the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). The NCSA also authorizes the National Service Trust, which funds educational awards for community service participants. A central purpose of the DVSA (Domestic Volunteer Service Act), which authorizes the Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) program and the National Senior Volunteer Corps, is to foster and expand voluntary service in communities while helping the vulnerable, the disadvantaged, the elderly, and the poor. The DVSA also authorizes the National Senior Volunteer Corps, which includes three programs for senior citizens: the Foster Grandparent Program, the Senior Companion Program, and the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Fountain, Joselynn H.; Overbay, Abigail R.
2018-04-04
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Banking Policy Issues in the 115th Congress [March 7, 2018]
"Banks play a central role in the financial system by connecting borrowers to savers and allocating capital across the economy. As a result, banking is vital to the health and growth of the U.S. economy. In addition, banking is an inherently risky activity involving extending credit and taking on liabilities. Therefore, banking can generate tremendous societal and economic benefits, but banking panics and failures can create devastating losses. Over time, a regulatory system designed to foster the benefits of banking while limiting risks has developed, and both banks and regulation have coevolved as market conditions have changed and different risks have emerged. For these reasons, Congress often considers policies related to the banking industry. Recent years have been a particularly transformative period for banking. The 2008-2009 financial crisis threatened the total collapse of the financial system and the real economy. Many assert only huge and unprecedented government interventions staved off this collapse. Others argue that government interventions were unnecessary or potentially exacerbated the crisis. In addition, many argue the crisis revealed that the financial system was excessively risky and the regulatory system had serious weaknesses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Perkins, David W.
2018-03-07
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Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues in the 115th Congress [March 12, 2018]
"Geographic proximity has ensured strong linkages between the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, based on diverse U.S. interests, including economic, political, and security concerns. The United States is a major trading partner and the largest source of foreign investment for many countries in the region, with free-trade agreements enhancing economic linkages with 11 countries. The region is a large source of U.S. immigration, both legal and illegal; geographic proximity and economic and security conditions are major factors driving migration trends. Curbing the flow of illicit drugs has been a key component of U.S. relations with the region for more than three decades and currently involves close security cooperation with Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. U.S. support for democracy and human rights in the region has been long-standing and currently focuses on Cuba and Venezuela."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Sullivan, Mark P.; Beittel, June S.; DeBruyne, Nese F. . . .
2018-03-12
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Northern Ireland: Current Issues and Ongoing Challenges in the Peace Process [March 12, 2018]
"Between 1969 and 1999, almost 3,500 people died as a result of political violence in Northern Ireland, which is one of four component 'nations' of the United Kingdom (UK). The conflict, often referred to as 'the Troubles,' has its origins in the 1921 division of Ireland and has reflected a struggle between different national, cultural, and religious identities. Protestants in Northern Ireland (48%) largely define themselves as British and support remaining part of the UK (unionists). Most Catholics in Northern Ireland (45%) consider themselves Irish, and many desire a united Ireland (nationalists). On April 10, 1998, the two governments and the Northern Ireland political parties participating in peace talks reached a political settlement. The resulting Good Friday Agreement (also known as the Belfast Agreement) recognized the 'consent principle' (i.e., a change in Northern Ireland's status can come about only with the consent of a majority of its people). It called for devolved government--the transfer of power from London to Belfast--with a Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive Committee in which unionist and nationalist parties would share power; it also contained provisions on decommissioning (disarmament) of paramilitary weapons, policing, human rights, UK security normalization (demilitarization), and the status of prisoners."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Archick, Kristin
2018-03-12
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Cybersecurity: Selected Issues for the 115th Congress [March 9, 2018]
"Cybersecurity has been gaining attention as a national issue for the past decade. During this time, the country has witnessed cyber incidents affecting both public and private sector systems and data. These incidents have included attacks in which data was stolen, altered, or access to it was disrupted or denied. The frequency of these attacks, and their effects on the U.S. economy, national security, and people's lives have driven cybersecurity issues to the forefront of congressional policy conversations. This report provides an overview of selected cybersecurity concepts and a discussion of cybersecurity issues that are likely to be of interest during the 115th Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Jaikaran, Chris
2018-03-09
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United Kingdom: Background, Brexit, and Relations with the United States [March 12, 2018]
"The modern relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom (UK) was forged during the Second World War. It was cemented during the Cold War, as both countries worked together bilaterally and within NATO to counter the threat of the Soviet Union. The United States and the UK are two of the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, and both are founding members of NATO. In the early 1990s, the UK was an important U.S. ally in the first Gulf War, and the two countries later worked together in stabilization and peacekeeping operations in the Balkans. The UK was the leading U.S. ally in the 2003 invasion of Iraq and subsequent stabilization operations, and it was the largest non-U.S. contributor to the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan. The UK remains an important U.S. partner in ongoing global security challenges, such as combatting international terrorism, countering the Islamic State terrorist group, and opposing Russia's annexation of Crimea and actions destabilizing Ukraine, including by supporting strong sanctions in response to these actions. The UK is also the sixth-largest economy in the world and a major financial center. The United States and the UK share an extensive and mutually beneficial trade and economic relationship, and each is the other's largest foreign investor."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mix, Derek E.
2018-03-12
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Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy [March 8, 2018]
"The United States has had relations with Oman from the early days since American independence. The U.S. merchant ship Ramber made a port visit to Muscat in September 1790. The United States signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce with Oman in 1833, one of the first of its kind with an Arab state. This treaty was replaced by the Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights signed at Salalah on December 20, 1958. Oman sent an official envoy to the United States in 1840. A U.S. consulate was maintained in Muscat during 1880-1915, a U.S. embassy was opened in 1972, and the first resident U.S. Ambassador arrived in July 1974. Oman opened its embassy in Washington in 1973. Sultan Qaboos was accorded formal state visits in 1974, by President Gerald Ford, and in 1983, by President Ronald Reagan. President Bill Clinton visited Oman in March 2000. Career diplomat Marc Sievers has been Ambassador to Oman since late 2015."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Katzman, Kenneth
2018-03-08
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Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.l. 115-123): Brief Summary of Division E--the Advancing Chronic Care, Extenders, and Social Services (ACCESS) Act [Marc h 9, 2018]
"The provisions discussed in this report are part of a larger legislative package that was enacted to address a number of issues before Congress, including the need for an extension of temporary appropriations set to expire on February 8, 2018. An early version of this package was added by the House to H.R. 1892 (an unrelated measure), in the form of an amendment to an amendment that had been previously adopted by the Senate during its consideration of H.R. 1892. The House adopted its amendment on February 6, 2018, by a vote of 245-182. The Senate subsequently took up the House proposal and adopted a further amendment to it on February 9, by a vote of 71-28. The House agreed to the Senate actions that same day by a vote of 240-186. The final version of H.R. 1892, enacted as the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 (P.L. 115-123), contained FY2018 temporary continuing appropriations, FY2018 supplemental appropriations, an increase to the debt limit, increases to the statutory spending limits for FY2018 and FY2019, tax provisions, and numerous provisions extending or making changes to mandatory spending programs, among other topics."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Morgan, Paulette C.
2018-03-09
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Guns, Excise Taxes, Wildlife Restoration, and the National Firearms Act [March 5, 2018]
"Federal taxes on firearms and ammunition are collected through different methods and used for different purposes, depending on the nature of the firearms. Some tax receipts are used for wildlife restoration and for hunter education and safety, for example, whereas others are deposited into the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury. The assessment of these taxes and the uses of generated revenues are routinely of interest to many in Congress. In general, taxes on the manufacture of firearms (including pistols and revolvers as well as rifles and other long guns) and ammunition are collected as excise taxes based on the manufacturer's or importer's sales price, under the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. §4181). These taxes are imposed on the manufacturer's sales price at a rate of 10% on pistols and revolvers and 11% on ammunition and other firearms. (Pistols and revolvers, ammunition, and other firearms each account for about a third of these tax revenues.) The tax, which raised $761.6 million in FY2017, is administered by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) in the Department of the Treasury."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Crafton, Eliot R.
2018-03-05
