Special Counsels, FBI Director Removal, & More from CRS
In order to appoint a special counsel to investigate potential criminal activity in the executive branch, the Congressional Research Service explained last week, the Attorney General (or his deputy) “must determine that a criminal investigation is warranted; that the normal process of investigation or prosecution would present a conflict of interest for DOJ or other extraordinary circumstances exist; and that public interest requires a special counsel to assume those responsibilities.”
See Special Counsels, Independent Counsels, and Special Prosecutors: Investigations of the Executive Branch by the Executive Branch, CRS Legal Sidebar, May 11, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
The Removal of FBI Director James Comey: Presidential Authority and the Senate’s Role in the Appointment of the FBI Director, CRS Legal Sidebar, May 10, 2017
FBI Director: Appointment and Tenure, May 10, 2017
Congress’s Contempt Power and the Enforcement of Congressional Subpoenas: Law, History, Practice, and Procedure, updated May 12, 2017
Cybersecurity: Legislation, Hearings, and Executive Branch Documents, updated May 12, 2017
The Growing Gap in Life Expectancy by Income: Recent Evidence and Implications for the Social Security Retirement Age, May 12, 2017
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated May 12, 2017
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, updated May 12, 2017
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, updated May 12, 2017
Energy and Water Development: FY2017 Appropriations for Nuclear Weapons Activities, updated May 10, 2017
Government Shutdowns, & More from CRS
When Congress and the President fail to agree on government appropriations and previous funding expires, the result can be a massively disruptive shutdown of the federal government. This occurred most recently in October 2013, and lasted for 16 days.
“Government shutdowns have necessitated furloughs of several hundred thousand federal employees, required cessation or reduction of many government activities, and affected numerous sectors of the economy,” according to a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See Shutdown of the Federal Government: Causes, Processes, and Effects, updated May 5, 2017.
“Our country needs a good ‘shutdown’ in September to fix mess!” tweeted President Trump last week.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Job Creation in the Manufacturing Revival, updated May 5, 2017
The Meaning of “Made in U.S.A.”, updated May 5, 2017
Review of Offshore Energy Leasing: President Trump’s Executive Order, CRS Insight, May 5, 2017
Navy Force Structure and Shipbuilding Plans: Background and Issues for Congress, updated May 5, 2017
Iran’s Presidential Elections, CRS Insight, May 5, 2017
The American Health Care Act, & More from CRS
Given its length, complexity and limited availability, it is unlikely that most members of Congress actually read the full text of the American Health Care Act that passed the House of Representatives today.
But the Congressional Research Service prepared a report, updated today, that includes an overview of all of the provisions of the Act. See H.R. 1628: The American Health Care Act (AHCA), May 4, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prescription Drug Pricing and Policy, May 2, 2017
Revitalizing Coastal Shipping for Domestic Commerce, May 2, 2017
Trade Implications of the President’s Buy American Executive Order, CRS Insight, May 2, 2017
Presidential Appointee Positions Requiring Senate Confirmation and Committees Handling Nominations, updated May 3, 2017
The United States Withdraws from the TPP, CRS Insight, updated May 4, 2017
Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF): Program Overview and Issues, updated May 3, 2017
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting: Federal Funding and Issues, updated May 3, 2017
How to Develop and Write a Grant Proposal, updated May 2, 2017
The Net Neutrality Debate, and More from CRS
Net neutrality, or unfettered and non-discriminatory access to the Internet, is the subject of current litigation, regulation and legislation. Background to the issue is presented in a newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service. See The Net Neutrality Debate: Access to Broadband Networks, May 1, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and Senate, updated May 2, 2017
Patent Boxes: A Primer, May 1, 2017
The Financial CHOICE Act (H.R. 10) and the Dodd-Frank Act, CRS Insight, May 1, 2017
Executive Order for Review of National Monuments, CRS Insight, May 1, 2017
Advanced Gene Editing, & More from CRS
A new report from the Congressional Research Service describes the gene editing technology known as CRISPR-Cas9 and its dramatic implications for genetic engineering. The report also introduces the ethical, regulatory and policy questions that this technology is raising. See Advanced Gene Editing: CRISPR-Cas9, April 28, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Law Enforcement Using and Disclosing Technology Vulnerabilities, April 26, 2017
Renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): What Actions Do Not Require Congressional Approval?, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 27, 2017
Softwood Lumber Dispute Lumbers On: Preliminary Countervailing Duties on Canadian Softwood Lumber Announced, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 28, 2017
Department of Defense Contractor and Troop Levels in Iraq and Afghanistan: 2007-2017, updated April 28, 2017
American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics, updated April 26, 2017
Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, updated April 26, 2017
U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: Trends, Issues, and Implications, updated April 27, 2017
The Greek Debt Crisis: Overview and Implications for the United States, updated April 24, 2017
Iran’s Nuclear Program: Status, updated April 27, 2017
Mexico’s Free Trade Agreements, & More from CRS
A newly updated report from the Congressional Research Service “provides an overview of Mexico’s free trade agreements, its motivations for trade liberalization and entering into free trade agreements, and trade trends with the United States and other countries in the world.” See Mexico’s Free Trade Agreements, updated April 25, 2017.
Other new and updated Congressional Research Service reports include the following.
Mexico: Organized Crime and Drug Trafficking Organizations, updated April 25, 2017
Argentina: Background and U.S. Relations, updated April 25, 2017
China’s February 2017 Suspension of North Korean Coal Imports, CRS Insight, April 25, 2017
Deferred Maintenance of Federal Land Management Agencies: FY2007-FY2016 Estimates and Issues, April 25, 2017
The “Better Way” House Tax Plan: An Economic Analysis, April 25, 2017
The Riddle of Steel, & More from CRS
Could imported steel pose a threat to U.S. national security? The Trump Administration thinks so. Last week, President Trump directed the Secretary of Commerce to conduct an investigation under the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 “to determine the effects on national security of steel imports.”
Yesterday the Congressional Research Service reviewed the issue skeptically, noting that such investigations almost never produce a meaningful outcome. “Perhaps one reason these investigations are infrequently conducted may be that such investigations rarely result in a finding that certain imports threaten to impair national security,” CRS wrote. See A Steely Look at Steel: Commerce Directed to Prioritize Investigation of the Effects of Steel Imports on National Security, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 24, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
New Executive Order Directs Agencies to Revise or Rescind Climate Change Rules and Policies, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 20, 2017
U.S. Strategy for Engagement in Central America: Policy Issues for Congress, April 12, 2017
Cuba: U.S. Policy in the 115th Congress, April 21, 2017
China-U.S. Trade Issues, updated April 24, 2017
Turkey: Erdogan’s Referendum Victory Delivers “Presidential System”, CRS Insight, April 20, 2017
U.S. Circuit and District Court Nominations: Comparative Statistics of Two-Term Presidencies Since 1945, CRS Insight, April 24, 2017
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act: Background and Summary, updated April 21, 2017
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Financial Regulator Rulemaking, April 12, 2017
Cybersecurity: Critical Infrastructure Authoritative Reports and Resources, updated April 21, 2017
FDA Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS): Description and Effect on Generic Drug Development, April 11, 2017
New Canadian Dairy Pricing Regime Proves Disruptive for U.S. Milk Producers, CRS Insight, April 20, 2017
Iran Nuclear Agreement, updated April 21, 2017
The Budget Control Act and the Defense Budget: Frequently Asked Questions, updated April 21, 2017
Legality of US Airstrike in Syria, & More from CRS
Public debate over the legal authority for the April 6 U.S. missile strike on a Syrian airbase is reviewed in a new brief from the Congressional Research Service, which stops short of proposing a conclusion of its own.
“It remains to be seen whether the Trump Administration will release a statement explaining its legal basis for the missile strike under international law, but even if such a statement is forthcoming, it seems unlikely that it would put an end to this debate,” the CRS brief said. See U.S. Strike on Syrian Airbase: Legal under International Law?, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 17, 2017.
Other new reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
The Marshall Plan: 70th Anniversary, CRS Insight, April 18, 2017
U.S.-UK Free Trade Agreement: Prospects and Issues for Congress, April 14, 2017
France’s 2017 Presidential Election: In Brief, April 13, 2017
Border-Adjusted Consumption Taxes and Exchange Rate Movements: Theory and Evidence, April 18, 2017
The Revenue Baseline for Tax Reform, CRS Insight, April 14, 2017
Congressional News Media and the House and Senate Press Galleries, April 13, 2017
NASS and U.S. Crop Production Forecasts: Methods and Issues, April 13, 2017
Dressed to the Nines: What’s Next for the Nine-Justice Supreme Court, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 10, 2017
Westinghouse Bankruptcy Filing Could Put New U.S. Nuclear Projects at Risk, CRS Insight, April 19, 2017
Climate Change: Legal Issues, & More from CRS
Federal laws and regulations underlying the U.S. government’s approach to climate change, and litigation regarding their scope and implementation, are discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See U.S. Climate Change Regulation and Litigation: Selected Legal Issues, April 3, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Filibusters and Cloture in the Senate, updated April 7, 2017
Invoking Cloture in the Senate, updated April 6, 2017
The Value of Energy Tax Incentives Across Energy Resources: Trends over Time, CRS Insight, April 6, 2017
Smith v. Obama: A Servicemember’s Legal Challenge to the Campaign Against the Islamic State, CRS Legal Sidebar, updated April 4, 2017
Military Pay: Key Questions and Answers, updated April 3, 2017
Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections, updated April 6, 2017
FirstNet’s Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network Moves Forward, CRS Insight, April 4, 2017
What Constitutes “Sexual Abuse of a Minor” For Immigration Purposes?, CRS Legal Sidebar, April 6, 2017
Navy DDG-51 and DDG-1000 Destroyer Programs: Background and Issues for Congress, updated April 7, 2017
Navy Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated April 6, 2017
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, updated April 6, 2017
Navy Ford (CVN-78) Class Aircraft Carrier Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated April 6, 2017
Navy Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated April 6, 2017
The Trump Defense Budget Proposals, and More from CRS
Would the Trump Administration’s defense budget proposals comply with the current Budget Control Act limits on defense spending?
“No,” answered the Congressional Research Service CRS in a new report, which was authored by CRS specialist Pat Towell and analyst Lynn M. Williams. See The Trump Administration’s March 2017 Defense Budget Proposals: Frequently Asked Questions, April 3, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
The War Powers Resolution: Concepts and Practice, updated March 28, 2017
FY2017 Defense Appropriations Fact Sheet: Selected Highlights of H.R. 5293, S. 3000, and H.R. 1301, updated March 28, 2017
The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), updated March 31, 2017
The Army’s Sustainable Readiness Model (SRM), CRS Insight, March 31, 2017
Votes on Measures to Adjust the Statutory Debt Limit, 1978 to Present, updated March 30, 2017
Keystone XL Pipeline: Development Issues, CRS Insight, March 30, 2017
Expiring Funds for Primary Care, CRS Insight, March 30, 2017
Overview of CEQ Guidance on Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change, CRS Insight, updated March 30, 2017
The Civil Service Reform Act: Due Process and Misconduct-Related Adverse Actions, March 29, 2017
A Brief Overview of Rulemaking and Judicial Review, updated March 27, 2017
Major Disaster Assistance from the Disaster Relief Fund: State Profiles, updated March 29, 2017
Sub-Saharan Africa: Key Issues, Challenges, and U.S. Responses, March 21, 2017
Libya: Transition and U.S. Policy, updated March 29, 2017
Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, updated March 28, 2017
Burma’s Political Prisoners and U.S. Policy: In Brief, March 30, 2017
Iran Sanctions, updated March 31, 2017
China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 29, 2017
Congressional Redistricting Law, & More from CRS
Former President Barack Obama “is gearing up to throw himself into the wonky and highly partisan issue of redistricting, with the goal of reversing the electoral declines Democrats experienced under his watch,” the Washington Post and other news outlets reported this week.
The legal framework governing redistricting is discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Congressional Redistricting Law: Background and Recent Court Rulings, March 23, 2017.
Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.
Pipeline Security: Recent Attacks, CRS Insight, updated March 21, 2017
A Shift in the International Security Environment: Potential Implications for Defense–Issues for Congress, updated March 23, 2017
State and Local “Sanctuary” Policies Limiting Participation in Immigration Enforcement, March 23, 2017
Stafford Act Assistance and Acts of Terrorism, March 22, 2017
The Financial Action Task Force: An Overview, updated March 23, 2017
Issues with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, March 24, 2017
Commercial Truck Safety: Overview, March 21, 2017
Collective Bargaining and the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute: Selected Legal Issues, March 21, 2017
An Overview of Accreditation of Higher Education in the United States, updated March 23, 2017
Budget Actions in 2017, March 22, 2017
Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations, updated March 24, 2017
Navy Virginia (SSN-774) Class Attack Submarine Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 22, 2017
Navy Columbia Class (Ohio Replacement) Ballistic Missile Submarine (SSBN[X]) Program: Background and Issues for Congress, updated March 22, 2017
An Introduction to Defense Policy
Most people are not going to read a book-length study of nuclear weapons command and control, and they shouldn’t have to. But those who need a quick sketch — whether they are reporters, students, or regular citizens — can now find a concise, two-page introduction to the topic from the Congressional Research Service. See Defense Primer: Command and Control of Nuclear Forces, CRS In Focus, December 1, 2016.
This document is part of a series of some three dozen “defense primers” that were prepared lately by CRS for new members of Congress in order to explain “key aspects of the Department of Defense and how Congress exercises authority over it.” The reports can serve the same purpose for interested members of the public.
The CRS primers naturally will not turn readers into experts. But they generally do an excellent job of presenting complex or obscure matters in clear language that almost anyone can understand, while identifying key policy issues, and introducing the essential vocabulary used to address them. The fact that CRS has no particular institutional stake in those issues enhances the credibility of the reports and makes them useful to readers of any persuasion, and to those who don’t yet know what to think.
Among the titles in the series are these:
Defense Primer: Intelligence Support to Military Operations, CRS In Focus, December 30, 2016
Defense Primer: Organization of U.S. Ground Forces, CRS In Focus, December 29, 2016
Defense Primer: Commanding U.S. Military Operations, CRS In Focus, December 13, 2016
Defense Primer: Ballistic Missile Defense, CRS In Focus, December 12, 2016
Defense Primer: Cyberspace Operations, CRS In Focus, December 8, 2016
Defense Primer: Legal Authorities for the Use of Military Forces, CRS In Focus, December 7, 2016
Defense Primer: Congress’s Constitutional Authority with Regard to the Armed Forces, CRS In Focus, December 7, 2016
Defense Primer: Budgeting for National and Defense Intelligence, CRS In Focus, December 5, 2016
Defense Primer: The Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ), CRS In Focus, November 16, 2016
Defense Primer: Geography, Strategy, and U.S. Force Design, CRS In Focus, October 14, 2016
Every report in the CRS defense primer series is available on the FAS website here.