House Democrats have introduced two resolutions in the current Congress to censure the President. Neither resolution is expected to advance.

But a new memo from the Congressional Research Service considers whether such resolutions are permissible in practice, and concludes: “It would appear that Congress may censure the President through a simple (one chamber) or concurrent (two chamber) resolution, or other non-binding measure, so long as the censure does not carry with it any legal consequence.” See The Constitutionality of Censuring the President, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 12, 2018.

Other new and updated publications from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Threats to National Security Foiled? A Wrap Up of New Tariffs on Steel and Aluminum, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 12, 2018

Cybersecurity: Selected Issues for the 115th Congress, March 9, 2018

Defense Primer: U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), CRS In Focus, March 6, 2018

Does Executive Privilege Apply to the Communications of a President-elect?, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 8, 2018

The United Kingdom: Background, Brexit, and Relations with the United States, updated March 12, 2018

Northern Ireland: Current Issues and Ongoing Challenges in the Peace Process, updated March 12, 2018

TPP Countries Sign New CPTPP Agreement without U.S. Participation, CRS Insight, March 9, 2018

The Congressional Research Service recently updated its report on US nuclear weapons and programs. See U.S. Strategic Nuclear Forces: Background, Developments, and Issues by Amy F. Woolf, March 6, 2018.

That is also the subject of a new survey prepared by Hans M. Kristensen and Robert S. Norris of the Federation of American Scientists. See United States nuclear forces, 2018, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, March 5, 2018.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Joint Resolution Seeks to End U.S. Support for Saudi-led Coalition Military Operations in Yemen, CRS Insight, March 5, 2018

Iraq: In Brief, March 5, 2018

Tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean Focus on the Politics of Energy, CRS Insight, March 1, 2018

Qatar: Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy, updated March 1, 2018

Millennium Challenge Corporation, updated March 7, 2018

Material Support for Terrorism Is Not Always an “Act of International Terrorism,” Second Circuit Holds, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 5, 2018

So, Now Can Menachem Zivotofsky Get His Passport Reissued to Say “Israel”?, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 1, 2018

Responding to the Opioid Epidemic: Legal Developments and FDA’s Role, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 6, 2018

Banking Policy Issues in the 115th Congress, updated March 7, 2018

How Hard Should It Be To Bring a Class Action?, CRS Legal Sidebar, March 7, 2018

The Trump Administration requested $11.02 billion for maintenance and refurbishment of nuclear weapons in the coming year. This represents a 19% increase over the amount appropriated in FY2017.

Recent and proposed nuclear weapons-related spending is detailed by Amy F. Woolf of the Congressional Research Service in Energy and Water Development Appropriations: Nuclear Weapons Activities, February 27, 2018.

Another new CRS report discusses blockchain, the technology that underlies cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Blockchain provides a way to securely record transactions of various types. “Despite public intrigue and excitement around the technology, questions still surround what it is, what it does, how it can be used, and its tradeoffs.”

“This report explains the technologies which underpin blockchain, how blockchain works, potential applications for blockchain, concerns with it, and potential considerations for Congress.” See Blockchain: Background and Policy Issues, February 28, 2018.

Other recent reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Defense Spending Under an Interim Continuing Resolution: In Brief, updated February 23, 2018

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, updated February 27, 2018

U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel, updated February 26, 2018

Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief, updated February 27, 2018

Health Care for Dependents and Survivors of Veterans, updated February 26, 2018

Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV): Background and Issues for Congress, updated February 27, 2018

The European Union: Questions and Answers, updated February 23, 2018

Recent polls indicate that a large majority of Americans favor stricter gun laws. But lately Congress has been moving in the opposite direction.

In December, the House of Representatives passed the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (HR 38) which would generally allow persons who are authorized to carry a concealed handgun in one state to carry a handgun in other states even if the latter states have different eligibility requirements for concealed carry.

Not only that: The bill also provides for a private right of action so that the gun owner could sue any person or agency, apparently including a law enforcement agency, that interferes with his concealed-carry rights.

This provision “raises numerous legal questions,” the Congressional Research Service said in a brief new analysis. “For instance, what rights does the bill bestow, who may enforce them, and who may be sued for interfering with those rights?”

See Civil-Suit Provision in House-Passed Concealed Carry Reciprocity Bill (H.R. 38): Scope and Application, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 21, 2018.

These questions were also addressed at greater length in another new CRS publication. See Civil-Suit Provision in the House-passed Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017 (H.R. 38), CRS memorandum, February 20, 2018.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

FY2019 Budget: Government Reorganization and Federal Workforce Reform, CRS Insight, February 22, 2018

Pedal to the Metal: Commerce Recommends Revving Up Trade Measures on Steel and Aluminum, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 21, 2018

Bankruptcy and Student Loans, February 22, 2018

FY2018 Defense Spending Under an Interim Continuing Resolution, CRS In Focus, updated February 20, 2018

Defense Primer: Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, CRS In Focus, February 21, 2018

Defense Primer: Future Years Defense Program (FYDP), CRS In Focus, February 16, 2018

Annual spending on defense science and technology has “grown substantially” over the past four decades from $2.3 billion in FY1978 to $13.4 billion in FY2018 or by nearly 90% in constant dollars, according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

Defense science and technology refers to the early stages of military research and development, including basic research (known by its budget code 6.1), applied research (6.2) and advanced technology development (6.3).

“While there is little direct opposition to Defense S&T spending in its own right,” the CRS report says, “there is intense competition for available dollars in the appropriations process,” such that sustained R&D spending is never guaranteed.

Still, “some have questioned the effectiveness of defense investments in R&D.”

CRS takes note of a 2012 article published by the Center for American Progress which argued that military spending was an inefficient way to spur innovation and that the growing sophistication of military technology was poorly suited to meet some low-tech threats such as improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Iraq and Afghanistan (as discussed in an earlier article in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists).

The new CRS report presents an overview of the defense science and tech budget, its role in national defense, and questions about its proper size and proportion. See Defense Science and Technology Funding, February 21, 2018,

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Armed Conflict in Syria: Overview and U.S. Response, updated February 16, 2018

Jordan: Background and U.S. Relations, updated February 16, 2018

Bahrain: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy, updated February 15, 2018

Potential Options for Electric Power Resiliency in the U.S. Virgin Islands, February 14, 2018

U.S. Manufacturing in International Perspective, updated February 21, 2018

Methane and Other Air Pollution Issues in Natural Gas Systems, updated February 15, 2018

Where Can Corporations Be Sued for Patent Infringement? Part I, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 20, 2018

How Broad A Shield? A Brief Overview of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 21, 2018

Russians Indicted for Online Election Trolling, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 21, 2018

Hunting and Fishing on Federal Lands and Waters: Overview and Issues for Congress, February 14, 2018

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service this week include the following.

Nonstrategic Nuclear Weapons, updated February 13, 2018

Congressional Gold Medals: Background, Legislative Process, and Issues for Congress, February 9, 2018

D.C. Circuit Upholds as Constitutional the Structure of the CFPB — Part I, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 12, 2018

Israel: Background and U.S. Relations In Brief, updated February 12, 2018

Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2018 Budget and Appropriations, updated February 12, 2018

Ecuador: In Brief, updated February 13, 2018

Diversity Immigrants’ Regions and Countries of Origin: Fact Sheet, February 13, 2018

HPSCI Memorandum Sparks Debate over FISA Application Requirements, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 14, 2018

U.S. Army efforts to develop directed energy weapons — such as lasers and microwave weapons — are surveyed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service.

Such weapons are probably years away from actual deployment by the Army, if indeed they ever become practical options.

“While DE weapons offer a variety of advantages over conventional kinetic weapons including precision, low cost per shot, and scalable effects, there are also some basic constraints such as beam attenuation, limited range, and an inability to be employed against non-line-of-sight targets which will need to be addressed in order to make these weapons effective across the entire spectrum of combat operations,” the CRS report said.

The status of some directed energy programs is obscured by secrecy, CRS said. “The classified nature of most of DOD’s HPM [high-power microwave] programs… makes public and academic examination of these programs problematic.”

The first DoD laser weapon ever to be approved for operational use was deployed aboard the USS Ponce (now decommissioned), according to the U.S. Navy.

See U.S. Army Weapons-Related Directed Energy (DE) Programs: Background and Potential Issues for Congress by Andrew Feickert, February 7, 2018.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Egypt: Background and U.S. Relations, February 8, 2018

Iran: Politics, Human Rights, and U.S. Policy, February 8, 2018

Yemen: Civil War and Regional Intervention, February 7, 2018

Rwanda: In Brief, February 7, 2018

The 10-20-30 Plan and Persistent Poverty Counties, February 8, 2018

Medicare Trigger, February 8, 2018

Women in Congress, 1917-2018: Service Dates and Committee Assignments by Member, and Lists by State and Congress, February 6, 2018

Federal Spending on Benefits and Services for People with Low Income: In Brief, February 6, 2018

Introduction to U.S. Economy: The Business Cycle and Growth, CRS In Focus, December 13, 2017

The Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency, established in 1958, is responsible for advancing the state of the art in defense science and technology. The agency’s structure, priorities and budget are discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency: Overview and Issues for Congress, February 2, 2018.

(For a lively and revealing history of DARPA, see Sharon Weinberger’s recent book The Imagineers of War: The Untold Story of DARPA, the Pentagon Agency That Changed the World, Knopf, 2017.)

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Resolutions to Censure the President: Procedure and History, February 1, 2018

Evolving Assessments of Human and Natural Contributions to Climate Change, February 1, 2018

Real Wage Trends, 1979 to 2016, January 30, 2018

Gun Control: Concealed Carry Legislation in the 115th Congress, CRS Insight, January 30, 2018

Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Sudan, Nicaragua, Haiti, and El Salvador: Key Takeaways and Analysis, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 2, 2018

U.S. Foreign Assistance to Latin America and the Caribbean: FY2018 Appropriations, February 5, 2018

The Balkans and Russia, CRS Insight, January 31, 2018

Iraq: In Brief, February 6, 2018

Al Qaeda and U.S. Policy: Middle East and Africa, February 5, 2018

U.S. Security Assistance and Security Cooperation Programs: Overview of Funding Trends, February 1, 2018

The 2018 National Defense Strategy, CRS Insight, February 5, 2018

The New START Treaty: Central Limits and Key Provisions, updated February 5, 2018

New Nuclear Warheads: Legislative Provisions, CRS Insight, February 5, 2018

Criminal Prohibitions on Disclosing the Identities of Covert Intelligence Assets, CRS Legal Sidebar, February 6, 2018

New and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Administration’s Syria Policy Envisions Continued U.S. Presence, CRS Insight, January 26, 2018

TPP Countries Conclude Agreement Without U.S. Participation, CRS Insight, January 29, 2018

Mexico: Background and U.S. Relations, updated January 29, 2018

2017 Disaster Supplemental Appropriations: Overview, January 25, 2018

Shining a Light on the Solar Trade: Investigation Leads to Tariffs on Solar Energy-Related Imports (Part I), CRS Legal Sidebar, January 26, 2018

Addressing Sexual Harassment by Modifying the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995: A Look at Key Provisions in H.R. 4822, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 29, 2018

A Survey of House and Senate Committee Rules on Subpoenas, updated January 29, 2018

The potential risks associated with air cargo on domestic and international flights, and the challenges involved in assessing and addressing them, are discussed in a new report from the Congressional Research Service. See Security of Air Cargo Shipments, Operations, and Facilities, January 24, 2018,

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2018, updated January 25, 2018

Banking Law: An Overview of Federal Preemption in the Dual Banking System, January 23, 2018

Economic Impact of Infrastructure Investment, updated January 24, 2018

EPA’s Methane Regulations: Legal Overview, updated January 24, 2018

The Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): An Overview, updated January 24, 2018

The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, updated January 25, 2018

China-U.S. Trade Issues, updated January 23, 2018

The Marshall Plan, the program of U.S. financial assistance that helped spark the economic recovery of western Europe following World War II, is considered to be one of the most successful U.S. foreign policy initiatives ever and one that might have implications for today.

“Although the Marshall Plan has its critics and occurred during a unique point in history, many observers believe it offers lessons that may be applicable to contemporary foreign aid programs,” according to a new report from the Congressional Research Service that reviews its achievements. See The Marshall Plan: Design, Accomplishments, and Significance, January 18, 2018.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Temporary Protected Status: Overview and Current Issues, updated January 17, 2018

Government Contract Bid Protests In Brief: Analysis of Legal Processes and Recent Developments, January 19, 2018

Highway Bridge Conditions: Issues for Congress, updated January 17, 2018

Prevalence of Mental Illness in the United States: Data Sources and Estimates, updated January 19, 2018

Iran’s Foreign and Defense Policies, updated January 19, 2018

NLRB Rejects Former Standards Following Appointment of New Members, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 18, 2018

Over the course of U.S. history, twenty Members of Congress have been expelled by their colleagues. Most of those cases were based on charges of disloyalty to the United States in the early Civil War period. Two of them followed convictions on charges of public corruption, most recently in 2002.

A new report from the Congressional Research Service surveys the history of congressional expulsions and the related case law. See Expulsion of Members of Congress: Legal Authority and Historical Practice by Cynthia Brown and Todd Garvey, January 11, 2018.

Other new and updated reports from the Congressional Research Service include the following.

Trends in Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering Enforcement, January 12, 2018

The Logan Act: An Overview of a Sometimes Forgotten 18th Century Law, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 12, 2018

Marbury v. Madison Returns! The Supreme Court Considers the Scope of “Judicial” Power, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 16, 2018

House Judiciary to Mark Up H.R. 4170, the Disclosing Foreign Influence Act, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 16, 2018

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Constitutional Challenge to SEC Administrative Law Judges, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 16, 2018

Recent Changes in the Estate and Gift Tax Provisions, updated January 11, 2018

Funding and Financing Highways and Public Transportation, updated January 11, 2018

Wilderness: Issues and Legislation, updated January 17, 2018

District Court Enjoins DACA Phase-Out: Explanation and Takeaways, CRS Legal Sidebar, January 11, 2018

The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), updated January 16, 2018

China-U.S. Trade Issues, updated January 11, 2018

History, Evolution, and Practices of the President’s State of the Union Address: Frequently Asked Questions, updated January 12, 2018