WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R43847) on April 2, 2025, entitled "Medicaid's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage" by health care financing specialist Alison Mitchel. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary Medicaid is a means-tested entitlement program that finances the delivery of primary and acute medical services as well as long-term services and supports. Medicaid is jointly funded by the federal government and the states. The feder more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs released the following written testimony by Elliot Brandt, CEO of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, from an April 2, 2025, outside witness hearing on security assistance: * * * For Fiscal Year 2026, AIPAC urges the subcommittee's full support for $3.3 billion in security assistance for our strategic partner Israel, as set forth in the 2016 U.S.-Israel Memorand more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs released the following written testimony by Better World Campaign President Peter Yeo from an April 2, 2025, outside witness hearing on foreign affairs funding in fiscal 2026: * * * Thank you for the opportunity to testify in support of foreign affairs funding in FY2026. Let me begin by acknowledging Chairman Diaz-Balart's longstanding efforts to address severe acute maln more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Louisiana, issued the following news release: * * * CassidyDelivers Floor Speech on the National Debt, Saving the American Dream WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) delivered a speech on the U.S. Senate floor urging Congress to address the United States' crushing national debt ahead of the budget resolution vote. Cassidy stressed that Congress must balance the national budget to preserve the American Dream. "President Trump recogni more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12957) on April 4, 2025, by American national government analyst Taylor R. Knoedl: * * * Census Bureau Data: Selected Access, Privacy and Penalty Provisions in Titles 13 and 26, U.S. Code The Census Bureau collects and publishes data on various population and economic characteristics under the authority of Title 13 of the U.S. Code. Additionally, Section 6103(j) of Title 26 authorizes th more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs released the following testimony by Chris Collins, president and CEO of Friends of the Global Fight Against AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, from an April 2, 2025, outside witness hearing on fiscal 2026 funding requests: * * * Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, distinguished members of the Subcommittee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about one o more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12340) on April 4, 2025, by Latin American affairs analyst Karla I. Rios: * * * Guatemala: An Overview Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America, has strived to consolidate its democracy since the 1990s. It has faced many political and social challenges, as well as human rights abuses and widespread impunity. Traditionally, the United States and Guatemala have had close rel more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. John Hoeven, R-North Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Hoeven, Colleagues Ask Trump to Permit the Nationwide, Year-Round Sale of E15 Fuel WASHINGTON - Senator John Hoeven, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, joined colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter led by Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) and Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asking President Trump to permit  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10035) on April 1, 2025, by financial economics specialists Raj Gnanarajah and Andrew P. Scott. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to Financial Services: Banking Banks serve an important role in the financial system and the broader economy. They accept deposits, make loans, and facilitate payments. Economic output would be lower if, instead of banks, businesses had to finance investm more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12741) on April 1, 2025. The white paper is written by financial economics specialist Andrew P. Scott, macroeconomic policy specialist Marc Labonte and international trade and finance specialist Martin A. Weiss. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to Financial Services: International Regulation While financial markets have become global, financial regulation and supervision is condu more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10408) on April 1, 2025, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock and economics specialist Mark P. Keightley. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: GDP and Economic Growth Economic activity and longer-term growth are of concern to policymakers due to the connection between the economy's performance and the overall well-being of Americans. This In Focus provide more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11327) on April 1, 2025, by macroeconomic policy specialist Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Housing Market The Housing Market Real estate and the housing market play an important role in the U.S. economy. At the individual level, roughly 65% of occupied housing units are owner occupied, homes are often a substantial source of household wealth i more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12953) on April 1, 2025, by macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * Introduction to U.S. Economy: Inflation What Is Inflation? Inflation is defined as a general increase in the price of goods and services across the economy, or, in other words, a general decrease in the value of money. Conversely, deflation is a general decrease in the price of goods an more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Kaine Leads Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Reinstate Temporary Protected Status for Venezuela WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, led 18 of his colleagues in urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to reconsider the Trump Administrati more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 (Rep.) -- House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES: "THE ECONOMY IS CRASHING AND DONALD TRUMP IS ON THE GOLF COURSE" Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC's The Weekend where he emphasized that Donald Trump's reckless tariffs will raise costs on hardworking American taxpayers. MICHAEL STEELE : Joining us now to discuss is Democratic Leader and friend of the show, Hakeem Jeffries. We more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * LEADER JEFFRIES: "THE ECONOMY IS CRASHING AND DONALD TRUMP IS ON THE GOLF COURSE" Today, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries appeared on MSNBC's The Weekend where he emphasized that Donald Trump's reckless tariffs will raise costs on hardworking American taxpayers. MICHAEL STEELE : Joining us now to discuss is Democratic Leader and friend of the show, Hakeem Jeffries. Welcome, sir. ALICIA MENEN more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan Blasts President Trump's Reckless Tariffs, Disastrous Republican Budget That Will Gut Critical Programs As President Trump's Reckless Tariffs Jeopardize American Livelihoods, Senate Republicans are Ramming Through a Partisan Budget That Will Cut Programs for New Mexicans Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.) delivered a floor speech and joined a press conference al more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release: * * * Lujan: President Trump's Reckless Tariffs Will Make Life More Expensive for Families and Put New Mexico Jobs at Risk Experts Say Trump Tariffs Could Throw U.S. Into a Recession, Increase Annual Costs By Thousands for New Mexico Families Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, issued the following statement on President Trump's  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12762) on April 1, 2025, by financial economics analyst Paul Tierno and macroeconomic policy analyst Lida R. Weinstock. Here are excerpts: * * * The Macroeconomic Effects of Artificial Intelligence While various forms of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies have existed and been used for decades, the recent popularization of AI products such as ChatGPT have spurred further researc more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, issued the following news release: * * * Padilla Cosponsors Legislation to Improve Access to Quality, Affordable Child Care for American Families Republican-proposed funding cuts to pay for tax breaks for billionaires would eliminate child care for 40,000 children, according to recent CLASP analysis WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) joined his colleagues in introducing bicameral legislation to help American famil more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, State and Related Programs released the following testimony by Rep. James McGovern, D-Massachusetts, from an April 1, 2025, member day hearing on fiscal 2026 appropriations: * * * Thank you, Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Frankel, for allowing me this opportunity to share with you a few of my concerns and priorities regarding the FY 2026 appropriations for National Security, the State Department, and Re more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs released the following testimony by Jennifer Cervantes, representative of the Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers, from an April 2, 2025, outside witness hearing on investment in global health programs: * * * Good morning, Chairman Diaz-Balart, Ranking Member Frankel, and members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to discuss further how Mexico's failure to honor  more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Sen. Richard J. Durbin, D-Illinois, issued the following floor remarks on April 3, 2025: * * * Mr. President, on another topic of global importance, President Trump once again announced an escalation of trade wars with many of our closest allies and trade partners. He proclaimed it "Liberation Day" yesterday. "Liberation Day" is what he called it, but don't expect any ticker-tape parades or flag displays in the windows of American homes to celebrate this "Liberation Day. more PR

WASHINGTON, April 5 -- Sen. Christopher Coons, D-Delaware, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Coons Statement on Senate Republicans' budget resolution WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement after voting against Senate Republicans' budget resolution: "Trump's tariff policies have unleashed a national economic crisis, and tonight we saw Senate Republicans' solution: slashing Social Security and Medicaid to pay for more tax cuts for billiona more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, issued the following news release: * * * Senator Murray Statement on Republicans' Bill to Blow Up National Debt, Shower Billionaires With Tax Breaks, Slash Medicaid Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and a senior member and former chair of the Senate Budget Committee, issued the following statement regarding the ongoing debate and consideration of Senate Republica more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. John Thune, R-South Dakota, issued the following news release: * * * Thune: Democrats Melt Down Over Families Keeping More of Their Hard-Earned Money Click here to watch the video. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: Thune's remarks below (as delivered): "Mr. President, very soon, the Senate's going to be voting on a budget resolution that essentially accomplishes five object more PR

WASHINGTON, April 6 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10230) on April 4, 2025, by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke. Here are excerpts: * * * Venezuela: Political Crisis and U.S. Policy Over the past several Congresses, Members have expressed concerns about authoritarian governance under Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro (2013-present). Maduro took office after garnering a narrow electoral victory following the death more PR

WASHINGTON, April 4 -- Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia, issued the following news release: * * * Video: Kaine Speaks on Senate Floor to Oppose 'Economic Idiocy' of Tariffs, Program Cuts to Pay for Billionaire Tax Breaks BROADCAST-QUALITY VIDEO IS AVAILABLE HERE. WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), a member of the Senate Budget Committee, spoke on the Senate floor to highlight his strong opposition to Republicans' budget plan. President Donald Trump and Republicans are propos more PR