WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10149) on Feb. 17, 2026, by Liana Wong, international trade and finance analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Overview What is AGOA? The African Growth and Opportunity Act (P.L. 106-200, as amended) created a nonreciprocal U.S. trade preference program, also referred to as AGOA, to provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for most exports from eligible countries in sub-Saharan Africa  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48564) on Feb. 17, 2026, entitled "Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2026 Appropriations" by agricultural policy specialist Jim Monke. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Agriculture appropriations) funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) - except for the U.S. Forest Service - and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, in the De more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF11643) on Feb. 18, 2026, by Rachel Lindbergh, science and technology policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Artemis: NASA's Program to Return Humans to the Moon Between 1969 and 1972, the Apollo program of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) landed 12 American men on the Moon and returned them safely to Earth (see Figure 1). Since then, no human has been farther from Earth than low-Earth orbit, a few hu more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47166) entitled "Career and Technical Education: A Primer" by education policy specialists Cassandria Dortch and Rebecca R. Skinner. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY Career and technical education (CTE), sometimes referred to as vocational education, provides secondary and postsecondary education students with the skills and knowledge required for specific jobs or fields of work. CTE is a key element of the nation's workforce development sy more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R47166) entitled "Career and Technical Education - A Primer:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * CTE Program Challenges This section discusses challenges that CTE program providers have experienced with program delivery, increasing student access, and replicating evidence-based practices, as well as resources that have been used to address these challenges./31 Delivery, Access, and Replication Challenges In recent years, the General Accoun more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12657) on Feb. 17, 2026, by health policy specialist Amanda K. Sarata. Here are excerpts: * * * FDA Oversight of General Wellness Products General wellness products, and particularly noninvasive, wearable sensing technologies, have proliferated in recent years. These products may be used for a variety of wellness applications, include products like smartwatches and rings, and increasingly include multiple functions to provide  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12852) on Feb. 20, 2026, by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Contract Set-Asides for Small Businesses Introduction Provisions of the Small Business Act authorize or, in some cases, require federal agencies to provide small businesses a preference when making a contract award. Preferences for small business contractors may take the form of contract  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Legal Sidebar white paper (No. LSB11326) on Feb. 17, 2026, by legislative attorney Cassandra J. Barnum: Here are excerpts: * * * Federal Prosecutorial Discretion: A Brief Overview From broad law enforcement priorities embraced by different presidential Administrations to individual choices by Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys about what charges to bring in specific cases, the executive branch wields broad discretion in how to enforce federal crimina more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44770) on Feb. 17, 2026, entitled "History, Evolution and Practices of the President's State of the Union Address: Frequently Asked Questions" by senior research librarian Maria Kreiser and Congress and legislative process specialist Michael Greene: * * * Summary The State of the Union address is a communication from the President to Congress in which the chief executive reports on the current condition of the United States and provides poli more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12320) on Feb. 17, 2026, by public finance analysts Anthony A. Cilluffo and Brendan McDermott. Here are excerpts: * * * Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Standard Mileage Rates The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides standard mileage rates as optional methods for taxpayers to substantiate their transportation expenses. This Insight reviews how the standard mileage rates are set, who uses them, and a history of the rates. Wh more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R48641) on Feb. 2, 2026, entitled "Proposals to Limit Member of Congress Financial Activities: Analysis of Introduced Legislation in the 119th Congress" by Congress specialist Jacob R. Straus. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY In recent years, some Members of Congress have proposed reforms that would prohibit the purchase, sale, or ownership of certain financial instruments by Members of Congress and other specified congressional officers and more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12987) on Feb. 17, 2026, by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen: * * * Smithsonian Institution: Selected Legislation, 119th Congress The Smithsonian Institution is a complex of museum, education, research, and revenue-generating entities primarily located in the Washington, DC, region, with additional facilities and activities across the United States and world. This In Focus discusses enacted and proposed more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12853) on Feb. 20, 2026, by R. Corinne Blackford, small business and economic development policy analyst. Here are excerpts: * * * Sole-Source Contracts for Small Businesses Introduction Provisions of the Small Business Act authorize (and, in some cases, require) federal agencies to provide small businesses a preference when making a contract award. Preferences for small business contractors may take the form of contract set more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44236) on Feb. 17, 2026, entitled "Supreme Court Appointment Process: Consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee" by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * SUMMARY The appointment of a Supreme Court Justice is an event of major significance in American politics. Each appointment is of consequence because of the enormous judicial power the Supreme Court exercises as the highest appellate court  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44236) on Feb. 17, 2026, entitled "Supreme Court Appointment Process - Consideration by the Senate Judiciary Committee:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * Hearings Supreme Court nominations since 1949 have routinely received public confirmation hearings before either the Senate Judiciary Committee or a Judiciary subcommittee./38 In 1955, hearings on the Supreme Court nomination of John M. Harlan marked the beginning of a regular practice, more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12659) on Feb. 18, 2026, by American national government analyst Barry J. McMillion. Here are excerpts: * * * U.S. District Court Nominees Confirmed During the First Year of the Second Trump Presidency: Comparative Overview and Statistics This Insight provides information related to the number of U.S. district court nominees confirmed during the first calendar year of the second Trump presidency (2025), as well as information  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12608) on Feb. 18, 2026, by natural resources policy specialist Caitlin Keating-Bitonti: * * * U.S. Interest in Seabed Mining in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Brief Background and Recent Developments In 1980, Congress passed the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act (DSHMRA; 30 U.S.C. Sec.Sec.1401 et seq.) as an interim measure to allow the United States to proceed with seabed mining activities in areas beyond national  more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF10454) on Feb. 18, 2026, by international relations specialist Luisa Blanchfield. Here are excerpts: * * * United Nations Issues: Appointing the UN Secretary-General The 10th United Nations Secretary-General (UNSG) is expected to be appointed in late 2026. The UN Security Council and UN General Assembly are considering possible candidates as the second five-year term of current UNSG Antonio Guterres ends on December 31, 2026. more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12448) on Feb. 19, 2026, by Latin American affairs specialist Clare Ribando Seelke. Here are excerpts: * * * Venezuela's Natural Gas: Opportunity Knocks? The capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, 2026, and the formation of an interim government working with U.S. officials have renewed possibilities for developing Venezuela's hydrocarbons. Following Maduro's arrest, President Trump asserted th more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF13167) on Feb. 17, 2026. The white paper is written by American national government specialist R. Eric Petersen, senior research librarian Jennifer E. Manning and research assistant Jennifer E. Manning: * * * Violence Against Members of Congress, Their Families and Staff: Policy Responses The personal security and safety of Members of Congress, their families, and their staffs are of enduring concern for the House, the Senat more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following fact sheet (No. R45125) on Feb. 17, 2026, by Elizabeth C. Larson, senior knowledge management librarian. Here are excerpts: * * * Women's History Month Speech Resources: Fact Sheet Contents Introduction ... 1 History ... 1 Legislation ... 1 Related CRS Products ... 2 Selected Speeches and Recognitions ... 2 Selected Presidential Proclamations ... 2 Government Resources ... 3 Contacts Author Information ... 4 * * * Introduction Women's Histor more PR

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21 (TNSLrpt) -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following In Focus white paper (No. IF12581) on Feb. 20, 2026, by Middle Eastern affairs specialist Christopher M. Blanchard. Here are excerpts: * * * Yemen: Conflict, Red Sea Security and U.S. Policy Yemen is a conflict-afflicted nation along the strategic Bab al Mandab Strait, one of the world's most active shipping lanes. Since 2015, a civil war has pitted the Iran-backed Houthi movement against Yemen's internationally recognized government, the government's f more PR