Legislation
Subcommittee Will Examine Renewal of USPTO Fee Authority
Section 4 of the SUCCESS Act amended section 10(i)(2) to provide that the Director's authority to set or adjust any fee under section 10 will end on...
Senate Republican Voter ID Bill Stalls After Failed Cloture Vote
Senate Republicans introduced legislation this month that would fundamentally reshape how Americans vote in federal elections. S.5271 amends the Help...
NPS Fee Hikes for International Park Visitors Create Delays
A new Congressional Research Service (CRS) report on National Park Service fee increases for international visitors shows the Trump administration has moved...
Online Age Verification: Technical Options and Legal Hurdles
A Congressional Research Service report updated in late June examines how websites can verify the ages of their users, a question that has become central to...
Trucking Policy Debate: Safety vs. Deregulation
A Congressional Research Service report on surface transportation reauthorization was prepared by John Frittelli, Specialist in Transportation Policy.
House and Senate Bills Diverge on Kids Online Safety Rules
A House-passed bill incorporating the Kids Online Safety Act would mandate that social media platforms and other online services implement safeguards for...
State Social Media Laws Face First Amendment Hurdles
A Congressional Research Service report released August 24 maps out a constitutional minefield for lawmakers trying to regulate social media. States have...
Government Shutdowns Stem From Congress's Appropriations Process
Congress faces mounting pressure to overhaul how it funds the federal government following the longest shutdown in U.S. history. A recent Congressional...
Congress Funds Animal Disease Prevention Programs
Under P.L. 119-21 (July 2025), Congress directed $233 million per fiscal year from FY2026–FY2030 across NAHLN, NADPRP, and NAVVCB. A Congressional Research...
GENIUS Act Establishes First Federal Stablecoin Framework
The GENIUS Act was signed into law on July 18, 2025, and establishes the first comprehensive federal framework for payment stablecoins in the United States.
Child Labor Penalties Frozen as Violations Surge
A recent CRS report published July 1 examines how federal child labor law works in practice, and the findings arrive as Congress debates whether penalties...
Gas Tax Erosion Threatens Federal Highway Funding, CRS Says
Congress faces a growing revenue problem as fuel-efficient and electric vehicles erode the federal gas tax base, a Congressional Research Service report...
FY2026 NDAA Embeds Cyber and AI Governance Rules
A recent Congressional Research Service report examining the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act reveals how lawmakers are embedding cybersecurity...
Overtime Deduction Claims Far Exceed Eligible Workers
The deduction, created by the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act signed into law on July 4, 2025, allows workers to exclude certain overtime pay from taxable...
FDA Seeks to End Food Companies’ Ability to Self-Certify Ingredients as Safe
A recent CRS report examines a growing policy clash over how the FDA regulates substances manufacturers claim are safe to add to food. The stakes are...
NARC Lobbies on Transportation Reauthorization
The National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) has engaged Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP to represent it on federal lobbying efforts, marking a new...
VULT Security Hires Nickles On Computer Industry Lobbying
VULT Security LLC, a cybersecurity firm, has hired Nickles Group LLC to lobby on computer industry issues, marking the company's first entry into federal...
Thousands of Wind & Solar Projects Lost Tax Credits
A recent CRS report details the mechanics of a federal tax incentive that shapes renewable energy investment decisions across the country. The Production...