The combination of Charter, Time Warner Cable Inc. (TWC), and Bright House Networks (BHN) would create a single entity providing cable television and broadband access service to 23.9 million customers in 41 states, making it the nation’s second-largest cable television operator and broadband access provider. At the federal level, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) must approve the transactions before they can close.This report describes recent trends in the television industry, the events leading up to the proposed transactions, and the criteria and process of regulatory review.

This report discusses the two retirement systems for federal employees: (1) the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) for individuals hired before 1984, and (2) the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) for individuals hired in 1984 or later.

This report discusses President Obama Immigration Accountability Executive Action which would revise some U.S. immigration policies and initiate several programs, including a revised border security policy for the Southwest border.

This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2015 budget requests funding for the procurement of two DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning these programs could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.

This report discusses the implications of the recent data breach at Anthem Inc., which raised new concerns about the vulnerability of electronic health information. Security experts question whether the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) privacy and security standards are sufficiently protective of sensitive patient information.

This report identifies and summarizes the provisions of the Senate's standing rules, standing orders, precedents, and other directives that relate to legislative activity in the Senate's standing committees. It covers four main issues: committee organization, committee meetings, hearings, and reporting.

This report presents background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Navy's Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) and Zumwalt (DDG-1000) class destroyer programs. The Navy's proposed FY2016 budget requests funding for the procurement of two DDG-51s. Decisions that Congress makes concerning destroyer procurement could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements, and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.

This report briefly discusses the implications of recent elections in Israel, which has leading candidates that openly differed on how to manage disagreements with the United States and the international community on various matters

This report focuses on the Ohio replacement program as a Navy shipbuilding program. The report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Ohio replacement program (ORP), a program to design and build a new class of 12 ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs) to replace the Navy's current force of 14 Ohio-class SSBNs.

This report discusses the foreign affairs appropriations passed within the last 21 years; nearly all of them were passed within omnibus, consolidated, or full-year continuing resolutions, and usually after the start of the new fiscal year. Many foreign policy experts contend that stand-alone appropriation legislation would allow for a more rigorous debate on specific foreign policy activities. They also believe that the practice of delayed appropriations has constrained ongoing program operating levels and the ability to introduce or fund new programs that did not exist in the previous year's budget.

This report discusses the Summits of the Americas, which have been held roughly every three years since 1994 and serve as opportunities for the Western Hemisphere's leaders to engage directly with one another and discuss issues of collective concern. On April 10-11, 2015, President Obama is scheduled to attend the seventh Summit of the Americas in Panama City, Panama.

This report discusses President Obama's Immigration Accountability Executive Action which revises some U.S. immigration policies and initiates several programs, including a revised border security policy for the Southwest border.

This report provides background information and potential oversight issues for Congress on the Gerald R. Ford class aircraft carrier program. The Navy's proposed FY2016 budget requests a total of $2,633.1 million in procurement and advance procurement (AP) funding for the first three ships in the program. Congress's decisions on the Ford class program could substantially affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the shipbuilding industrial base.

This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS)/Frigate program, a program to procure 52 LCSs and frigates. The first ship in the program was procured in FY2005, and a total of 23 have been procured through FY2015. The Navy's proposed FY2016 budget requests $1,437.0 million for the procurement of three more LCSs, or an average of $479.0 million each.

This report examines human rights issues in the People's Republic of China (PRC), including recent developments, ongoing rights abuses, and legal reforms.

This report provides a brief explanation of cash and accrual accounting. It then examines the legislative history surrounding the Tax Reform Act of 1986, which set most of the current policies related to cash accounting for tax purposes.

This report compares and contrasts the administration of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008--enacted as Title V of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2008-- and Federal Pell Grants, as authorized by title IV-A-1 of the Higher Education Act (HEA).

This report discusses about the Fair Housing Act (FHA) that was enacted to provide within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the United States.

The report discusses the Health Center Program, which is administered by the Health Resource and Services Administration within the Department of Health and Human Services, awards grants to outpatient health care facilities that provide care to medically under-served populations.

This report is intended to assist Members and staff in preparing legislation for introduction. Its contents address essential elements of the process, including bill drafting, the mechanics of introduction, and the roles played by key House offices involved in the drafting, submission, and referral of legislation.

A presentation about updates to the implementation of the power plan from the EPA.

This report briefly describes the shift in the international security environment that some observers believe has occurred, and identifies some defense-related issues for Congress that could arise from it. Congress's decisions on these issues could have significant implications for U.S. defense capabilities and funding requirements.

This report provides an info-graphic discussing the economic effects of the FY2014 shutdown.

This legal sidebar discusses the decision of the Department of Education (ED) to side with a transgender female student in Illinois who alleged that her public high school had discriminated against her when it denied her access to the girls' locker rooms.