Congressional Research Service Reports - 46 Matching Results
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- Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E): Background, Status, and Selected Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) within the Department of Energy (DOE) as part of the America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69), which was authorized by Congress in August 2007. Modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), ARPA-E would support transformational energy technology research projects with the goal of enhancing the nation's economic and energy security.
- Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Afghanistan relationship, in both the short and long term, and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
- Agricultural Disaster Assistance
- This report briefly discusses the federal grand jury, which exists to investigate crimes against the United States and to secure the constitutional right of grand jury indictment.
- Agricultural Disaster Assistance
- This report discusses several programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help farmers recover financially from natural disasters, including drought and floods. All the programs have permanent authorization, and only one requires a federal disaster designation (the emergency loan program). Most programs receive funding amounts that are "such sums as necessary" and are not subject to annual discretionary appropriations.
- Amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Set to Expire May 27, 2011
- This report discusses the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) which provides a statutory framework by which government agencies may, when gathering foreign intelligence investigation, obtain authorization to conduct electronic surveillance or physical searches, utilize pen registers and trap and trace devices, or access specified business records and other tangible things. Authorization for such activities is typically obtained via a court order from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), a specialized court created to act as a neutral judicial decision maker in the context of FISA.
- American National Government: An Overview
- This report is about the decentralization of power into three branches.
- Bypassing Senate Committees: Rule XIV and Unanimous Consent
- This report examines the alternative procedures and actions that the Senate uses to bypass committee consideration of bills and joint resolutions. It also provides examples of how the Senate uses these alternative procedures and actions to facilitate consideration and passage of some bills and joint resolutions.
- China-U.S. Relations: Current Issues for the 108th Congress
- This report summarizes the current developments in U.S-PRC relations, including current and pending congressional actions involving the PRC. It also points out U.S. Policy Trends and Key Issues in U.S- PRC Relations.
- Clean Interstate Rule: Review and Analysis
- This report discusses about Clean Air Interstate Rule. It is categorized into Five categories (I) Overview, (II) Background, (III) The Rule, (IV) Issues and (V) Conclusion.
- Crime Control Assistance Through the Byrne Programs
- No Description Available.
- Current Economic Conditions and Selected Forecasts
- This report contains information regarding the Current Economic Conditions, Recent Macroeconomic Developments, Posture of Monetary and Fiscal Policy, Summary of Current Developments, Sources of GDP Growth, Economic Forecasts 2001, and Promotion of Economic Growth.
- Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs
- This report describes the current status of direct-to-consumer (DTC) drug advertising; analyzes issues surrounding it; and discusses potential options for Congress.
- Display of the Confederate Flag at Federal Cemeteries in the United States
- This report discusses policies regarding the display of the Confederate Flag at national cemeteries. If a state observes a Confederate Memorial Day, National Park Service (NPS) cemeteries in the state may permit a sponsoring group to decorate the graves of Confederate veterans with small Confederate flags. Additionally, such flags may also be displayed on the nationally observed Memorial Day, to accompany the U.S. flag on the graves of Confederate veterans.
- DOT's Federal Pipeline Safety Program: Background and Key Issues for Congress
- This report reviews the history of federal programs for pipeline safety, significant safety issues, and recent developments focusing on key issues for Congress.
- The Electronic Funds Transfer System
- This report discusses the development, use, and future outlook of electronic payment systems as well as addressing various electronic banking issues and policy.
- Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs): Legislative History
- No Description Available.
- The Expanded Threat Reduction Initiative for the Former Soviet Union: Administration Proposals for FY2000
- No Description Available.
- Federal Budget Process Reform in the 111th Congress: A Brief Overview
- This report briefly discusses the context in which federal budget process changes are made and identifies selected reform proposals by major category. The identification of reform proposals in this report is not intended to be comprehensive.
- Federal Employees' Retirement System: Benefits and Financing
- One or both houses of Congress may formally express opinions about subjects of current national interest through freestanding simple or concurrent resolutions (called generically "sense of the House," "sense of the Senate," or "sense of the Congress" resolutions). These opinions may also be added to pending legislative measures by amendments expressing the views of one or both chambers. This report identifies the various forms these expressions may take and the procedures governing such actions.
- The Federal Minimum Wage and Average Hourly Earnings of Manufacturing Production Workers
- No Description Available.
- The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Options for Congress
- This report discusses a number of policy avenues lawmakers could consider, should Congress choose to address the growth in the federal prison population.
- Financing the U.S. Trade Deficit: Role of Foreign Governments
- No Description Available.
- The Florida Bay Economy and Changing Environmental Conditions. May 1994
- This report provides a brief overview of the resource conditions of Florida Bay and of the economy of the directly adjacent Monroe County.
- The Former Soviet Union and U.S. Foreign Assistance in 1992: The Role of Congress
- This report discusses the key role Congress played in formulating an aid program for the former Soviet Union in 1992. Focusing on tensions in the political and legislative system, it delineates congressional achievements — chief of which was the Freedom Support Act. The legislation that was ultimately produced became the basis on which future debate would be conducted regarding how the United States could continue to influence events in the former Soviet Union and assist its transition to an open market economy and democratic institutions.
- FY2014 Budget Documents: Internet and GPO Availability
- No Description Available.
- Immigration: Terrorist Grounds for Exclusion and Removal of Aliens
- This report focuses on the terrorism-related grounds for inadmissibility and deportation/removal. It opens with an overview of the terror-related grounds as they evolved through key legislation enacted in recent years. The section on current law explains the legal definitions of "terrorist activity," "engage in terrorist activity," and "terrorist organization," and describes the terror-related grounds for inadmissibility and removal. The report then discusses the alien screening process to determine admissibility and to identify possible terrorists, both during the visa issuance process abroad and the inspections process at U.S. ports of entry.
- Justice and Mental Health Collaboration Program: Fact Sheet
- This report discusses the federal government funding for mental illness and surrounding issues, such as mental health courts and mental health collaboration programs.
- Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations
- This report discusses the legislative branch appropriations bill that provides funding for the Senate, House of Representatives, Joint Items, Capitol Police, Office of Compliance, Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Architect of the Capitol (AOC), Library of Congress (LOC) -- including the Congressional Research Service (CRS) -- Government Printing Office (GPO), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and Open World Leadership Center.
- The military-industrial complex. A current reading list. 1969
- This report consists of list of the military-industrial complex.
- Military Medical Care: Questions and Answers
- This report answers several frequently asked questions about military health care, including: how the system is structured, a TRICARE summary, TRICARE eligibility and plan options, cost of military health care to beneficiaries, relationship of TRICARE to MEDICARE, how the Affordable Care Act affects TRICARE, long-term trends of defense health care costs, and a summary of the fund which funds TRICARE - the Medicare Eligible Retiree Health Care fund.
- Multiyear Procurement (MYP) and Block Buy Contracting in Defense Acquisition: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information and issues for Congress on multiyear procurement (MYP) and block buy contracting (BBC), which are special contracting mechanisms that Congress permits the Department of Defense (DOD) to use for a limited number of defense acquisition programs. Compared to the standard or default approach of annual contracting, MYP and BBC have the potential for reducing weapon procurement costs by several percent.
- Nanotechnology: A Policy Primer
- This report provides an overview of Congressional support for the economic and societal benefits of nanotechnology; discusses three areas of focus - federal research and development (R&D) in nanotechnology, U.S. competitiveness, and environmental, health, and safety (EHS) concerns; and also discusses nanomanufacturing and public understanding of and attitudes toward nanotechnology.
- Pay Equity: Legislative and Legal Developments
- This report begins by presenting data on earnings for male and female workers and by discussing explanations that have been offered for the differences in earnings. It next discusses the major laws directed at eliminating sex-based wage discrimination as well as relevant federal court cases. The report closes with a description of pay equity legislation that has been considered or enacted by Congress in recent years.
- Potential Farm Sector Effects of 2009 H1N1 "Swine Flu": Questions and Answers
- This report discusses how the outbreak of the strain of influenza A (H1N1), commonly referred to as "swine flu," affected the domestic and international pork markets.
- The Power of the President to Commit American Armed Forces Abroad Without Congressional Authorization-The Problem and Some Proposals
- This report discusses the issue of whether the President has the power to commit military forces to service abroad without Congressional approval and if he does have this power, how much can he do with it. Various proposals to clarify or fix the issue are discussed.
- Proxy Access Reform Being Considered by the SEC: An Overview
- This report discusses the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) role that oversees matters related to the content of proxy materials.
- Reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank: Issues and Policy Options for Congress
- This report provides background information and potential issues and options for Congress relating to the reauthorization of Ex-Im Bank. The scope of this report is limited to Ex-Im Bank reauthorization issues.
- Runaway and Homeless Youth: Demographics and Programs
- This report discusses the reauthorization of and appropriations for the Runaway and Homeless Youth Program; followed by an overview of the runaway and homeless youth population. The report describes the challenges in defining and counting the runaway and homeless youth population, as well as the factors that influence homelessness and leaving home.
- Senate Rule XIV Procedure for Placing Measures Directly on the Senate Calendar
- This report discusses the provisions use of Senate Rule XIV, which is used to bypass referral of a bill or joint resolution to a Senate committee, and have the measure placed directly on the Senate Calendar of Business.
- Trafficking in Persons: U.S. Policy and Issues for Congress
- Trafficking in persons (TIP) for the purposes of exploitation is both an international and a domestic crime that involves violations of labor, public health, and human rights standards. This report focuses on human trafficking both internationally and within the United States. The report begins with an overview of human trafficking including a discussion of the definition of human trafficking, the scope of the problem globally, and an examination of the victims. It follows with an analysis of global anti-trafficking efforts by the United States and the international community. The report then focuses on trafficking into and within the United States, examining relief for trafficking victims in the United States and discussing U.S. law enforcement efforts to combat domestic trafficking. The report concludes with an overview of anti-trafficking legislation and an analysis of policy issues related to human trafficking.
- Transportation Security: Issues for the 114th Congress
- This report discusses aviation security, transit and passenger security, port and maritime security.
- Treasury Issues White Paper on Fintech and Marketplace Lending
- This report briefly discusses the context and contents of a white paper issued on May 10, 2016 by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The paper analyzes regulatory issues for the marketplace lending industry and offers several recommendations for industry and government responses.
- U.S.-European Union Trade Relations: Issues and Policy Challenges
- This report examines the economic partnership between the United States and the European Union. Not only is the U.S.-EU trade and investment relationship the largest in the world, but it is also arguably the most important. Agreement between the two partners in the past has been critical to making the world trading system more open and efficient.
- U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the United States' relationship with India as it relates to nuclear arsenals and nuclear nonproliferation policies. The report includes background information on India's nuclear history and nuclear weapons-specific U.S. legislation.
- U.S.-Vietnam Economic and Trade Relations: Issues for the 114th Congress
- This report examines the bilateral trade issues between United States and Vietnam, discussing their main elements and exploring their potential implications for the 114th Congress.
- Zika Response Funding: Request and Congressional Action
- This report presents the Administration's request for supplemental appropriations for the Zika response. It includes sections outlining Congressional actions, the emergency supplemental appropriations request for Zika response efforts -- by both U.S. health and human services agencies and international assistance programs -- and information about unobligated Ebola response funds.