Congressional Research Service Reports - 152 Matching Results
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- 35 Years of Water Policy: The 1973 National Water Commission and Present Challenges
- This report presents the National Water Commission's (NWC) recommendations and analyzes how issues targeted by the recommendations have evolved during the intervening years. The report focuses on key federal-level recommendations, thereby targeting what has been accomplished since 1973, what issues remain unresolved, and what additional concerns have developed.
- S. 147/H.R. 309: Process for Federal Recognition of a Native Hawaiian Governmental Entity
- From Summary: "This report describes the provisions of the reported version of S. 147; outlines some federal statutes and recent cases which might be relevant to the issue of federal recognition of a Hawaiian entity; and recounts some legal arguments that have been presented in the debate on this legislation."
- The 2009 Influenza Pandemic: Selected Legal Issues
- This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues regarding the H1N1 influenza, including emergency measures, civil rights, liability issues, and employment issues.
- Active Military Sonar and Marine Mammals: Events and References
- This report summarizes legal and political events related to active sonar and marine mammals since 1994. The report discusses the deployment of active sonar by the U.S. Navy and its potential impacts on marine mammals has been an ongoing issue of intense debate; regulatory, legislative, and judicial activity; and international concern.
- Adult Education and Literacy: Reauthorization Proposals of the 108th Congress
- This report discusses how the 108th Congress considered, but ultimately did not reauthorize the federal adult education and literacy programs. Furthermore, the report covers what was passed specifically by the 108th Congress. The report largely examines the Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) and its funding.
- Advanced Nuclear Power and Fuel Cycle Technologies: Outlook and Policy Options
- This report starts out with an overview of nuclear technology and then discusses the Department of Energy DOE advanced nuclear programs, global nuclear energy partnership, and different industry studies.
- Advanced Nuclear Power and Fuel Cycle Technologies: Outlook and Policy Options
- This report starts out with an overview of nuclear technology and then discusses the Department of Energy DOE advanced nuclear programs, global nuclear energy partnership, and different industry studies.
- Air Force F-22 Fighter Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Air Force F-22 fighter, also known as the Raptor, which is the world's most capable air-to-air combat aircraft. Procurement of F-22s began in FY1999, and a total of 187 have been procured through FY2009, including 24 in FY2009.
- Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: A Primer
- This report reviews the types of air emissions from livestock and poultry operations and their human health and environmental impacts. It then discusses provisions of several federal laws concerned with environmental impacts, beginning with the Clean Water Act, because protecting water resources has been the primary regulatory focus regarding livestock and animal operations.
- Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: EPA’s Air Compliance Agreement
- This report discusses a plan announced by EPA in January 2005, called the Air Compliance Agreement, that would produce air quality monitoring data on animal agriculture emissions from a small number of farms, while at the same time protecting all participants (including farms where no monitoring takes place) through a “safe harbor” from liability under certain provisions of federal environmental laws.
- Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: EPA’s Air Compliance Agreement
- This report discusses a plan announced by EPA in January 2005, called the Air Compliance Agreement, that would produce air quality monitoring data on animal agriculture emissions from a small number of farms, while at the same time protecting all participants (including farms where no monitoring takes place) through a “safe harbor” from liability under certain provisions of federal environmental laws.
- Air Quality: Multi-Pollutant Legislation in the 110th Congress
- This report discusses air pollutants (petroleum, natural gas, and coal), which account for about two-thirds of U.S. electricity generation. These gases include several pollutants that directly pose risks to human health and welfare. The report also discusses the utilities that are subject to an array of environmental regulations.
- Animal Agriculture: 2007 Farm Bill Issues
- With a few exceptions (such as milk), the products of animal agriculture are not eligible for the price and income supports that Congress historically has written into farm bills for major row crops such as grains, cottons, and oilseeds. However, the meat and poultry industries do look to the federal government for leadership and support in prompting their exports, resolving trade disputes, and reassuring markets that their products are safe, of high quality, and disease free. Farm bills can contain policy guidance and resources to help achieve these objectives.
- Appropriations for FY2004: District of Columbia
- Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This Report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on the District of Columbia Appropriations.
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 109th Congress
- This report discusses the ongoing debate about whether or not to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Current law forbids energy leasing in the Refuge. This report addresses several legislative options on the issue, as well as policymakers' arguments for and against development, especially in the wake of increasing terrorism since 2000-2001.
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Background and Issues
- The report begins with background on the geography and history of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). It also discusses the most common legislative issues, such as energy development, and provides an extensive review of the resources of the 1002 area, including the current status, regulations, and potential effects of development of those resources.A glossary is included to define the key terms and acronyms.
- Assistance to Firefighters Program
- This report contains a summary of the assistance to firefighters program, also known as the FIRE Act grant program.
- Auditor Reform Proposals: A Side-by-Side Comparison
- This report discusses the creation of a new auditor oversight board, Stock Analysis, corporate boards and other provisions.
- Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues
- This report describes several scientifically emerging animal biotechnologies that are raising a variety of questions concerning risks to humans, animals, and the environment, as well as ethical concerns. The report examines applications of the technologies and discusses major issues that may arise.
- Border Security: Fences Along the U.S. International Border
- This report outlines the issues involved with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS's) completion of the San Diego border fence and highlights some of the major legislative and administrative developments regarding the construction of new border fences.
- The Budget for Fiscal Year 2007
- Congress used three continuing resolutions on appropriations to fund all but two appropriation acts in the first half of the fiscal year 2007. The third one runs through February 15, 2007. The new chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees indicated that they will present a full-year, modified resolution to Congress funding the remaining appropriations before the third continuing resolution expires. This report contains information on the background and analysis for the federal budget in the fiscal year 2007, the financial situation at that time, budgeting tools, budgetary actions, outlays, receipts, deficits, and related materials.
- Child Welfare Issues in the 108th Congress
- Child welfare services are intended to protect children who have been abused or neglected or are at risk of maltreatment. These services take various forms, ranging from counseling and other supports for parents — which are intended to improve child well-being and prevent child abuse and neglect — to removal of the children from their homes. At the most extreme, these services include termination of parental rights and placement of the children for adoption. This report describes child welfare legislative issues in the 108th Congress.
- China-U.S. Relations During the 108th Congress
- This report discusses the background and overview of the China-U.S. relations, Key Issues during the 108th congress, U.S. Policy Trends and China's space program.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- No Description Available.
- Climate Change: The EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) Enters Kyoto Compliance
- This report discusses the development in global warming as a global issue. Topics include issues that have arisen regarding the ETS and considerations for cap-and-trade.
- Coast Guard Polar Icebreaker Modernization: Background, Issues, and Options for Congress
- This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the modernization of the Coast Guard's polar icebreaker fleet, which performs a variety of missions supporting U.S. interests in polar regions.
- Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies: FY2009 Appropriations
- This report is a guide to one of the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. It summarizes the status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related congressional activity, and is updated as events warrant.
- Congressional Authority to Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq. July 2007
- This report provides background, discussing constitutional provisions allocating war powers between Congress and the President, and presenting a historical overview of relevant court cases.
- Congressional Membership and Appointment Authority to Advisory Commissions, Boards, and Groups
- This report contains a compilation of commissions and boards that demonstrates the range of alternative membership-appointment structures. It includes any statutorily created advisory entity (boards, advisory panels, etc.) whose membership scheme mandates the participation of Members of Congress either as potential members or as participants in the process of appointing the membership.
- Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Current Issues
- This report discusses the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enacted in 1985, which provides payments to farmers to take highly erodible or environmentally-sensitive cropland out of production for ten years or more to conserve soil and water resources.
- Counting the Homeless: Homeless Management Information Systems
- This report describes the development of HMIS, summarizes information released in the AHAR, describes previous attempts to count the homeless, and reports on the continuing progress of HMIS.
- The Credit Card Market: Recent Trends and Regulatory Proposals
- This report examines developments in the revolving credit market, including trends in profitability, consumer usage, funding, and repricing practices.
- Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006
- The report discusses the Credit Rating Agency Reform Act of 2006, that was enacted to correct the perceived problems created by the absence of statutory regulation of credit rating agencies.
- Criminal Money Laundering Legislation in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Days Reserved for Special Business in the House
- This report provides a table and general guidelines for business that has privileged consideration on specified days in the House of Representatives. It includes some information about related procedures.
- The Death Penalty: Capital Punishment Legislation in the 109th Congress
- This report discusses legislation regarding the death penalty in the 109th Congress. The USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act (Reauthorization Act) contains a number of death penalty related provisions. Some create new federal capital offenses; some add the death penalty as a sentencing option in the case of preexisting federal crimes; some alter the procedural attributes of federal capital cases. Other proposals offered during the 109th Congress would have followed the same pattern: some new crimes; some new penalties for old crimes; and some procedural adjustments. Only one of the other proposals, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, passed, although at least one House approved several others. Three proposals do not fit the pattern; they either would have abolished the death penalty as a federal sentencing alternative or would have imposed a moratorium upon executions.
- Debt-for-Nature Initiatives and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act: Status and Implementation
- This report provides a description of debt-for-nature transactions and a summary of the Tropical Forest Conservation Act.
- Defense: FY2008 Authorization and Appropriations
- No Description Available.
- Defense Procurement: Full Funding Policy — Background, Issues, and Options for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Defense Program Issue: Global Information Grid, Bandwidth Expansion (GIG-BE)
- This report discusses the Global Information Grid (GIG), which is the enabling infrastructure for Network Centric Warfare (NCW), a concept that relies on communications technology to link together U.S. military personnel, ground vehicles, aircraft, and naval vessels through integrated wide and local area networks to provide improved battle space awareness for joint military forces
- Derivatives, Risk Management, and Policy in the Energy Markets
- This report provides a systematic guide to understanding the use of financial derivative contracts in the energy industry, focusing specifically on the petroleum and natural gas sectors.
- Disaster Relief and Response: FY2003 Supplemental Appropriations
- No Description Available.
- District of Columbia v. Heller: The Supreme Court and the Second Amendment
- No Description Available.
- Drilling in the Great Lakes: Background and Issues
- This report provides background information on historical and current drilling practices in the Great Lakes, and statistics on oil and natural gas production, where data are available. It describes state laws regarding drilling in the Great Lakes and analyzes the environmental, socioeconomic, and legal aspects of drilling in or under the Great Lakes.
- East Asia Summit (EAS): Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Election Year Restrictions on Mass Mailings by Members of Congress: How H.R. 1614 / S. 936 / S. 1285 Would Change Current Law
- No Description Available.
- Electronic Voting System in the House of Representatives: History and Evolution
- No Description Available.
- Enforcement of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules
- This report discusses enforcement of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) administrative simplification provisions by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and provides an overview of the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Enforcement Rule.
- Enforcing Immigration Law: The Role of State and Local Law Enforcement
- This report examines some of the policy and legal issues that may accompany an increased role of state and local law officials in the enforcement of immigration law.
- European Trade Retaliation: The FSC-ETI Case
- No Description Available.