Congressional Research Service Reports - 577 Matching Results
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- Broadband over Powerlines: Regulatory and Policy Issues
- This report provides background information regarding broad band over powerlines. The report discusses the federal communications commission activity, the national communication and information administration activity.
- Brownfields and Superfund Issues in the 108th Congress
- This report discusses recent development and background issues, superfund issues, revenue issues, comprehensive reauthorization, and legislation regarding superfund program.
- The Budget Control Act, Sequestration, and the Foreign Affairs Budget: Background and Possible Impacts
- This report discusses current Office of Management and Budget (OMB) estimates of foreign affairs accounts sequestration amounts.
- Budget "Sequestration" and Selected Program Exemptions and Special Rules
- Report that looks at the history and current status of sequestration at it relates to Congress, including how it is enacted and special rules that can apply.
- Campaign Financing: Highlights and Chronology of Current Federal Law
- This report summarizes major provisions of federal law and offers a chronology of key legislative and judicial actions which govern financial activity of federal election campaigns. The laws are based on two principal statutes: the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA) of 1971, as amended in 1974, 1976, 1979, and 2002, and the Revenue Act of 1971.
- Can Public Policy Raise the Saving Rate?
- This report discusses a brief accounting of national saving, household saving, business saving and public saving.
- Can the Government Prohibit 18-Year Olds From Purchasing Firearms?
- This report discusses whether the federal government can prevent 18 year old individuals from buying firearms. The report examines case law regarding the issue.
- Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
- This report examines the current effort to develop technology that would capture CO2 (carbon dioxide). It outlines the current status of carbon capture technology; examines the role of government in developing that technology, both in terms of creating a market for carbon capture technology and encouraging development of the technology; and concludes with a discussion of implications of capture technology for climate change legislation.
- Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
- This report examines the current effort to develop technology that would capture CO2. First, the paper outlines the current status of carbon capture technology. Second, the paper examines the role of government in developing that technology, both in terms of creating a market for carbon capture technology and encouraging development of the technology. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of implications of capture technology for climate change legislation.
- The Carbon Cycle: Implications for Climate Change and Congress
- This report puts the human contribution of carbon to the atmosphere into the larger context of the global carbon cycle. The report focuses almost entirely on carbon dioxide (CO2), which alone is responsible for over half of the change in Earth's radiation balance. Moreover, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), CO2 is the most important greenhouse gas released to the atmosphere from human activities.
- Cars, Trucks, and Climate: EPA Regulation of Greenhouse Gases from Mobile Sources
- This report discusses the full range of EPA's authority under Title II and provides information regarding other mobile sources that might be regulated under this authority, in addition to describing the car and truck regulations.
- Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress
- Report that provides background on the current effort to develop industrial-scale, competitive technology to produce biofuels from cellulosic feedstocks.
- Changes to Senate Procedures in the 113th Congress Affecting the Operation of Cloture (S.Res. 15 and S.Res. 16)
- The 113th Congress; S.Res. 16 made two changes to the standing rules of the Senate. This report explains the provisions of each new standing order and rule.
- Changing the Federal Reserve's Mandate: An Economic Analysis
- This report discusses a number of implementation issues surrounding an inflation target. These include what rate of inflation to target, what inflation measure to use, whether to set a point target or range, and what penalties to impose if a target is missed.
- Charleston, SC, Mass Shooter Might Have Been Denied a Handgun If Not for Possible Recordkeeping Oversights
- This report briefly discusses the announcement by Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey that the alleged assailant in the Charleston, SC, mass murder/shooting at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church might have been prevented from acquiring a handgun if not for possible recordkeeping oversights on the part of the FBI and Columbia, SC, city police and county sheriff's departments.
- Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress
- This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.
- Chemical Weapons: A Summary Report of Characteristics and Effects
- This report describes chemical weapons and toxic industrial chemicals which cause a variety of symptoms in their victims. The report discusses the potential for terrorist use of chemical agents.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- P.L. 104-193 (the 1996 welfare reform legislation) made major changes to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program. Some of the changes include requiring states to increase the percentage of fathers identified, establishing an integrated, automated network linking all states to information about the location and assets of parents, and requiring states to implement more enforcement techniques to obtain collections from debtor parents. Additional legislative changes were made in 1997, 1998, and 1999, but not in 2000, 2001, or 2002. This report describes several aspects of the revised CSE program and discusses three issues that probably will be reexamined by the 108th Congress — CSE financing, parental access by noncustodial parents, and distribution of support payments.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- This report describes several aspects of the revised CSE program and discusses three issues that probably will be reexamined by the 107th Congress — CSE financing, parental access by noncustodial parents, and distribution of support payments.
- Childhood Overweight and Obesity: Data Brief
- This report provides an overview of the data being used to inform federal obesity policy. It presents an overview of obesity statistics among children and adolescents, and includes a discussion of obesity measurement, trends in obesity rates, and differences that exist across gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location.
- China and Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Policy Issues
- This report discusses the security problem of China’s role in weapons proliferation and issues related to the U.S. policy response since the mid-1990s. China has taken some steps to mollify U.S. and other foreign concerns about its role in weapons proliferation.
- China, Internet Freedom, and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses Congressional interest in how Internet use in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is tied to human rights concerns in several ways: as a U.S. policy tool for promoting rights in China; though use of the Internet political dissidents and political repression; the role of U.S. Internet companies in spreading freedom and complying with PRC censorship; and the development of U.S. Internet freedom policies globally.
- China-U.S. Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities-Background and Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information and issues for Congress on China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities. For an overview of the strategic and budgetary context in which China's naval modernization effort and its implications for U.S. Navy capabilities may be considered, see Appendix A.
- China's Economic Conditions
- This report provides background on China's economic rise and current economic structure and the challenges China faces to keep its economy growing strong, and describes Chinese economic policies that are of concern to U.S. policymakers.
- China's Holdings of U.S. Securities: Implications for the U.S. Economy
- This report examines the importance to the U.S. economy of China's investment in U.S. securities, as well as U.S. concerns over the possibility that China might unload a large share of those holdings, the likelihood that this would occur, and the potential implications such action could have for the U.S. economy. The report concludes that a large sell-off of Chinese Treasury securities holdings could negatively affect the U.S. economy, at least in the short-run. As a result, such a move could diminish U.S. demand for Chinese products and thus could lower China's economic growth as well.
- CIA and FBI Dmestic Surveilance: Newspaper Reports and commentary
- This report about the CIA and FBI surveilance, along with newspaper reports and commentary.
- Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses cluster munitions and their use and dangers. U.S. policy regarding them is discussed including the November 2017 rule issued by the DOD which relaxed standards for cluster munitions to allow the use of munitions that did not gave a 1% or less unexploded submunitions rate in extreme war situations reversing a 2008 rule.
- Coast Guard Cutter Procurement: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report looks at the cost of funding the Coast Guard's program of record's (POR) call for procuring eight National Security Cutters (NSCs), 25 Offshore Patrol Cutters (OPCs), and 58 Fast Response Cutters (FRCs) as replacements for 90 aging Coast Guard cutters and patrol craft. It also addresses issues for maintenance, future acquisition, and definitions of the types of cutters.
- The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
- This report provides information about the structure, role, and funding of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).
- The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
- This report discusses the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) comprising nine members, two ex officio members, and other members as appointed by the President representing major departments and agencies within the federal executive branch. While the group generally has operated in relative obscurity, the proposed acquisition of commercial operations at six U.S. ports by Dubai Ports World in 2006 placed the group's operations under intense scrutiny by Members of Congress and the public.
- Committee on the Budget in the House of Representatives: Structure and Responsibilities
- Report describing the structure and responsibilities of the Committee on the Budget in the House of Representatives.
- Community Development Block Grants: Neighborhood Stabilization Program; Assistance to Communities Affected by Foreclosures
- Report regarding the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, P.L. 110-289, which allocates federal financial aid to all state and local governments with high amounts of foreclosed homes, subprime mortgage loans, and delinquent home mortgages. The report focuses on the assistance that aids in aquiring, rehabilitating, and reselling foreclosed and abandoned homes.
- Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund: Programs and Policy Issues
- This report begins by describing the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund's history, current appropriations, and each of its programs. The next section analyzes four policy considerations of congressional interest regarding the Fund and the effective use of federal resources to promote economic development. Lastly, this report examines the Fund's programs and management to see if they represent an effective and efficient government effort to promote economic development in low-income and distressed communities.
- Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Current Legislative Issues
- This report provides an overview and analysis of issues Congress might consider if it chooses to take up legislation to reauthorize the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program.
- Comparison of Benefits for Vietnam Veterans with Benefits for Veterans of Prior Wars
- This report provides a comparison of benefits for veterans of the Vietnam War and benefits for veterans of prior wars arranged by those that are similar and those that are different.
- Comparison of U.S. Government Budget Data on the Unified Budget Concept and Federal Funds Basis, Fiscal Years 1954-1975, and National Defense Function Outlays Related to Total Budget Outlays and to Gross National Product (GNP), Fiscal Years 1939-1975
- This report analyzes federal budget data from fiscal years 1954 to 1975 using the unified budget concept. In addition, it provides data comparing the shares of GNP and total federal outlays to federal outlays designated for national defense during each fiscal year from 1939 to 1975.
- The Concorde SST.
- This report is a summary of the history, impact, and economic future of the Concorde supersonic transport.
- Congress and the Reversion of Okinawa
- This report discusses the agreement between President Nixon and Prime Minister Sato of Japan for control of the Ryukyu Island chain (of which Okinawa is the chief island) to revert to Japan in 1972. Congressional actions related to the agreement and the issue of Congressional approval for executive actions which alter existing treaties are discussed.
- Congress Faces Calls to Address Expiring Funds for Primary Care
- This report discusses programs focused on expanding access to primary care services for populations that are typically underserved.
- Congressional Budget Resolutions: Historical Information
- A look at the history and processes of budget resolution in Congress.
- Congressional Gold Medals, 1776-2016
- This report discusses the Congressional Gold Medal which is a sponsor proposals recognizing historic events and outstanding achievements by individuals or institutions.
- Congressional Liaison Offices of Selected Federal Agencies
- This report provides a list of roughly 200 congressional liaison offices, and is intended to help congressional offices in placing telephone calls and addressing correspondence to government agencies.
- Congressional News Media and the House and Senate Press Galleries
- This report provides information about the rules and authorities that affect media coverage of Congress, current practices among the press galleries, and selected data on gallery membership since the 94th Congress. It also provides a brief discussion of considerations that commonly underlie the galleries' practices or may affect gallery operations and congressional media rules.
- Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management
- This report describes statutory requirements for allocating congressional nominations to service academies. It also identifies the qualifications that must be met by potential nominees, as established by statute and each academy. Finally, sample documents that could be used by congressional offices at various stages of the nomination selection process are included. These documents provide basic information and can be customized to fit the specific needs of individual office policies.
- Congressional Primer on Responding to Major Disasters and Emergencies
- This report provides information to aid policymakers related to the laws and administrative policies governing the disaster response and recovery process. It also reviews the legislative framework for providing federal financial assistance following disasters, as well as the policies the executive branch employs to provide supplemental help to state (or territory), tribal, and local governments during time of disasters.
- Congressionally Chartered Nonprofit Organizations (“Title 36 Corporations”): What They Are and How Congress Treats Them
- No Description Available.
- Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs Funding for FY2016 and FY2017
- This report provides an overview of Congressional funding for medical research programs in FY2016 and FY2017.
- Consumers and Food Price Inflation
- This report is divided into five sections that cover the following: major economic concepts underlying consumer food behavior; descriptions how U.S. food price inflation rates have evolved since 1915, when federal price data collection for inflation-measuring purposes began; information on recent history and projections for U.S. food expenditure shares relative to total household budget; an examination of retail food price inflation; and a discussion on the impact that rapid food price inflation can have on government food programs and the more vulnerable consumer groups.
- Conventional Prompt Global Strike and Long-Range Ballistic Missiles: Background and Issues
- Prompt global strike (PGS) would allow the United States to strike targets anywhere on Earth with conventional weapons in as little as an hour. This capability may bolster U.S. efforts to deter and defeat adversaries by allowing the United States to attack high-value targets or “fleeting targets” at the start of or during a conflict. Congress has generally supported the PGS mission, but it has restricted funding and suggested some changes in funding for specific programs. Some concerns that Congress has shown are the Department of Defenses' rationale for the mission, the Air Force's ability to set up the system in a timely manner, and how the new START Treaty between the US and Russia will affect the system.
- The Corporate Income Tax System: Overview and Options for Reform
- This report (1) briefly reviews the current U.S. corporate tax system; (2) discusses economic factors that may be considered in the corporate tax reform debate; and (3) presents corporate tax reform policy options, including a brief discussion of current corporate tax reform proposals.