Congressional Research Service Reports - 65 Matching Results

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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): A Primer for the 112th Congress

Description: In the ongoing energy debate in Congress, one issue has been whether to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR or Refuge) in northeastern Alaska or whether to continue to prohibit development to protect the area's biological, recreational, and subsistence values. ANWR is rich in fauna, flora, and oil and natural gas potential. Its development has been debated for more than 50 years, but sharp increases in energy prices from late 2000 to early 2001, in 2004-2008,… more
Date: June 15, 2011
Creator: Corn, M. Lynne; Ratner, Michael & Alexander, Kristina
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Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding

Description: This report discusses the firefighting activities that are traditionally the responsibility of states and local communities. The report also talks about the funding for firefighters, which is provided mostly by state and local governments. However, during the 106th Congress, many in the fire community asserted that local fire departments require and deserve greater support from the federal government.
Date: June 3, 2011
Creator: Kruger, Lennard G.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Asylum and “Credible Fear” Issues in U.S. Immigration Policy

Description: This report defines asylum seekers, and looks at the background of asylum seekers in the U.S. since the 1980s. It discusses current issues, including inconsistent approval rates for asylum seekers across different regions and jurisdictions. It ends with a discussion of the crux of the issue, and ways in directions that current law/new legislation could move to mitigate this issue.
Date: June 29, 2011
Creator: Wasem, Ruth Ellen
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides an overview of Arctic-related issues for Congress, and refers readers to more in-depth CRS reports on specific Arctic-related issues. Congressional readers with questions about an issue discussed in this report should contact the author or authors of the section discussing that issue. The authors are identified by footnote at the start of each section.
Date: June 7, 2011
Creator: O'Rourke, Ronald
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China/Taiwan: Evolution of the “One China” Policy—Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei

Description: This report discusses the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979 that has governed U.S. policy in the absence of a diplomatic relationship or a defense treaty. It also points out U.S. Policy on "One China", Statement during George H. W. Bush, George W. Bush and Obama Administration.
Date: June 3, 2011
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS): Background and Funding

Description: The Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program was created by Title I of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-322). The mission of the COPS program is to advance community policing in all jurisdictions across the United States. Legislation introduced in the 111th Congress would reauthorize the COPS program through FY2014 and reestablish COPS as a multi-grant program. This report provides an overview and analysis of issues Congress might choose to consider… more
Date: June 2, 2011
Creator: James, Nathan
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Competition in Federal Contracting: An Overview of the Legal Requirements

Description: This report describes the competition requirements currently governing the procurement activities of federal agencies. It addresses several issues, including what contracts are subject to competition requirements, what constitutes full and open competition for government contracts, and the circumstances permitting agencies to award contracts on the basis of other than full and open competition. It also briefly describes the benefits and drawbacks of competition, situates recent reform efforts w… more
Date: June 30, 2011
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressionally Chartered Nonprofit Organizations (“Title 36 Corporations”): What They Are and How Congress Treats Them

Description: This report discusses the chartered corporations listed in title 36 that are not agencies of the United States, and their charters only rarely assign the corporate bodies any governmental attributes. It also discusses the Oversight of chartered corporations.
Date: June 17, 2011
Creator: Kosar, Kevin R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases

Description: This report discusses congress and its restrictions on federal debt. It further discusses about the recent economic slowdown that led sharply higher deficits in recent years, which led to series of debt limit increases.
Date: June 1, 2011
Creator: Austin, D. Andrew & Levit, Mindy R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report discusses legislative action that applied the Budget Control Act (BCA)-mandated spending reduction to FY2012 defense funding legislation was taken by the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 7, 2011, when it adopted discretionary spending ceilings for each of its 12 subcommittees that required the Defense Subcommittee to cut $25.9 billion from the President's request for programs funded by the DOD Appropriations bill. On September 15, the Senate Appropriations Committee repo… more
Date: June 15, 2011
Creator: Towell, Pat
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Defense: FY2012 Budget Request, Authorization and Appropriations

Description: This report discusses legislative action that applied the Budget Control Act (BCA)-mandated spending reduction to FY2012 defense funding legislation was taken by the Senate Appropriations Committee on September 7, 2011, when it adopted discretionary spending ceilings for each of its 12 subcommittees that required the Defense Subcommittee to cut $25.9 billion from the President's request for programs funded by the DOD Appropriations bill. On September 15, the Senate Appropriations Committee repo… more
Date: June 15, 2011
Creator: Towell, Pat
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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”Dirty Bombs”: Background in Brief

Description: This report examines the legislation and oversight by Congress to protect the United States against terrorist threats, especially from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Radiological dispersal devices (RDDs) are one type of CBRN weapon. Explosive-driven "dirty bombs" are an often-discussed type of RDD, though radioactive material can also be dispersed in other ways. This report also provides background for understanding the RDD threat and responses.
Date: June 24, 2011
Creator: Medalia, Jonathan
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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“Dirty Bombs”: Technical Background, Attack Prevention and Response, Issues for Congress

Description: This report raises several issues for Congress, Including: (I) the priority for countering RDDs vs other CBRN, (II) how to improve radio logical forensics capability, (III) whether to modify certain personnel reliability standards etc.
Date: June 24, 2011
Creator: Medalia, Jonathan
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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DNA Databanking: Selected Fourth Amendment Issues and Analysis

Description: This report looks at how the practice of DNA database programs, which have been looked at favorably by Congress, are in possible violation of the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. It looks at how the databases' legality has currently been holding up in court, as well as how new advances and revelations in the science of forensic analysis and databanking may have potentially significant legal implications.
Date: June 6, 2011
Creator: Barbour, Emily C.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Egypt in Transition

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the transition underway and information on U.S. foreign aid to Egypt. It also discusses about about U.S.-Egyptian Science, Business, and Technological Cooperation.
Date: June 17, 2011
Creator: Sharp, Jeremy M.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electronic Voting System in the House of Representatives: History and Usage

Description: This report examines the legislative history of electronic voting in the House of Representative, discusses the design and initial use of the electronic voting system, and examines the day-to-day operations of the system, including the process for conducing a vote electronically.
Date: June 13, 2011
Creator: Straus, Jacob R.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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FBI Directorship: History and Congressional Action

Description: This report first provides some legislative history surrounding the enactment of the 1968 and 1976 amendments to the appointment of the FBI Director, as well as information on the nominees to the FBI Directorship since 1972. The report then discusses precedent for lengthening the tenure of an office and the constitutionality of extending the tenure of the Directorship for the current incumbent, and addresses whether it would be necessary for Mr. Mueller to be appointed a second time.
Date: June 7, 2011
Creator: Chu, Vivian S. & Hogue, Henry B.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Report
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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