Search Results

State and Homeland Security: Unresolved Issues for the 109th Congress
Arguably, the three most important homeland security public laws enacted following the terrorist attacks on September 2001 are P.L. 107-56, “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act)”; P.L. 107-296, “Homeland Security Act of 2002"; and P.L. 108-458, “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.” The PATRIOT Act focused on enhancing domestic security through anti-terrorism measures, specifically, law enforcement and legal responses to terrorism. The Homeland Security Act established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act restructured the U.S. intelligence community to better assist in terrorism preparedness and response
State and Local Homeland Security: Unresolved Issues for the 109th Congress
This report discusses important state and local homeland security policy issues that the 109th Congress might address.
State and Local Homeland Security: Unresolved Issues for the 109th Congress
Arguably, the three most important homeland security public laws enacted following the terrorist attacks on September 2001 are the USA PATRIOT Act, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. This report describes each of these pieces of legislation and their respective domestic security enhancements. Many important state and local homeland security policy issues remain, separate from these three laws, which the 109th Congress might address. This report also describes these such issues, which include unmet emergency responder needs, absence of emergency responder equipment standards, and the development of state and local homeland security strategies, among others.
Department of Homeland Security: State and Local Preparedness Issues
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) makes the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for providing assistance to state and local governments to ensure adequate preparedness for all disasters, including terrorist attacks. Several federal entities with functions relating to state and local preparedness, ranging from entire independent agencies to units of agencies and departments, will be transferred to the new department.
The Department of Homeland Security: State and Local Preparedness Issues
Both H.R. 5005 and S. 2452 propose a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which would have a number of responsibilities relating to state and local preparedness for potential terrorist attacks. This report discusses selected state and local preparedness issues that specifically pertain to the proposed Emergency Preparedness and Response Division of the new department.1 The report does not, however, discuss certain issues, such as the impact of integrating selected offices from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) into a new DHS,2 and the degree of authority the DHS would need to effectively evaluate state and local assistance programs.
Department of Homeland Security: State and Local Preparedness Issues
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) makes the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for providing assistance to state and local governments to ensure adequate preparedness for all disasters, including terrorist attacks. Several federal entities with functions relating to state and local preparedness, ranging from entire independent agencies to units of agencies and departments, will be transferred to the new department.
Department of Homeland Security: State and Local Preparedness Issues
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) makes the new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responsible for providing assistance to state and local governments to ensure adequate preparedness for all disasters, including terrorist attacks. Several federal entities with functions relating to state and local preparedness, ranging from entire independent agencies to units of agencies and departments, will be transferred to the new department.
State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Policy Issues and Options
No Description Available.
State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Policy Issues and Options
No Description Available.
State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Selected Policy Issues
No Description Available.
State and Local Homeland Security: Unresolved Issues for the 109th Congress
Arguably, the three most important homeland security public laws enacted following the terrorist attacks on September 2001 are: P.L. 107-56, “Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act (USA PATRIOT Act)”; P.L. 107-296, “Homeland Security Act of 2002”; and P.L. 108-458, “Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004.” The PATRIOT Act focused on enhancing domestic security through anti-terrorism measures, specifically, law enforcement and legal responses to terrorism. The Homeland Security Act established the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act restructured the U.S. intelligence community to better assist in terrorism preparedness and response.
FY2006 Appropriations for State and Local Homeland Security
This report is an overview of appropriations for selected programs of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for assistance to state and local first responders: firefighters, emergency medical personnel, emergency managers, and law enforcement officers. It covers only programs that are intended to help state and local recipients enhance their preparedness for terrorist attacks and that are administered by the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), within the Office for State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP).
FY2007 Appropriations for State and Local Homeland Security
This report is an overview of the Administration’s budget request for the following seven homeland security programs designed to provide assistance to state and local first responders — firefighters, emergency medical personnel, emergency managers, and law enforcement officers.
Federal Grants to State and Local Governments: A Brief History
This report provides a brief history of the federal grants to state and local governments.
Managing Regional Growth: Is There a Role for Congress?
No Description Available.
State and Local Preparedness for Terrorism: Policy Issues and Options
No Description Available.
Federal and State Laws Regarding Pharmacists Who Refuse to Dispense Contraceptives
This report provides an analysis of federal and state laws that govern whether or not pharmacists may refuse to fill valid prescriptions for birth control and emergency contraceptives.
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia: Political Developments and Implications for U.S. Interests
This report consists of the independence of all the former Soviet republics by the end of 1991, including the South Caucasus state of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the United States.
Forest Service Revenue-Sharing Payments: Legislative Issues
The Forest Service (FS) returns 25% of the revenues from each national forest to the states for use on roads and schools in counties where the forests are located; the Bureau of Land Management shares 50% of its revenues with counties containing the Oregon & California grant lands. This report discusses the legislative concerns that have arisen because declining timber sales have reduced revenues.
State Revenue from Estate, Inheritance, and Gift Taxes
No Description Available.
State Estate and Gift Tax Revenue
No Description Available.
State Estate and Gift Tax Revenue
P.L. 107-16, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, repeals the federal estate tax for decedents that die in 2010. In addition, the act repeals the credit for state estate taxes for decedents dying after December 31, 2004, and replaces the credit with a deduction. In most states, the repeal of the tax and the significant increase in the federal exclusion will also repeal or diminish state estate, inheritance, and gift taxes.
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX of the Social Security Act)
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds. This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX of the Social Security Act)
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds. This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX of the Social Security Act)
This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures. The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds.
Social Services Block Grant (Title XX of the Social Security Act)
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds. This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.
Fair Credit Reporting Act: Preemption of State Law
No Description Available.
2006 National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Fine Particulate Matter (PM25): Designating Nonattainment Areas)
This report summarizes and describes the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) final revisions to the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards). The summary also explores how the revisions are contentious in certain areas that may not be meeting those standards which materializes as congressional oversight.
Venezuela: Political Conditions and U.S. Policy
The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) is a flexible source of funds that states may use to support a wide variety of social services activities. States have broad discretion over the use of these funds. This short report provides background information on the SSBG and tracks relevant legislation and appropriations measures.
Renewal Communities Initiative: Background and Overview
This report discusses the Renewal Communities (RC) Initiative, which combines tax credits and other provisions designed to revive some of the nation’s more impoverished areas.
First Responder Initiative: Policy Issues and Options
No Description Available.
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC): An Overview
The Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) is an agreement among member states to provide assistance after disasters overwhelm a state’s capacity to manage the consequences. The compact, initiated by the states and coordinated by the National Emergency Management Association, provides a structure for requesting emergency assistance from party states. EMAC also resolves some, but not all, potential legal and administrative obstacles that may hinder such assistance. EMAC also enhances state preparedness for terrorist attacks by ensuring the availability of resources for fast response and facilitating multi-state cooperation in training activities and preparedness exercises. Congress approved EMAC as an interstate compact in 1996 (P.L. 104-321).
Federal and State Quarantine and Isolation Authority
This report provides an overview of federal and state public health laws as they relate to the quarantine and isolation of individuals, a discussion of constitutional issues that may be raised should individual liberties be restricted in a quarantine situation, and federalism questions that may arise where federal and state authorities overlap. In addition, the possible role of the armed forces in enforcing public health measures is discussed, specifically whether the Posse Comitatus Act would constrain any military role, and other statutory authorities that may be used for the military enforcement of health measures.
The Federal Budget: Current and Upcoming Issues
This report provides information about The Current and Upcoming Issues on Federal Budget. The Federal Budget implements congress's " power of the purse".
Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act: A Legal Analysis
This report summarizes and describes the history of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act. Moreover, this report divides the act into four categories: a revised sex offender registration system, child and sex related amendments to federal criminal procedure, child protective grant programs, and punitive initiatives against sex offenders. The report examines each of these provisions of the bill to effectively summarize it, and gives the reader the information to find an available abridged version.
The Federal Budget: Current and Upcoming Issues
This report provides information about The Current and Upcoming Issues on Federal Budget. The Federal Budget implements congress's " power of the purse".
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.
Federal and State Quarantine and Isolation Authority
This report provides an overview of federal and state public health laws as they relate to the quarantine and isolation of individuals, a discussion of constitutional issues that may be raised should individual liberties be restricted in a quarantine situation, and federalism questions that may arise where federal and state authorities overlap. In addition, the possible role of the armed forces in enforcing public health measures is discussed, specifically whether the Posse Comitatus Act would constrain any military role, and other statutory authorities that may be used for the military enforcement of health measures.
Welfare Reform: TANF Trends and Data
The shrinkage in U.S. family cash welfare rolls has slowed to a near halt, although national numbers still are 50% below those of August, 1996, when Congress created the time-limited and work-conditioned block grant program of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Under TANF, the nature of the caseload has changed. The share of recipients who combine welfare and work has risen sharply (from 11% to 26%).
Welfare Reform: TANF Trends and Data
The size and character of the nation’s family cash welfare rolls and the composition of welfare spending have changed markedly since August, 1996, when Congress created the time-limited and work-conditioned block grant program of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Enrollment has plunged more than 50%. The share of recipients who combine welfare and work has risen sharply (26% in FY2000). The share of “child-only”cases, which are free of work and time limit rules, has climbed above one-third nationally and in nine states exceeds one-half of allTANF cases. The smaller caseload holds a rising proportion of black and Hispanic families.
Welfare Reform: TANF Trends and Data
The size and character of U.S. family cash welfare rolls and the composition of welfare spending have changed markedly since August, 1996, when Congress created the time-limited and work-conditioned block grant program of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Enrollment has plunged more than 50%. The share of recipients who combine welfare and work has risen sharply (from 11% to 26%). The share of “child-only”cases, which are free of work and time limit rules, has climbed above one-third nationally and in nine states exceeds one-half of all TANF cases.
Transitional Medical Assistance (TMA) Under Medicaid
Medicaid, a means-tested federal/state program that provides health care coverage to certain groups of individuals, requires that states continue Medicaid benefits for certain low-income families who would otherwise lose coverage because of changes in their income. This continuation of benefits is known as transitional medical assistance (TMA). The law permanently requires four months of TMA for families who lose Medicaid eligibility due to increased child or spousal support collections, as well as those who lose eligibility due to an increase in earned income or hours of employment. Congress expanded work-related TMA under Section 1925 of the Social Security Act as part of the Family Support Act of 1988, and states currently must provide TMA to families who lose Medicaid eligibility for work-related reasons for at least six, and up to 12, months.
Federal and State Quarantine and Isolation Authority
This report provides an overview of federal and state public health laws as they relate to the quarantine and isolation of individuals, a discussion of constitutional issues that may be raised should individual liberties be restricted in a quarantine situation, and federalism questions that may arise where federal and state authorities overlap. In addition, the possible role of the armed forces in enforcing public health measures is discussed, specifically whether the Posse Comitatus Act would constrain any military role, and other statutory authorities that may be used for the military enforcement of health measures.
Gonzales v. Raich: Congress’s Power Under the Commerce Clause to Regulate Medical Marijuana
No Description Available.
2006 National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5): Designating Nonattainment Areas
This report summarizes and describes the EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) final revisions to the NAAQS (National Ambient Air Quality Standards). The summary also explores how the revisions are contentious in certain areas that may not be meeting those standards which materializes as congressional oversight.
TANF Sanctions - Brief Summary
No Description Available.
State Sales Taxation of Internet Transactions
No Description Available.
The State Children's Health Insurance Program: Eligibility, Enrollment, and Program Funding
No Description Available.
Child Welfare Waiver Demonstrations
This report provides background information on the child welfare waivers and a description of the progress states have made on these demonstration projects. Waiver projects must be cost neutral to the federal government; may be conducted for no longer than 5 years (though HHS may grant an extension of up to 5 years); and must include an evaluation comparing the existing state program to the waiver project.
Journalists' Privilege to Withhold Information in Judicial and Other Proceedings: State Shield Statutes
This report briefly provides an overview of general trends among the states individual statutes.
Back to Top of Screen