Congressional Research Service Reports - 74 Matching Results
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- Asian Financial Crisis: An Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy Interests and Options
- This report discusses the Asian Financial Crisis: An Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy Interests and Options.
- Asian Financial Crisis: An Analysis of U.S. Foreign Policy Interests and Options
- The principal focus of this report is on the foreign policy ramifications of the Asian financial crisis and U.S. options for addressing them. This report tracks and analyzes the efforts of the most seriously affected Asian countries to deal with their economic and financial problems, and their interaction with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United States, and other major sources of financial support and policy advice. It also addresses the implications of the crisis for such U.S. interests as regional stability and the prevention of conflict, trade liberalization, and U.S. regional and global leadership, and discusses the principal factors that could influence the duration and severity of the crisis. A final section considers options for Congress in the context of various criticisms of the IMF’s stabilization programs and the operations of the Fund itself.
- Ban of Use of Polygraph Evidence Does not amount to Abridgment of Military Defendant's Right to Present a Defense
- This report is on Ban of Use of Polygraph Evidence Does not amount to Abridgment of Military Defendant's Right to Present a Defense.
- Basic Federal Budgeting Terminology
- In its most elemental form, the federal budget is a comprehensive accounting of the government’s spending, revenues, and borrowing. This fact sheet provides a brief overview of the basic terminology and concepts used in the federal budget process.
- Campaign Finance Reform Bills in the 105th Congress: Comparison of H.R. 3581 (Thomas), H.R. 3526 (Shays-Meehan), and Current Law
- No Description Available.
- Campaign Finance Reform Bills in the 105th Congress: Comparison of H.R. 3581 (Thomas), H.R. 3526 (Shays-Meehan), and Current Law
- On March 30, 1998, the House considered four campaign reform bills under a suspension of rules, focusing on the comprehensive H.R. 3581, offered that day for the Republican leadership by Mr. Thomas; it failed passage on a 74-337 vote. (The bill was similar to H.R. 3485, also by Mr. Thomas, reported by the House Oversight Committee March 18.1) The bill generating the most publicity in the 105th Congress has been S. 25 (McCain-Feingold),2 introduced on March 19 as H.R. 3526 by Messrs. Shays and Meehan. This report summarizes and compares H.R. 3581, H.R. 3526, and current law.
- Census 2000: The Sampling Debate
- This report summarizes legal actions of the efforts of the Bureau of Census to include two sample surveys into the 2000 census. This has resulted in a mix reaction from Congress.
- Census 2000: The Sampling Debate
- Plans by the Bureau of the Census to incorporate data from two new sample surveys into the 2000 decennial census count have had a mixed congressional reception. Three sampling bills in the 105th Congress (H.R. 1220, H.R. 1178, and H.R. 776) have been referred to committee, without further action. Sampling has been debated chiefly in the appropriations process (H.R. 1469, H.R. 1871 [P.L. 105-18; 111 Stat. 158], and H.R. 2267/S. 1022 [P.L. 105-119; 111 Stat. 2440]). The bureau now is a defendant in two anti-sampling suits brought under P.L. 105-119. The law also established a Census Monitoring Board and directed the bureau to prepare for a traditional headcount in 2000, not just to continue with its sampling plans.
- Charter Schools: State Developments and Federal Policy Options
- This report provides an overview and analysis of charter school legislation and related activity in the states, the federal Public Charter School program, and issues that have risen about the participation of charter schools in other federal education assistance programs.
- Charter Schools: State Developments and Federal Policy Options
- Charter schools are public elementary or secondary schools which are released from a variety of state, local, and possibly federal regulations in return for new forms of accountability in terms of outcomes for pupils. Approximately one-half of the states authorize the establishment of charter schools, and a federal Public Charter Schools (PCS) program provides start-up funds for such schools. The House has passed (H.R. 2616), and the Senate is considering (S. 1380) legislation to modify and expand the PCS program. This report provides background information on charter schools and their characteristics, plus discussion and analysis of current legislation regarding the PCS program. Issues have also arisen regarding the participation of charter schools in other federal aid programs.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- This report contains the new reforms and potential issues of child support enforcement.
- Child Support Enforcement: New Reforms and Potential Issues
- This report discusses the background, issues, enforcement and the reforms of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193), signed into law on August 22, 1996, and the major changes made to the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) program.
- Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization
- This report provides a brief overview of the reauthorization of the civil rights commission.
- Civil Rights Commission Reauthorization
- The Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998 (H.R. 3117) would reauthorize the commission through FY2001. It was introduced by Representative Canady on January 28, 1998, referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and reported with an amendment on March 2, 1998. It passed the House, amended, by voice vote on March 18.
- Cloning: Where Do We Go From Here?
- No Description Available.
- Cloning: Where Do We Go From Here?
- News in February 1997 that scientists in Scotland had succeeded in cloning an adult sheep ignited a worldwide debate. Of concern are the ethical and social implications of the potential application of cloning to produce human beings. In response to concerns about the potential application of cloning to produce humans, actions were taken by the Administration and Congress.
- Conservation Compliance for Agriculture: Status and Policy Issues
- This program, known as "conservation compliance," was amended in 1990 and 1996. This paper reviews the compliance concept, the program requirements, and the implementation record. It also introduces three policy topics: the effect of compliance on erosion rates and patterns; the effectiveness and flexibility of implementation; and the possible impact of changes to commodity policies enacted in the 1996 farm bill.
- Criminal Law: The “Exculpatory No” Doctrine Is Not A Defense Under 18 U.S.C. 1001
- No Description Available.
- Farm Commodity Programs: Sugar
- This report discusses the federal sugar program, which authorized by the Federal Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996 seeks to ensure the viability of the U.S. sugar producing sector primarily by supporting the incomes of sugar beet and sugarcane producers and of those firms that process each crop into sugar.
- Federal Regulation of Working Hours: The Ballenger and Ashcroft Proposals (H.R. 1 and S. 4)
- During the 104 Congress, legislation was considered that would have altered the 40-hour workweek and overtime pay requirements for private sector workers. In somewhat altered form, such legislation [H.R. 1 (Ballenger) and S. 4 (Ashcroft)] has been reintroduced in the 105 Congress. This report, very briefly, summarizes the issues presented by H.R. 1 and S. 4.
- Federal Regulation of Working Hours: The Ballenger and Ashcroft Proposals (H.R. 1 and S.4)
- No Description Available.
- Federal Support of School Choice: Background and Options
- No Description Available.
- Federal Support of School Choice: Background and Options
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about background options in regards to federal support of school choice. This report is regularly updated, and in this edition, includes subjects such as federal aid to school choice programs across the nation such as the Public Charter Schools (PCS) program, and current legislation regarding school choice.
- Foreign Military Troops in the United States
- This report discusses to what extent and why military personnel and forces from foreign nations are sometimes stationed in the United States
- Global Climate Change: Selected Legal Questions About the Kyoto Protocol
- This report discusses the Kyoto Protocol and whether the United States is now legally bound by the Protocol, the legal implications of signing it, whether it could be implemented as an executive agreement without submission to the Senate, and whether the Protocol could be used as the legal basis for regulation of emissions even prior to ratification.
- Ideas for Privatizing Social Security
- This report summarizes the proposals that have emerged and the issues surrounding them.
- Ideas for Privatizing Social Security
- There has been considerable interest recently in privatizing Social Security. The ideas are wide-ranging: from adoption of a totally-revamped system of personal retirement accounts, similar to an approach taken by Chile in 1983, to permitting optional earmarking of a portion of existing payroll taxes for personal savings. This report summarizes the proposals that have emerged and the issues surrounding them.
- Immigration: The “H-2A” Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
- In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand from tobacco growers. This report provides information on the H-2A program, illustrates current trends, discusses issues raised by the proposed changes, and tracks pending legislation.
- Immigration: The "H-2A" Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
- In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand from tobacco growers. This report provides information on the H-2A program, illustrates current trends, discusses issues raised by the proposed changes, and tracks pending legislation.
- International Monetary Fund (IMF): Costs and Benefits of U.S. Participation
- This report examines both the quantifiable costs and, briefly, the largely unquantifiable benefits related to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- International Science and Technology Issues: Summary of a Report to the Committee on Science
- This report summarizes a comparative study on international science and technology. It was prepared on the request of the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives. This paper provides a digest of analysis and findings on the science and technology policies, civilian research and development funding, and relevant policy issues of thirteen countries and the European union.
- ISTEA Reauthorization: Highway and Transit Legislative Proposals in the 105th Congress, 2nd Session
- No Description Available.
- Jerusalem: Legislation to Move the U.S. Embassy
- No Description Available.
- Jerusalem: Legislation to Move the U.S. Embassy
- Report discussing the legislation proposal to move the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
- The Law of Church and State: The Proposed Religious Freedom Amendment, H.J. Res. 78
- This report summarizes legislative developments on the proposal and briefly analyzes its likely legal effect if added to the Constitution.
- The Level of Taxes in the United States, 1940-1997
- No Description Available.
- The Level of Taxes in the United States, 1940-1997
- No Description Available.
- Mexican Drug Certification Issues: U.S. Congressional Action, 1986-1998
- No Description Available.
- Mexican Drug Certification Issues: U.S. Congressional Action, 1986-1998
- No Description Available.
- NATO Enlargement and Russia
- No Description Available.
- NATO Enlargement and Russia
- No Description Available.
- NATO Enlargement and the Former European Neutrals
- No Description Available.
- NATO Enlargement: Pro and Con Arguments
- No Description Available.
- NATO Enlargement: Pro and Con Arguments
- No Description Available.
- Patent Reform: Overview and Comparison of S. 507 and H.R. 400
- H.R. 400 and S. 507 are similar but different omnibus patent reform proposals. Both bills generally transform the Patent and Trademark Office into a government corporation; require publication of patent applications 18 months after filing, subject to certain exceptions that differ in these bills; and extend the patent term for certain delays in patent issuance. S. 507 also contains provisions on patent reexamination reform. This report summarizes and compares the bills and reviews arguments for and against the proposals.
- Payment of Interest by the Federal Reserve to Depository Institutions: An Analysis
- No Description Available.
- Point and Click: Internet Searching Techniques
- No Description Available.
- Point & Click: Internet Searching Techniques
- This report discusses criteria to consider when judging the quality of an internet site and the best strategies for locating information on the World Wide Web. There are two ways to search the Internet. The first is to use subject guides (e.g., Yahoo, Galaxy, or WWW Virtual Library), which are compiled by human indexers. These present an organized hierarchy of categories so a searcher can “drill down” through their links. The second option is to use a search engine (e.g., Alta Vista, Hotbot, or InfoSeek), an automated software robot which indexes Web pages and retrieves information based on relevancy-ranked algorithms. This report describes how search engines index the World Wide Web, as well as various features common to most search engines. In addition, the report suggests searching tips for retrieving the most precise information. Finally, the report discusses Usenet news groups, email discussion lists, gophers, and miscellaneous Web resources.
- The Proposed Tobacco Settlement: Who Pays for the Health Costs of Smoking?
- No Description Available.
- The Proposed Tobacco Settlement: Who Pays for the Health Costs of Smoking?
- No Description Available.