Congressional Research Service Reports - 283 Matching Results
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- 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Background and Funding
- This report summarizes the reauthorized Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) which contains the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program. The report covers the history of the ESEA as well as what is new in the reauthorization. Moreover, the report includes how grants are selected now, and the new focus of the program which is now exclusively for after-school-hours activities for children.
- Acceptance of Gifts by Members and Employees of the House of Representatives Under New Ethics Rules of the 110th Congress
- This report discusses the new rules the 110th Congress adopted for the House of Representatives in regard to the receipt of gifts from lobbyists, foreign agents, and most of their private clients. There were also new rules placed on travel paid by outside private sources. These rules are designed to provide further transparency in the House.
- 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.
- Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties for Inflation
- This report summarizes and discusses potential adjustments in civil monetary penalties. The report covers the history of both legislation and enforcement on this issue which is central to the deciding how to enforce civil monetary penalties. The report identifies three courses of action that include either maintaining the status quo, adjusting civil monetary penalty maximums through legislation, or implementing some of the recommendations in the General Accounting Office's (GAO) report.
- Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
- This report considers the debate on the efficacy of U.S. efforts to stabilize Afghanistan. Moreover, the report discusses how the Bush Administration's review of the progress resulted as inadequate, and thus ways of changing progress are being considered. The report also discusses the political transition of the government from Taliban power, and examines the progress of Pakistan.
- Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education: Farm Bill Issues
- This report discusses the farm bill (P.L. 110-234) that will authorize and direct the implementation of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) major programs across the spectrum of its mission areas through FY2012. The enacted bill reorganizes the Department's research, extension, and economics mission area, which currently comprises four agencies that separately administer intramural and extramural programs supporting agricultural research and development (R&D).
- Agriculture and Related Agencies: FY2008 Appropriations
- This report considers the Agriculture and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The report compares and contrasts the Senate and House versions of the bill in terms of budgeting. Both bills provide 7.5 billion dollars less than FY2007.
- AIDS in Africa
- This report discusses the AIDS issues in Africa and the Bush administration call to double U.S. international funding for AIDS.
- Air Force Air Refueling: The KC-X Aircraft Acquisition Program
- This report discusses the U.S. Air Force in-flight aerial refueling aircraft program. The KC-135, which makes up the preponderance of the Air Force's tanker force, is among the Air Force's oldest aircraft.
- 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.
- Alternative Fuels and Advanced Technology Vehicles: Issues in Congress
- This report provides an overview of current issues surrounding alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles.
- The Alternative Minimum Tax For Individuals: Legislative Activity in the 110th Congress
- This report addresses Legislative Activity in the 110th Congress regarding the Alternative Minimum Tax For Individuals.
- Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) Drought: Federal Water Management Issues
- This report
- Assistance to Firefighters Program
- This report describes The Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, or FIRE Act, and The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) program.
- Asylum Law and Female Genital Mutilation: Recent Developments
- This report addresses the then recent developments in Asylum Law and Female Genital Mutilation.
- Automated Political Telephone Calls (“Robo Calls”) in Federal Campaigns: Overview and Policy Options
- This report provides an overview of how automated political calls are used in federal campaigns.
- Aviation Security: Background and Policy Options for Screening and Securing Air Cargo
- This report discusses Background and Policy Options for Screening and Securing Air Cargo of Aviation Security.
- The Bali Agreements and Forests
- This report describes the portions of the Bali Action Plan and Decision that relate to forests.
- Baseline Budget Projections: A Discussion of Issues
- This report is on Baseline Budget Projections: A Discussion of Issues.
- The Berne Union: An Overview
- This report provides information about the Berne union which is about credit and Investment insurers.
- Bond Insurers: Issues for the 110th Congress
- This report begins with a description of the bond insurance industry and its business model, including the relatively recent move into providing insurance for asset-backed securities.An Analysis of the current market difficulties follows along with the various possibilities of spillover effects.Finally, a number of broader policy questions are briefly discussed.
- Brazil’s and Canada’s WTO Cases Against U.S. Agricultural Support
- No Description Available.
- Cambodia: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report provides historical context, discusses political and economic developments in Cambodia, and raises policy issues regarding U.S.-Cambodian relations.
- Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS)
- This report discusses carbon capture and sequestration (CSS), but not other types of carbon sequestration activities whereby CO2 is removed from the atmosphere and stored in vegetation, soils, or oceans.
- The Chained Consumer Price Index: How Is It Different?
- This report is categorized into four categories: (I) Introduction, (II) Methodological Differences, (III) Statistical Differences, (IV) Policy Consideration.
- Changes to the SBA Disaster Loan Program: Proposed Legislation in the 110th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Child Care and Development Block Grant: Background and Funding
- This report provides information about the Background and Funding of the Child Care and Development Block Grant.
- Child Welfare Issues in the 110th Congress
- As the U.S. Constitution has been interpreted, states have the primary obligation to ensure child welfare. However, Congress provides significant federal funds to help states exercise this responsibility ($7.9 billion appropriated in FY2008). Most of this support is provided for children who are in foster care and who meet specific federal eligibility criteria. This report discusses the federal framework for child welfare policy; reviews the scope of activities, and children and families served, by state child welfare agencies; summarizes several child welfare-related hearings that were held in 2007; describes child welfare and related legislative proposals that have been introduced in the 110th Congress; and reviews child welfare programs for which funding authorization has expired or is set to expire on the last day of FY2008.
- China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities — Background and Issues for Congress
- This report outlines the growing concern in Congress and elsewhere about China's military modernization. The topic is an increasing factor in discussions over future required U.S. Navy capabilities. The issue for Congress addressed in this report is: How should China's military modernization be factored into decisions about U.S. Navy programs?
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report mainly focuses on China-U.S. Trade Issues. China-U.S. ties have expanded substantially over the past several years. China overtook Japan to become the third-largest U.S .Export market and overtook Canada to become the Largest source of U.S imports.
- 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, including 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.
- 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, including 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.
- 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 contains background information on coast guard polar icebreaker and its modernization. This report also covers the issues and options of congress.
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal
- This report discusses reasons why CFL sales have increased dramatically in the past two years, concerns that have arisen regarding their use and disposal, and some media reports that have exaggerated the potential danger associated with the mercury in CFLs.
- Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal
- This report discusses reasons why CFL sales have increased dramatically in the past two years, concerns that have arisen regarding their use and disposal, and some media reports that have exaggerated the potential danger associated with the mercury in CFLs.
- Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty: Issues and Arguments
- This report presents a detailed, comprehensive discussion of the treaty's pros and cons from a U.S. perspective. It contains an appendix outlining relevant history.
- Congressional Authority To Limit U.S. Military Operations in Iraq
- 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 Budget Resolutions: Selected Statistics and Information Guide
- This report provides current and historical information on the budget resolution. It provides a list of the budget resolutions adopted and rejected by Congress since implementation of the Budget Act, including the U.S. Statutes-at-Large citations and committee report numbers, and describes their formulation and content. The report provides a table of selected optional components, a list of reconciliation measures, and information on the number of years covered by budget resolutions.
- Congressional Influences on Rulemaking Through Appropriations Provisions
- This report examines the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2008 and identifies four types of provisions that prevent or restrain federal rule making or regulatory activities.
- Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning the Prospective Security Agreement Between the United States and Iraq
- This report provides information about the Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning the Prospective Security Agreement Between the United States and Iraq.
- Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning the Prospective Security Agreement Between the United States and Iraq
- This report provides information about the Congressional Oversight and Related Issues Concerning the Prospective Security Agreement Between the United States and Iraq.
- Congressional Redistricting: A Legal Analysis of the Supreme Court Ruling in League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) v. Perry
- No Description Available.
- Constitutional Issues Relating to Proposals for Legislation to Impose an Interest Rate Freeze/Reduction on Existing Mortgages
- This report presents an overview of Congress's authority to pass laws pertaining to mortgages, and reviews the Contract Clause, Takings Clause, and Substantive Due Process jurisprudence. However, the umber of likely successful claims and the overall potential liability of the federal government for those claims (and the litigation costs of unsuccessful claims) are not possible to assess, at least within the scope of this report.
- Constitutional Limits on Hate Crime Legislation
- This report discusses constitutional considerations facing both individual states and Congress in enacting hate crime legislation.
- The Consumer Price Index: A Brief Overview
- The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is perhaps the most widely reported measure of inflation. A number of federal government programs are regularly adjusted to account for changes in the CPI, such as Social Security benefits and the personal income tax rate schedule. Thus, the behavior of the CPI has important consequences for a large number of people. This report contains information on how the CPI is estimated, improving the CPI measure, and more information related to this calculation.
- Consumer Product Safety Commission: Current Issues
- The Consumer Product Safety Commission, one of the agency's two current Commissioners stated recently, is at a crossroads. According to Commissioner Thomas Moore, either Congress will reverse the agency's steady decline or the Consumer Product Safety Commission will become so weakened as to be irrelevant. This report details a background of the commission, recent recalls, congressional concerns, and more as related to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Background and Issues
- This report provides background information on the structure of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the enforcement of CITES in the United States, and implementing issues related to CITES.
- Coordinated Party Expenditures in Federal Elections: An Overview
- This report provides an overview on Coordinated Party Expenditures in Federal Elections.Federal campaign finance law provides political parties with three main options :direct contributions,coordinated expenditures,independent expenditures.
- The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11
- this report provides information about the Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11.