Congressional Research Service Reports - 67 Matching Results
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- Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority
- This report considers the issue of new "fast track" or trade promotion authority (APA) legislation in the 107th Congress. Moreover, the report summarizes the agricultural debates on the issue.
- Agriculture and Fast Track or Trade Promotion Authority
- New “fast track” (or, trade promotion) authority (TPA) is at issue in the 107th Congress. Such authority could enable the Administration to submit negotiated foreign trade agreements to Congress for consideration under expedited procedures. Efforts to renew this authority, which expired in 1994, have not succeeded since then. Many agricultural and food industry interests are among the export-oriented enterprises that support TPA, arguing that foreign trading partners will not seriously negotiate with an Administration that lacks it. However, some farm groups argue that fast track ultimately will lead to new agreements that could have adverse effects on U.S. producers, at least in some commodity sectors.
- AIDS in Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa has been far more severely affected by AIDS than any other part of the world. The United Nations reports that 25.3 million adults and children are infected with the HIV virus in the region, which has about 10% of the world's population but more than 70% of the worldwide total of infected people. This report discusses this issue in detail, including the cause of the African AIDS epidemic, the social and economic consequences, response and treatment, and U.S. policy.
- Andean Regional Initiative (ARI): FY2002 Assistance for Colombia and Neighbors
- This report discusses the Andean Regional Initiative (ARI), implemented by the Bush Administration in 2001 to provide economic and counter-narcotics assistance for Colombia and regional neighbors. The report discusses the goals of the ARI, as well as related appropriations.
- Argentina: Economic Problems and Solutions
- This report covers the economic problems and solutions in Argentina.
- Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Free Trade, and the 2001 Summit in Shanghai
- On October 20-21, 2001, the Ninth APEC Leaders’ Meeting (summit) was hosted by China in Shanghai. The office theme for APEC 2001 was “Meeting New Challenges in the New Century: Achieving Common Prosperity through Participation and Cooperation” with the sub-themes of: (1) sharing the benefits of globalization and the new economy, (2) advancing trade and investment, and (3) promoting sustained economic growth. For the United States, APEC raises fundamental questions that are of special interest to Congress. One is whether consensus can be achieved on the APEC vision of free trade and investment in the Asia Pacific or whether future trade liberalization will be confined primarily to bilateral free-trade agreements or multilateral trade negotiations under the World Trade Organization.
- Aviation Security Technologies and Procedures: Screening Passengers and Baggage
- Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, there is intense congressional interest in improving the security screening process for airline passengers and their baggage. In the United States, screening is the responsibility of the airlines, which generally contract the work out to screening companies. The Federal Aviation Administration has regulatory authority, deploys security equipment in airports, and conducts research and development on security technology. Congress has begun to consider several bills in this area that have been introduced since the September 11 attacks, as well as Administration proposals and actions.
- Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs
- Some policymakers, believing that disparities in broadband access across American society could have adverse economic and social consequences on those left behind, assert that the federal government should play a more active role to avoid a “digital divide” in broadband access. One approach is for the federal government to provide financial assistance to support broadband deployment in underserved areas. Others, however, believe that federal assistance for broadband deployment is not appropriate. Some opponents question the reality of the “digital divide,” and argue that federal intervention in the broadband marketplace would be premature and, in some cases, counterproductive.
- The Changing Structure of Agriculture and Rural America: Emerging Opportunities and Challenges
- This report provides an overview of Contemporary Rural America. The report discusses the changes that are likely to pose important questions about the direction and coherence of current rural policy. Several significant trends in this evolving structure of agriculture are discussed in this report: (1) a continuation in the trend toward fewer and larger farms; (2) a potential acceleration of that trend as production shifts to more tightly integrated and vertically coordinated production through supply chains; (3) greater environmental pressures on conventional agricultural production practices stemming from urban and suburban interests; and (4) changing food consumption patterns.
- China: Labor Conditions and Unrest
- This report discusses the China's Labor condition and Chinese government attempt to implement laws and programs that protect labor rights and provide social welfare benefits while punishing labor rights activists and independent union organizer.
- China-U.S. Aircraft Collision Incident of April 2001: Assessments and Policy Implications
- This report addresses assessments and policy implications related to China-U.S. aircraft collision incident of April 2001.
- China's Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles: Current Policy Issues
- This report provides a brief background analysis and recent developments regarding China’s Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and Missiles. The report includes topics such as: Recent Proliferation Transfers, chemical, nuclear, and missile technology sales to Iran, Pakistan, Libya, Syria, trade controls, nonproliferation and arms control.
- Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants
- Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify water that is impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, states must establish a total maximum daily load of pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained. This report contains background information, implementation, and issues for Congress as relating to the Clean Water Act.
- Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants
- Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify waters that are impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, states must establish a total maximum daily load (TMDL) of pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained. Implementation was dormant until recently, when states and EPA were prodded by numerous lawsuits.
- Climate Change: Federal Research, Technology, and Related Programs
- A major focus of efforts to address possible global climate change has been on energy use, given that carbon dioxide, the major “greenhouse gas,” is added to the atmosphere when fossil fuels are burned. Federal programs to increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy resources have a history that goes back well over two decades. While many of these efforts were aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on oil imports and addressing electricity needs, they also are relevant to environmental concerns, including climate change.
- Costs of Major U.S. Wars and Recent U.S. Overseas Military Operations
- This report presents the data on the costs of U.S. overseas military operations. Table 1 provides estimated costs of major U.S. conflicts in the 20th century. Table 2 shows the incremental costs to DOD of smaller operations within the past decade.1 Tables 3 and 4 show an annual breakdown of the incremental costs of U.S. peace and security commitments from FY1991 through FY2000, including ongoing and completed operations.
- Cuba: U.S. Restrictions on Travel and Legislative Initiatives in the 107th Congress
- Since the United States imposed a comprehensive trade embargo against Cuba in the early 1960s, there have been numerous policy changes to restrictions on travel to Cuba. The embargo regulations do not ban travel itself, but place restrictions on any financial transactions related to travel to Cuba, which effectively result in a travel ban. This report reflects legislative or other major developments , including a listing and discussion of legislative initiatives in the 107th Congress.
- Disapproval of Regulations by Congress: Procedure Under the Congressional Review Act
- This report discusses the Congressional Review Act of 1996, which established expedited (or "fast track") procedures by which Congress may disapprove a broad range of regulatory rules issued by federal agencies by enacting a joint resolution of disapproval. For initial floor consideration, the Act provides an expedited procedure only in the Senate.
- Embassy Security: Background, Funding, and the Budget
- The September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon led to the closing the following day of 50 of the nearly 260 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. A week later, however, all U.S. facilities were open for business. Additionally, three embassies – in Pakistan, Yemen, and Turkmenistan – allowed for voluntary evacuations immediately after the attack. In the months prior to the attack, travel warnings were issued and embassies were put on high alert as Osama bin Laden had issued vague, but credible, threats against Americans and American interests around the world.
- Emergency Spending: Statutory and Congressional Rules
- Under the Budget Enforcement Act (BEA), there are statutory limits (caps) on the level of federal discretionary spending, enforced by across-the-board spending cuts, known as a sequester. If, however, spending is designated as emergency by both the President and Congress, it will not trigger a sequester, because the caps are adjusted automatically by an amount equal to the emergency spending. Since the BEA was first enacted in 1990, both the House and Senate have supplemented its provisions with additional limitations in their respective rules concerning the use of emergency designations.
- Federal and State Regulation of Research Involving Human Fetal Tissue
- No Description Available.
- Federal Hiring Flexibilities for Emergency Situations: Fact Sheet
- n the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in a September 13, 2001 memorandum to executive branch agencies, identified various hiring flexibilities that can be used to meet staffing needs in emergency situations. This report provides information on each of the flexibilities.
- Federal Statutes: What They Are and Where to Find Them
- This report provides a brief overview of Federal statutes and where to find them, both in hard copy and on the Internet. After providing an overview on the basics of Federal statutes, this report gives guidance on where Federal statutes, in their various forms, may be located on the Internet, where they are most readily accessible
- Firearms Prohibitions and Domestic Violence Convictions: The Lautenberg Amendment
- This report provides an overview of the provisions of the Lautenberg Amendment to the Gun Control Act of 1968, which establishes a scheme prohibiting the possession of firearms by individuals who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
- Hazardous Materials Transportation: Vulnerability to Terrorists, Federal Activities, and Options to Reduce Risks
- This report discusses the scope and nature of the vulnerability of hazardous materials (hazmats) transportation and its potential relations to terrorists attacks.
- Homeland Security: The Presidential Coordination Office
- This report reviews past experience—principally with the Office of War Mobilization and its successor, the Office of War Mobilization and Reconversion—and its possible significance for OHS; it will be updated as events recommend.
- House and Senate Chaplains
- This report discusses the two chaplains, one in the House, the other in the Senate, who are the official clergy of Congress. At the beginning of each Congress, the House chaplain is elected for a 2-year term. The Senate chaplain does not have to be reelected at the beginning of a new Congress. There have been 61 Senate chaplains and 59 House chaplains.
- India and Pakistan: Current U.S. Economic Sanctions
- In 1998, India and Pakistan each conducted tests of nuclear explosive devices, drawing world condemnation. The United States and a number of India’s and Pakistan’s major trading partners imposed economic sanctions in response. Most U.S. economic sanctions were lifted or eased within a few months of their imposition, however, and Congress gave the President the authority to remove all remaining restrictions in 1999.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Legislative Issues in 2001
- No Description Available.
- Latin America: Terrorism Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy
- Latin American nations strongly condemned the September 11, 2001 attacks on NewYork and Washington and took action through the Organization of American States and the Rio Treaty to strengthen hemispheric cooperation against terrorism and express solidarity with the United States. Many nations are taking actions to investigate possible regional linkages with the Osama bin Laden terrorist network, and to ensure that their financial sectors are not being used by terrorists. In the aftermath of the attacks, the U.S. policy toward the region will likely include a re-invigorated security agenda, with the development of new cooperative mechanisms against terrorism. The terrorist attacks will have implications in several areas, including the extent of hemispheric cooperation against terrorism, anti-money laundering efforts, Andean counter-narcotics strategy, the trade agenda, regional economic stability, and policy toward Mexico and Cuba.
- Lumber Imports From Canada: Issues and Events
- No Description Available.
- Medicare: Selected Prescription Drug Proposals in the 107th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Missile Defense, Arms Control, and Deterrence: A New Strategic Framework
- No Description Available.
- Multiemployer Pension Plans: The Section 415 Benefit Limits
- No Description Available.
- NAFTA Labor Side Agreement: Lessons for the Worker Rights and Fast-Track Debate
- No Description Available.
- NAFTA Labor Side Agreement: Lessons for the Worker Rights and Fast-Track Debate
- No Description Available.
- NAFTA Labor Side Agreement: Lessons for the Workers Rights and Fast-Track Debate
- No Description Available.
- Nicaragua: Country Brief
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Arms Control: The U.S.-Russian Agenda
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Sanctions: Section 102(b) of the Arms Export Control Act and Its Application to India and Pakistan
- No Description Available.
- Nuclear Sanctions: Section 102(b) of the Arms Export Control Act and Its Application to India and Pakistan
- No Description Available.
- Oil Prices: Overview of Current World Market Dynamics
- No Description Available.
- Older Workers: Employment and Retirement Trends
- No Description Available.
- Operation Enduring Freedom: Foreign Pledges of Military and Intelligence Support
- No Description Available.
- Party Leaders in the House: Election, Duties, and Responsibilities
- This report discusses the roles and duties of party leaders in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- Pension Sponsorship and Participation: Summary of Recent Trends
- No Description Available.
- Race-Based Civil Dentention for Security Purposes
- The current crisis has caused concern that measures implemented to fight terrorism will have a disproportionately negative effect on innocent Arab-Americans, Muslims, and aliens with ties to the Middle East. The purpose of this report is to address the issues surrounding race-based civil detention for security purposes.
- Reserve Funds in the FY2002 Budget Resolution
- No Description Available.
- Reserve Funds in the FY2002 Budget Resolution
- No Description Available.
- Social Security: The Cost-of-Living Adjustment in January 2002
- This report discusses the Social Security recipients that receive a costof- living adjustment (COLA) in January of each year. An automatic Social Security benefit increase reflects the rise in the cost of living over roughly a 1-year period