Congressional Research Service Reports - 76 Matching Results

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Research Tax Credit: Current Law and Policy Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: Technological innovation is a primary engine of long-term economic growth, and research and development (R&D) serves as the lifeblood of innovation. The federal government encourages businesses to invest more in R&D than they otherwise would in several ways, including a tax credit for increases in spending on qualified research above a base amount. This report describes the current status of the credit, summarizes its legislative history, discusses policy issues it raises, and describes legisla… more
Date: May 22, 2015
Creator: Guenther, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The HUD Homeless Assistance Grants: Programs Authorized by the HEARTH Act

Description: This report discusses the Homeless Assistance Grants, administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The composition of the Homeless Assistance Grants changed when Congress enacted the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act as part of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act in the 111th Congress (P.L. 111-22).
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Perl, Libby
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Congressional Redistricting: Legal and Constitutional Issues

Description: This report discusses the congressional redistricting that is the drawing of district boundaries from which the people choose their representatives to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Date: September 22, 2015
Creator: Whitaker, L. Paige
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Crime and Forfeiture

Description: This report provides an overview of federal forfeiture law. It sketches the origins and general attributes of forfeiture, describes the distribution of the hundreds of millions of dollars it generates, and identifies some of the related constitutional issues.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Oil Sands and the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund: The Definition of "Oil" and Related Issues for Congress

Description: This report provides background on oil sands resources, followed by a discussion of the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF), including authorized uses and revenue sources; the scope of oil subject to the per-barrel tax (that funds the OSLTF) versus the scope of oil that triggers activities under the Oil Pollution Act; and relevant legislative activities of the 113th and 114th Congresses. The final section offers concluding observations.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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National Security Letters: Proposals in the 113th Congress

Description: This report reprints the text of the five National Security Letter (NSL) statutes as they now appear and as they appeared prior to amendment by the USA PATRIOT Act. A National Security Letter (NSL) is roughly comparable to an administrative subpoena, used by various intelligence agencies to demand certain customer information from communications providers, financial institutions, and consumer credit reporting agencies under the Right to Financial Privacy Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the… more
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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In Re Terrorist Attacks on September 11, 2001: Claims Against Saudi Defendants Under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA)

Description: This report summarizes the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) and jurisdiction in cases against foreign defendants and analyzes the court of appeals decision. It also discusses legislative efforts to address these issues(S. 1535 and H.R. 3143).
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change

Description: This report provides a history of the Congressional franking privilege and discusses the franking privilege that has carried an element of controversy throughout American history.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Glassman, Matthew E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA): Background and Reauthorization

Description: This report discusses the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which is a nonreciprocal trade preference program that provides duty-free treatment to U.S. imports of certain products from eligible sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

An Overview of Unconventional Oil and Natural Gas: Resources and Federal Actions

Description: This report focuses on the growth in U.S. oil and natural gas production driven primarily by tight oil formations and shale gas formations. It also reviews selected federal environmental regulatory and research initiatives related to unconventional oil and gas extraction, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hydraulic fracturing rule (finalized in March 2015) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) actions.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Ratner, Michael & Tiemann, Mary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Membership of the 114th Congress: A Profile

Description: This report presents a profile of the membership of the 114th Congress (2015-2016). Statistical information is included on selected characteristics of Members, including data on party affiliation, average age, occupation, education, length of congressional service, religious affiliation, gender, ethnicity, foreign births, and military service.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Manning, Jennifer E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Congressional Roll Call Votes on the Keystone XL Pipeline

Description: This report provides roll call vote data related to the proposed TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline that would transport oil sands crude from Canada and shale oil produced in North Dakota and Montana to a market hub in Nebraska for further delivery to Gulf Coast refineries. Voting information is listed chronologically and broken down by chamber, Congress, and type of legislation.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Cunningham, Lynn J. & Cook, Beth
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Crime and Forfeiture: In Short

Description: This report provides a brief background information on property and trigger crimes and discusses civil forfeiture, criminal forfeiture, disposition of forfeited assets and constitutional considerations.
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Doyle, Charles
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Aereo and FilmOn X: Internet Television Streaming and Copyright Law

Description: This report begins with a discussion of the technology used by Aereo and FilmOn X that permit subscribers to watch live broadcast television as well as already-aired programming. It then examines the public performance right in the Copyright Act and discusses the interpretation of the transmit clause and public performance right by the courts in the Aereo and FilmOn cases. The report concludes with a brief overview of future litigation by these parties and related legislative proposals in the 1… more
Date: January 22, 2015
Creator: Lanza, Emily M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

LIHEAP: Program and Funding

Description: This report discusses LIHEAP program rules and benefits, including household eligibility and how funds may be used, and presents the most recent data available from HHS regarding household characteristics and benefit levels.
Date: May 22, 2015
Creator: Perl, Libby
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The OSH Act: A Legal Overview

Description: No Description Available.
Date: January 22, 2015
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)

Description: This report provides a summary of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The report covers the key aspects, U.S. imports under the AGOA, and the debate on whether or not it should be renewed.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

U.S. Sugar Program Fundamentals

Description: From Summary: This report outlines four different tools the United States Department of Agriculture uses to keep domestic market prices above guaranteed levels.
Date: April 22, 2015
Creator: McKinney, Mark A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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