Congressional Research Service Reports - 177 Matching Results
Search Results
- The 2009 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meetings and U.S. Trade Policy in Asia
- This report discusses the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) approach to trade liberalization, results of the 2009 meetings in Singapore, APEC and U.S. trade policy in Asia as well as other issues regarding APEC.
- Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians
- This report collects statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001. OEF actions took place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also includes American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.
- Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
- This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai to address corruption within the Afghan government.
- African American Members of the United States Congress: 1870-2009
- This report discusses the history and current status of African Americans in Congress. There are 42 African American Members serving in the 111th Congress, 41 in the House of Representatives and one in the Senate. There have been 125 African American Members of Congress: 119 have been elected to the House; five have been elected to the Senate; and one has been appointed to the Senate. There have been 98 Democrats: 95 in the House, three in the Senate; and 27 Republicans: 24 in the House, three in the Senate.
- Agriculture in Pending U.S. Free Trade Agreements with Colombia, Panama, and South Korea
- This report discusses pending U.S. free trade agreements (FTAs) with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama. The bills to implement these agreements will now be debated under trade promotion authority, or fast-track rules, designed to expedite congressional consideration. The report includes an overview of agricultural issues regarding FTAs and pending FTA partners, as well as a closer breakdown of the specific issues for each of the countries.
- Alien Legalization and Adjustment of Status: A Primer
- This report summarizes the main avenues for foreign nationals currently in the United States--legally or illegally--to become LPRs. Alien legalization or "amnesty," as well as adjustment of status and cancellation of removal options, are briefly discussed. Designed as a primer on the issues, the report provides references to other CRS products that track pertinent legislation and analyze these issues more fully.
- American War and Military Operations Casualties: Lists and Statistics
- This report is written in response to numerous requests for war casualty statistics and lists of war dead. It provides tables, compiled by sources at the Department of Defense (DOD), indicating the number of casualties among American military personnel serving in principal wars and combat actions.
- Animal Waste and Water Quality: EPA Regulation of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)
- This report provides background on the 2002 rules, the previous Clean Water Act rules and the Clinton Administration proposal, and perspectives of key interest groups on the proposal and final regulations.
- Architect of the Capitol: Appointment Process and Current Legislation
- This report discusses the history of the selection of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) and recent legislation. An Appendix provides websites for brief biographical information about each of the 10 individuals who have served as Architect of the Capitol.
- Argentina's Defaulted Sovereign Debt: Dealing with the "Holdouts"
- This report reviews Argentina's financial crisis, the bond exchanges of 2005 and 2010, ongoing litigation, prospects for a final solution, related U.S. legislation, and broader policy issues. These include lessons on the effectiveness and cost of Argentina's default strategy, the ability to force sovereigns to meet their debt obligations, and ways to avoid future defaults like Argentina's.
- Arms Control and Nonproliferation: A Catalog of Treaties and Agreements
- This report provides an overview of many of the key arms control and nonproliferation agreements and endeavors of the past 40 years.
- Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region
- This report is on Asian Carp and the Great Lakes Region.
- Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress
- Asian Pacific Americans have served in both houses of Congress representing California, Hawaii, Louisiana, Oregon, Virginia, American Samoa, and Guam. They have served in leadership positions, including committee and subcommittee chairmanships. This report presents information on Senators, Representatives, and Delegates, including party affiliations, length and dates of service, and committee assignments.
- Asian Pacific Americans in the United States Congress
- No Description Available.
- Assistance to Firefighters Program: Distribution of Fire Grant Funding
- The Report is Categorized into seven categories: (I) Background, (II) Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program, (III) Fire Station Station Construction Grants in the ARRA, (IV) SAFER Grants, (V) Program Evaluation, (VI) Distribution of Fire Grants, (VII) Issues in the 111th Congress.
- Biochar: Examination of an Emerging Concept to Mitigate Climate Change
- This report briefly describes biochar, its potential advantages and disadvantages, legislative support, and research and development activities underway in the united states abroad.
- Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation
- This report investigates the characterization of Biomass in Legislation.
- Brief Summaries of Federal Animal Protection Statutes
- This report contains brief summaries of federal animal protection statues, listed alphabetically. This report also includes statues that concern animals but that are not necessarily animal protection statutes.
- Broadband Infrastructure Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
- This report discusses the Implementation and issues related to Broadband Infrastructure Programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
- Campaign Finance Policy After Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission: Issues and Options for Congress
- This report provides an overview of selected campaign finance policy options that may be relevant to the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. It also briefly comments on how Citizens United might affect political advertising. A complete understanding of how Citizens United will affect the campaign and policy environments is likely to be unavailable until at least the conclusion of the 2010 election cycle.
- Cellulosic Biofuels: Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress
- This report is an Analysis of Policy Issues for Congress related to Cellulosic Biofuels.
- Chemical Facility Security: Reauthorization, Policy Issues, and Options for Congress
- This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security. The report identifies policy options that might resolve components of these issues. Finally, legislation introduced in the 111th Congress is discussed.
- Chemical Regulation in the European Union: Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals
- This report discusses the EU's new law governing chemicals in EU commerce, Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH). It is intended to protect human health and the environment from hazardous chemicals while at the same time protecting the competitiveness of European industry.
- Cluster Munitions: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the background of cluster munitions in the U.S. military, and the current Department of Defense (DOD) and Obama Administration stances on the topic. It also discusses the two major international initiatives to address cluster munitions: the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and negotiations under the U.N. Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).
- The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS)
- This report covers the background and recent history on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS). This committee has recently emerged from obscurity due to concerns involving foreign investments in U.S. companies and national security.
- Compensated Work Sharing Arrangements (Short-Time Compensation) as an Alternative to Layoffs
- This report provides information about the Compensated Work Sharing Arrangements (Short-Time Compensation) as an Alternative to Layoffs. STC is a program within the federal-state unemployment compensation system.
- Compulsory DNA Collection: A Fourth Amendment Analysis
- This report examines statutory authorities, constitutional principles, and case law related to compulsory DNA extraction and analyzes potential impacts of recent developments for Fourth Amendment cases.
- Congressional Oversight: An Overview
- This report highlights several reasons for the expansion of the federal government; discuss a few definitions of oversight; spotlight three essential purposes of oversight; comment upon a few oversight laws and rules; review several important oversight techniques; and identify several incentives and disincentives to the conduct of congressional oversight. The report concludes with summary observations.
- Costa Rica: Background and U.S. Relations
- This report examines recent political and economic developments in Costa Rica as well as issues in U.S.-Costa Rica relations.
- Credit Union Member Business Loans
- This report discusses about the current legislation, the Promoting Lending to America's Small Business Act of 2009 and the small Business Lending Enhancement Act of 2009 that would provide credit union with expanded business loan authority.
- CRS Issue Statement on the Middle East
- No Description Available.
- The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases
- This report discusses how the total debt of the federal government can increase, an historical overview of debt limits, and how the current economic slowdown has led to higher deficits and thereby a series of debt limit increases, as well as legislation related to these increases.
- Defense Authorization and Appropriations Bills: FY1970-FY2010
- The passage of the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization and appropriations bills through Congress often does not follow the course laid out in textbooks on legislative procedure. Tracking DOD authorization or appropriations bills can often be confusing and time-consuming. This report is a research aid, which lists the DOD authorization bills (Table 1) and appropriations bills (Table 2) for FY1970-FY2010. This report includes all the pertinent information on the passage of these bills through the legislative process: bill numbers, report numbers, dates reported and passed, recorded vote numbers and vote tallies, dates of passage of the conference reports with their numbers and votes, vetoes, substitutions, dates of final passage, and public law numbers. Key definitions are also included.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo: Background and Current Developments
- This report discusses in brief the current political state of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as the crisis situation in eastern Congo that has displaced more than 250,000 civilians. It also describes U.S., U.N., and other international efforts to aid in resolving the crisis.
- Department of Defense Food Procurement: Background and Status
- This report describes the origin, authority, and policy in the procurement of food for the military. Military food items, also known as subsistence items, are generally procured under the auspices of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD) which provides worldwide logistics support for the U.S. military services. Under DLA, DLA Troop Services (formerly the Defense Supply Center Philadelphia) is the inventory control point for food, clothing, textiles, medicines, medical equipment, general and industrial supplies, and services for the military, their eligible dependents, and other non-DOD customers worldwide. DLA Troop Services buys and manages about $13.4 billion worth of food, clothing, textiles, and other products.
- Department of Defense "Section 1207" Security and Stabilization Assistance: Background and Congressional Concerns
- This report discusses the section 1207 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2006 that provides authority for the Department of Defense (DOD) to transfer to the State Department up to $100 million per fiscal year in defense articles, services, training, or other support for reconstruction, stabilization, and security activities in foreign countries. The 111th Congress must decide whether to extend Section 1207, which expires on September 30, 2009. This report discusses what issues Congress must take into consideration when making this decision.
- Direct Overt U.S. Aid and Military Reimbursements to Pakistan, FY2002-FY2011
- Aid and military reimbursements made to Pakistan from 2002-2011. The list is divided by agency.
- Distribution of Small Business Ownership and Income by Individual Tax Rates and Selected Policy Issues
- This report examines how small business owners may be affected by tax increases by exploring what is known about the share of small business owners and of small business income that is subject to the top two marginal income tax rates.
- The Economics of the Federal Budget Deficit
- This report examines the economics the budget deficit. Topics include recent budgetary history, the differences made by deficits and surpluses, and fiscal policy.
- Educational Assistance Programs Administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- This report provides a detailed description of the six educational assistance programs that are available to veterans or other eligible individuals through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
- Educational Testing: Implementation of ESEA Title I-A Requirements Under the No Child Left Behind Act
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) report entailing information about implementation of ESEA Title I-A Requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act, in regards to educational testing. Topics include, state assessment grants, testing program costs, assessment requirements, etc..
- The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA): A Summary
- This report summarizes the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and the major regulatory programs that mandate reporting by industrial facilities of releases of hazardous chemicals to the environment, as well as local planning to respond in the event of significant, accidental releases.
- The Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the 111th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices
- No Description Available.
- Enemy Combatant Detainees: Habeas Corpus Challenges in Federal Court
- This report provides an overview of the early judicial developments and the establishment of Combatant Status Review Tribunals (CSRTs) procedures; summarizes selected court cases related to the detentions and the use of military commissions; and discusses the Detainee Treatment Act, as amended by the Military Commissions Act of 2006 and the Military Commissions Act of 2009, analyzing its effects on detainee-related litigation in federal court. The report summarizes the Supreme Court's decision in Boumediene invalidating Congress's efforts to revoke the courts' habeas jurisdiction, and discusses some remaining issues and subsequent developments.
- The European Parliament
- This report discusses the construction and history of the European Parliament (EP), its role in functions of the EU as well as internationally, various international supports and criticisms of the EP, and the EP's ties with the U.S. Congress.
- The European Union: Questions and Answers
- This report provides a summary overview of issues regarding the relationship between the United States and the EU, many of which may be of interest to the second session of the 111th Congress. The global financial crisis and recession has challenged both sides to forge a common response. The United States and EU have a number of lingering trade disputes, but have led the push to liberalize world trade, and have sought to reduce non-tariff and regulatory barriers in the transatlantic marketplace.
- The European Union's Reform Process: The Lisbon Treaty
- This report provides information on the Lisbon Treaty and possible U.S.-EU implications that may be of interest to the 112th Congress.
- The Exon-Florio National Security Test for Foreign Investment
- This report covers the recent background of the Exon-Florio provision with special regards to issues faced in the 112th Congress. The Exon-Florio provision grants the President the authority to block proposed or pending foreign acquisitions of "persons engaged in interstate commerce in the United States" that threaten to impair the national security.
- The Federal Government Debt: Its Size and Economic Significance
- This report explains the different measures of the U.S. government debt, discusses the historical growth in the debt, identifies the current owners of the debt, presents comparisons with government debt in other countries, and examines the potential economic risks associated with a growing federal debt.
- Federal Grants-In-Aid: An Historical Perspective on Contemporary Issues
- This report provides an historical synopsis of the evolving nature of federal grant-in-aid programs, focusing on the role Congress has played in defining the scope and nature of those programs.