Congressional Research Service Reports - 205 Matching Results
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- The Navy Biofuel Initiative Under the Defense Production Act
- This report looks at the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to “assist the development and support of a sustainable commercial biofuels industry" which was entered into by the Secretaries of Energy, Agriculture, and the Navy. It raises issues and concerns for Congress to consider when deciding how to fund MOU.
- Domestic Food Assistance in 112th Congress 2012 Farm Bill Proposals: S. 3240 and H.R. 6083
- This report focuses on the Nutrition title of the 2012 farm bill proposals included in the 112th Congress's Senate-passed bill and House Committe-reported bill.
- Reauthorization of SNAP and Other Nutrition Programs in the Next Farm Bill: Issues for the 113th Congress
- This report discusses the Nutrition Title (Title IV) of the pending farm bills and elaborates on the most controversial issues and differences between Senate and House proposals. Policies that are not necessarily controversial but are complex are also included in this report.
- Background on the Scheduled Reduction to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
- This report discusses Background on the Scheduled Reduction to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits.
- 2012 Farm Bill: Changing the Treatment of LIHEAP Receipt in the Calculation of SNAP Benefits
- This report describes the contents of the 2012 Farm Bill, cost reducing measures in the Farm Bill, and the implications of both of these. Specifically, the report focuses on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) which is a cost saving measure that addresses how certain deductions from income will be calculated.
- Antibiotic Use in Agriculture: Background and Legislation
- This report deals with Antibiotic Use in Agriculture: Background and Legislation.
- Food Safety on the Farm: Federal Programs and Selected Proposals
- This report discusses comprehensive food safety bills that are progressing in the 111th Congress and could affect farmers and ranchers. Interest in on-farm practices was renewed after more than 1,300 persons in 43 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada were found to be infected with the same unusual strain of bacteria (Salmonella Saintpaul) in April-July 2008.
- Meat and Poultry Inspection: Background and Selected Issues
- This report provides an overview of the background and selected issues of the meat and poultry inspection.
- Farm and Food Support Under USDA’s Section 32 Program
- This report provides information about the Farm and Food Support Under USDA’s Section 32 Program which is funded by a permanent appropriation of 30% of previous year' s custom receipt, less custom transfers.
- Energy Provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79): Status and Funding
- This report focuses on those policies contained in the 2014 farm bill that support agriculture-based renewable energy, especially biofuels. The introductory sections of this report briefly describe how USDA bioenergy policies evolved and how they fit into the larger context of U.S. biofuels policy. Then, each of the bioenergy provisions of the 2014 farm bill are defined in terms of their function, goals, administration, funding, and implementation status. In an appendix at the end of this report, Table A-1 presents data on 2014 farm bill budgetary authority for energy provisions, while Table A-2 presents the original budget authority for Title IX programs under the previous 2008 farm bill. A third table (Table A-3) provides a side-by-side comparison of Title IX energy-related provisions for current versus previous law.
- Is Biopower Carbon Neutral?
- This report discusses some of the most relevant factors to take into account when considering whether or not biopower is carbon neutral. It does not discuss carbon accounting for other bioenergy pathways.
- Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress
- This report discusses the use of biomass as an energy feedstock, which is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. This report discusses legislation regarding biomass, the evolving definition of biomass, and the positions of supporters and detractors of biomass as an alternative energy source.
- Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress
- The use of biomass as an energy feedstock is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy, crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. Most legislation involving biomass has focused on encouraging the production of liquid fuels from corn. For over 30 years, the term biomass has been a part of legislation enacted by Congress for various programs, indicating some interest by the general public and policymakers in expanding its use. To aid understanding of why U.S. consumers, utility groups, refinery managers, and others have not fully adopted biomass as an energy resource, this report investigates the characterization of biomass in legislation.
- Biomass: Comparison of Definitions in Legislation Through the 111th Congress
- This report discusses the use of biomass as an energy feedstock, which is emerging as a potentially viable alternative to address U.S. energy security concerns, foreign oil dependence, rural economic development, and diminishing sources of conventional energy. Biomass (organic matter that can be converted into energy) may include food crops, crops for energy (e.g., switchgrass or prairie perennials), crop residues, wood waste and byproducts, and animal manure. This report discusses legislation regarding biomass, the evolving definition of biomass, and the positions of supporters and detractors of biomass as an alternative energy source.
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- This report gives an overview of Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 111th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 111th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- This report gives an overview of Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 112th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 112th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 112th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 112th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report provides the information related to the fishery, aquaculture, and marine mammal issues in the 112th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report gives an overview of Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 111th Congress
- Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- This report gives an overview of Fishery, Aquaculture, and Marine Mammal Issues in the 112th Congress
- The 2012 Farm Bill: A Comparison of SenatePassed S. 3240 and the House Agriculture Committee’s H.R. 6083 with Current Law
- From Summary: "This report contains a more detailed summary of the major similarities and differences between the House and Senate 2012 farm bills and also provides a side-by-side comparison of every provision in the two farm bills and how these provisions relate to current federal law or policy."
- The 2012 Farm Bill: A Comparison of SenatePassed S. 3240 and the House Agriculture Committee’s H.R. 6083 with Current Law
- From Summary: "This report contains a more detailed summary of the major similarities and differences between the House and Senate 2012 farm bills and also provides a side-by-side comparison of every provision in the two farm bills and how these provisions relate to current federal law or policy."
- The 2013 Farm Bill: A Comparison of the Senate-Passed Bill (S. 954) and House- Reported Bill (H.R. 1947) with Current Law
- Report that provides a side-by-side comparison of every provision in the House Agriculture Committee-reported and Senate-passed farm bills with each other and with current law or policy, as amended and extended by the fiscal cliff bill.
- The 2014 Farm Bill (P.L. 113-79): Summary and Side-by-Side
- This report provides various summaries of the 2014 Farm Bill such as but not limited to: conservation, trade, and nutrition. The report also describes the insurance and disaster relief provisions implemented within the bill. The report also summarizes the budgetary philosophy when constructing the bill and the estimated cost of it.
- Emergency Funding for Agriculture: A Brief History of Supplemental Appropriations, FY1989-FY2009
- This report provides a table which lists supplemental appropriations for Agriculture. From FY1989 through FY2009, 39 appropriations, authorization, or farm disaster acts added approximately $68.7 billion in supplemental funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs (excluding the Forest Service, which is funded annually under the Interior appropriations bill). Approximately $50.2 billion, or just under three-fourths of the total amount, was provided within the last 10 years.
- Previewing the Next Farm Bill
- Congress periodically establishes agricultural and food policy in an omnibus farm bill. The 112th Congress faces reauthorization of the current five-year farm bill because many of its provisions expire in 2012. The 2008 farm bill contained 15 titles covering farm commodity support, horticulture, livestock, conservation, nutrition assistance, international food aid, trade, agricultural research, farm credit, rural development, bioenergy, and forestry, among others. Leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees anticipate having a new farm bill completed before the end of this session. If the current farm bill expires without a new authorization or a temporary extension, it automatically would be replaced with permanent statutes for farm commodity support, which are not fully compatible with current national economic objectives, global trading rules, and federal budgetary or regulatory policies.
- Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: EPA’s Air Compliance Agreement
- From an environmental quality standpoint, much of the interest in animal agriculture has focused on impacts on water resources, because animal waste, if not properly managed, can harm water quality through surface runoff, direct discharges, spills, and leaching into soil and groundwater. A more recent issue is the contribution of emissions from animal feeding operations (AFO), enterprises where animals are raised in confinement, to air pollution. AFOs can affect air quality through emissions of gases such as ammonia and hydrogen sulfide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, hazardous air pollutants, and odor. These pollutants and compounds have a number of environmental and human health effects. This report reviews key issues associated with the Air Compliance Agreement.
- Air Quality Issues and Animal Agriculture: EPA’s Air Compliance Agreement
- This report discusses a plan announced by EPA in January 2005, called the Air Compliance Agreement, that would produce air quality monitoring data on animal agriculture emissions from a small number of farms, while at the same time protecting all participants (including farms where no monitoring takes place) through a “safe harbor” from liability under certain provisions of federal environmental laws.
- Animal Waste and Hazardous Substances: Current Laws and Legislative Issues
- This report is about the animal sector of agriculture and rise of concerns over the management of animal wastes and potential impacts on environmental quality.
- Animal Waste and Hazardous Substances: Current Laws and Legislative Issues
- The animal sector of agriculture has undergone major changes in the last several decades: organizational changes within the industry to enhance economic efficiency have resulted in larger confined production facilities that often are geographically concentrated. These changes, in turn, have given rise to concerns over the management of animal wastes and potential impact on environmental quality.
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues
- This report discusses the ethical and political issues surrounding contemporary biotechnology. Driving the discussion are inventions such as genetically engineered (GE) crops, which have increased from 3.6 million acres to 143 million acres in the United States. The report also raises concerns about regulations and the adequacy of environmental assessments.
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Background and Recent Issues
- This report discusses the ethical and political issues surrounding contemporary biotechnology. Driving the discussion are inventions such as genetically engineered (GE) crops, which have increased from 3.6 million acres to 143 million acres in the United States. The report also raises concerns about regulations and the adequacy of environmental assessments.
- Agricultural Biotechnology: Background, Regulation, and Policy Issues
- This report discusses the ethical and political issues surrounding contemporary biotechnology. Driving the discussion are inventions such as genetically engineered (GE) crops, which have increased from 3.6 million acres to 143 million acres in the United States. The report also raises concerns about regulations and the adequacy of environmental assessments.
- Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues
- This report mainly focus on the Status and Current Issues Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture which is rapidly advancing in Biotechnology.
- Unapproved Genetically Modified Wheat Discovered in Oregon: Status and Implications
- This report discusses the 2013 discovery of unapproved Genetically Engineered (GE) wheat in eastern Oregon and its effect on future policy considerations and regulatory structures in biotechnology.
- Biotechnology in Animal Agriculture: Status and Current Issues
- This report describes several scientifically emerging Animal Biotechnologies and examines applications of the technologies and discusses the major issues that may arise.
- Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses
- Monsanto Corporation, the developer of herbicide-tolerant varieties of genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beet petitioned USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the regulation of the items. Deregulation of genetically engineered plants is the final step in the commercialization process. Monsanto filed a petition for deregulation of its genetically engineered alfalfa in 2004, and for genetically engineered sugar beets in 2005.
- Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses
- Monsanto Corporation, the developer of herbicide-tolerant varieties of genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beet petitioned USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the regulation of the items. Deregulation of genetically engineered plants is the final step in the commercialization process. Monsanto filed a petition for deregulation of its genetically engineered alfalfa in 2004, and for genetically engineered sugar beets in 2005.
- Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses
- Monsanto Corporation, the developer of herbicide-tolerant varieties of genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beet petitioned USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the regulation of the items. Deregulation of genetically engineered plants is the final step in the commercialization process. Monsanto filed a petition for deregulation of its genetically engineered alfalfa in 2004, and for genetically engineered sugar beets in 2005.
- Garcia v. Vilsack: A Policy and Legal Analysis of a USDA Discrimination Case
- No Description Available.
- The World Trade Organization: The Non- Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) Negotiations
- This report looks at the evolution of the Doha Round World Trade Organization (WTO) negotiations, possible effects of the Non-Agricultural Market Access (NAMA) agreement, and major negotiating issues from a U.S. standpoint. NAMA refers to the cutting of tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTB) on industrial and primary products, basically all trade in goods which are not foodstuffs.
- Forest Service Payments to Counties— Title I of the Federal Forests County Revenue, Schools, and Jobs Act of 2012: Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Animal Agriculture: Selected Issues in the 113th Congress
- This report discusses about how congress might consider environmental regulations that impact livestock and poultry, and conservation programs that have benefited animal agriculture.
- Animal Identification and Traceability: Overview and Issues
- This report provides a summary of current developments in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) effort to establish a national animal traceability capacity with the intended goal of being able to rapidly identify and respond to an animal disease outbreak. National animal identification and traceability appear to have substantial economic value, yet federal proposals have proven controversial among certain segments of the U.S. cattle industry. This report provides background on animal ID and traceability in general, and the development of the current U.S. system of animal ID and traceability in particular. In addition, it reviews the claims and counter-claims of proponents and opponents of a national animal ID system, and describes many of the unresolved issues related to program development. Finally, two appendixes offer a brief chronology of the development of the U.S. National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and its successor program, and a brief description of the major international organizations involved in setting standards and rules for animal health and trade in animal products, along with summary descriptions of animal ID and traceability programs found in other major livestock producer and consumer countries.
- Chicken Imports from China
- This report covers a couple of key factors regarding poultry trade from China to the United States. It reviews guidelines set in motion by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (U.S.D.A.) Food and Safety Inspection Service (F.S.I.S.).