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- U.S. Unmanned Aerial Systems
- Unmanned aerial systems comprise a rapidly growing portion of the military budget, and have been a long-term interest of Congress. At times, Congress has encouraged the development of such systems; in other instances, it has attempted to rein in or better organize the Department of Defense's efforts.
- Potential Policy Implications of the House Reconciliation Bill (H.R. 3762)
- This report provides background on the reconciliation process and summarizes the provisions in the Restoring Americans' Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015 (H.R. 3762), including their projected budgetary impact. It then briefly examines some of the bill's policy implications.
- Navy TAO(X) Oiler Shipbuilding Program: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information and issues for Congress on the TAO(X) oiler shipbuilding program, a program to build a new class of 17 fleet oilers for the Navy. The Navy wants to procure the first TAO(X) in FY2016. Decisions that Congress makes regarding the program could affect Navy capabilities and funding requirements and the U.S. shipbuilding industrial base.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests (about $1.0 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.6 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft. The issue for Congress is whether to approve, reject, or modify the Navy's FY2010 funding request for procurement of nine F/A-18E/Fs, and whether to approve a third MYP arrangement for procuring Super Hornets and Growlers in FY2010-FY2014.
- U.S. National Science Foundation: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
- This report discusses current policy involving the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF), as well as budget requests.
- Economic Effects of the FY2014 Shutdown
- This report provides an info-graphic discussing the economic effects of the FY2014 shutdown.
- Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015: Adjustments to the Budget Control Act of 2011
- This report briefly discusses the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015 (BBA 2015; P.L. 114-74), which includes a number of provisions that alter the budget parameters established by the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA; P.L. 112-25).
- The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle
- This report discusses the International Space Station (ISS) program, which began in 1993, with Russia joining the United States, Europe, Japan, and Canada. Crews have occupied ISS on a 4-6 month rotating basis since November 2000.
- Navy Role in Counterterrorism and Irregular Warfare: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the nature of Navy involvement in irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations. The Navy's role in CT and IW raises several potential oversight issues for Congress.
- A Historical Perspective on "Hollow Forces"
- This report gives general overview of the history of the origins and uses of "hollow forces" (i.e., "military forces that appear mission-ready but, upon examination, suffer from shortages of personnel and equipment, and from deficiencies in training"). Senior Department of Defense (DOD) leaders have invoked the specter of a "hollow force" to describe what could happen to the U.S. Armed Forces if significant cuts to the defense budget are enacted. As Congress will play a major role in shaping the Armed Forces both in terms of size, capabilities, and how it is equipped and trained, a nuanced understanding of how the military once became "hollow" could provide a useful context for current and anticipated legislative action.
- U.S. National Science Foundation: Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR)
- The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) of the National Science Foundation (NSF) was authorized by Congress in 1978, partly in response to concerns in Congress and the concerns of some in academia and the scientific community about the geographic distribution of federal research and development (R&D) funds. Some have questioned the length of time states should receive EPSCoR support. It continues to be called an experimental program after 28 years, and observers have noted that no state has yet to graduate, or leave the program. This report discusses current policy involving EPSCoR, as well as budget requests.
- Energy Provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5)
- This report discusses the energy appropriations in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5). It includes background information, a summary of provisions, and detailed explanations of the relevant appropriations and tax provisions.
- Federal Disaster Recovery Programs: Brief Summaries
- This report identifies programs administered by federal agencies to provide a range of assistance to individual victims; state, territorial, and local governments; and non-governmental entities after major disasters, including certain terrorist attacks. It provides brief descriptive information to help congressional offices determine which programs bear further consideration in the planning, organization, or implementation of recovery operations.
- Air Force Air Refueling: The KC-X Aircraft Acquisition Program
- The report discusses the KC-X program which is expected to acquire 179 new, commercial, off-the-shelf airliners modified to accomplish air refueling.
- Medicare Financial Status: In Brief
- This report provides an overview on Medicare, discussing its various components and sources of funding. The report also examines projections for spending within the program.
- Legislative Procedures for Adjusting the Public Debt Limit: A Brief Overview
- This report discusses the procedure for adjusting the public debt limit. Nearly all of the outstanding debt of the federal government is subject to a statutory limit, which is set forth as a dollar limitation in 31 U.S.C. 3101(b). From time to time, Congress considers and passes legislation to adjust or suspend this limit.
- Increases in Tricare Costs: Background and Options for Congress
- This report discusses budgetary matters for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), specifically regarding past instances of debate regarding the Tricare system. The dollar amounts allocated to health care in the budget of the DOD have more than doubled since FY2001, growing from about $17 billion to over $44.8 billion in FY2009.
- Submission of the President's Budget in Transition Years
- This report discusses the President's budget at the time of a presidential transition. The transition from one presidential administration to another raises special issues regarding the annual budget submission. Which President—the outgoing President or the incoming one—is required to submit the budget, and how will the transition affect the timing and form of the submission? The purpose of this report is to provide background information that addresses these questions.
- The Budget for Fiscal Year 2007
- Congress used three continuing resolutions on appropriations to fund all but two appropriation acts in the first half of the fiscal year 2007. The third one runs through February 15, 2007. The new chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees indicated that they will present a full-year, modified resolution to Congress funding the remaining appropriations before the third continuing resolution expires. This report contains information on the background and analysis for the federal budget in the fiscal year 2007, the financial situation at that time, budgeting tools, budgetary actions, outlays, receipts, deficits, and related materials.
- The Budget for Fiscal Year 2006
- The President's fiscal year 2007 budget included a revised FY2006 deficit estimate of $423 billion, $72 billion larger than its previous estimate, and $53 billion larger than its original deficit estimate in February 2005. The Congressional Budget Office's March 2006 analysis of the President's proposals produced a $371 billion deficit estimate for FY2006. This report contains information on the background and analysis for the federal budget in the fiscal year 2006, the financial situation at that time, budgeting tools, budgetary actions, outlays, receipts, deficits, and related materials.
- The Budget for Fiscal Year 2007
- The Senate passed its version of the fiscal year 2007 budget resolution on March 16, 2006. After extended delays, the House passed its resolution on May 16, 2006. The extensive differences between the Senate and House versions of the FY2007 budget may prevent a House-Senate agreement. This report contains information on the background and analysis for the federal budget in the fiscal year 2007, the financial situation at that time, budgeting tools, budgetary actions, outlays, receipts, deficits, and related materials.
- FY2005 Budget: Chronology and Web Guide
- This report provides a select chronology and resource guide concerning congressional and presidential actions and documents pertaining to the budget for FY 2005, which runs from October 1st, 2004, through September 30, 2005. The budget actions and documents referenced in this report relate to the President's FY 2005 budget submission, the FY 2005 Congressional Budget Resolution, reconciliation legislation, debt-limit legislation, and FY 2005 appropriation measures.
- Overview of the Authorization-Appropriation Process
- A PRIMARY AVENUE FOR EXERCISING CONGRESS'S POWER OF THE purse is the authorization and appropriation of federal spending to carry out government activities. While the power over appropriations is granted to Congress by the U.S. Constitution, the authorization-appropriation process is derived from House and Senate rules. The formal process consists of two sequential steps:
- Health Care Fact Sheet: International Health Spending
- Numerous indicators are used to make international comparisons of health spending. The two most often used show: 1) health spending as a share of a nation's overall economy percent of GDP); and 2) a nation's real (adjusted for inflation and exchange rates) per capita spending.
- Item Veto and Expanded Impoundment Proposals
- This report discusses President's authority to call for an item veto, or possibly expanded impoundment authority, consideration of impoundment reform, to provide him with greater control over federal spending.
- Conservation Reserve Program: Status and Policy Issues
- The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), enacted in 1985, enables producers to bid to retire highly erodible or environmentally sensitive cropland, usually for 10 years. Participants receive annual rental and cost-sharing payments, and technical assistance to install approved plantings. Up to 36.4 million acres have been enrolled; current enrollment is estimated to be 32.9 million acres.
- Conservation Reserve Program - Preliminary Results from the 15th Signup
- This report includes a table listing, by state, the: Number of bids, or offers, received; Total acres offered for enrollment; Acres offered that are currently enrolled in the CRP; Acres offered are not currently enrolled in the CRP; Acres on which contracts expire on September 30, 1997; Percentage of acres currently in the program that were offered for reenrollment; and Percentage of acres offered that are not currently enrolled in the CRP.
- Wildlife Restoration Projects Fund
- Since 1937, a cooperative program between the federal and state governments has existed for wildlife restoration. This program provides federal grants-in-aid to state agencies for conservation through land and water management for wild birds and mammals. While up to 8% of the collected revenues from excise taxes dedicated to the program may be retained by the federal government for administration, all remaining funds are apportioned to the states and territories for use either in wildlife restoration or hunter safety and education programs. Wildlife restoration programs receive all funds generated from the excise tax on firearms other than pistols and revolvers and all funds collected from shells and cartridges. Additionally, one-half of the excise taxes collected from pistols, revolvers, and archery equipment goes for wildlife restoration purposes. Hunter safety and education programs are funded from the remaining half of excise taxes collected on pistols, revolvers, and archery equipment. The states have been authorized by law to use hunter safety and education funds for wildlife restoration projects.
- Limiting Central Government Budget Deficits: International Experiences
- This report focuses on how major developed and emerging-market country governments, particularly the G-20 and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, limit their fiscal deficits.
- Technology Transfer: Use of Federally Funded Research and Development
- This report discusses the federal use of technology transfer, a process by which technology developed in one organization, in one area, or for one purpose is applied in another organization, in another area, or for another purpose.
- 2014 Farm Bill Provisions and WTO Compliance
- This report briefly describes the relevant World Trade Organization (WTO) rules governing domestic support programs under the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA) and the Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures (SCM). The report then reviews the current U.S. farm safety net programs in light of their potential for compliance with the AoA and SCM and their potential to affect the success of the current Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations.
- FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities
- This report provides information on enacted FY2009 and FY2010 funding for these grant programs. It also identifies potential issues Congress may wish to address.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: U.S. Contributions and Issues for Congress
- This report provides background information on the Global Fund, discusses changes the Global Fund has made to improve the efficiency of its programs and address allegations of corruption, outlines U.S. funding for the Fund, and analyzes issues Congress might consider as it debates the appropriate level of support to provide the Fund.
- Reducing the Budget Deficit: Tax Policy Options
- This report begins by reviewing the current fiscal situation. As a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), revenues remain at historically low levels while spending remains elevated, contributing to budget deficits. The budget deficit in FY2011 is projected to be nearly $1.5 trillion, or 9.8% of GDP. Further, in recent years, the share of the federal budget devoted to mandatory spending has increased, making it difficult, if not impossible, for fiscal sustainability to be achieved through cuts in discretionary spending alone. Large budget deficits continue to contribute to a growing national debt, which, if left unchecked, could undermine future economic growth.
- Community Development Block Grants: Funding Issues in the 112th Congress and Recent Funding History
- This report discusses funding Issues in the 112th Congress and Recent Funding History The Administration's FY2012 budget proposes to: (1) increase funding for CDBG formula grants by 10.5% from $3.303 billion appropriated in FY2010 to $3.691 billion; (2) eliminate funding for the Neighborhood Initiative and Economic Development Initiative programs; (3) eliminate funding for Section 107 activities; (4) transfer its Sustainable Communities Initiative to a new stand alone account; and (5) convert Section 108 loan guarantees to a fee-based program.
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria: U.S. Contributions and Issues for Congress
- The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (Global Fund, or the Fund) was established in 2002 as a public-private partnership that could provide significant financial support for global responses to HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria. This report provides background information on the Global Fund, summarizes key findings on the Global Fund's progress through 2009, outlines U.S. funding for the Fund, and analyzes issues Congress might consider as it debates the appropriate level of support to provide the Fund.
- FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs
- This report discusses the $64 billion in requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010, which includes $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related reconstruction and foreign aid and $243 million for activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and more.
- FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs
- This report discusses the $64 billion in requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010, which includes $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related reconstruction and foreign aid and $243 million for activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and more.
- FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs
- This report discusses the $64 billion in requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010, which includes $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related reconstruction and foreign aid and $243 million for activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and more.
- Technology Transfer: Use of Federally Funded Research and Development
- This report looks at the workings, and pros and cons, of a system established by Congress to facilitate the transfer of technology research and development (R&D) funding to the private sector and state and local governments. The federal government spends approximately one third of its annual research and development (R&D) budget for intramural work to meet mission requirements in over 700 government laboratories (including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers).
- FY2010 Supplemental for Wars, Disaster Assistance, Haiti Relief, and Other Programs
- This report discusses the $64 billion in requested supplemental appropriations for FY2010, which includes $2.8 billion for Haiti earthquake-related reconstruction and foreign aid and $243 million for activities related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and more.
- Local and Regional Procurement for U.S. International Emergency Food Aid
- This report discusses local and regional procurement (LRP) of food aid, which refers to the purchase of commodities for emergency food aid by donors in countries with food needs or in another country within the region. LRP is used extensively by the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and has been proposed as a cost-effective, time-saving tool that the United States could use to meet emergency food needs.
- FY2010 Department of Homeland Security Assistance to States and Localities
- This report provides information on enacted FY2009 and proposed FY2010 funding for homeland security grant programs. It also identifies potential issues Congress may wish to address during the appropriation process.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2010 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.
- Navy Role in Irregular Warfare and Counterterrorism: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the nature of Navy involvement in irregular warfare (IW) and counterterrorism (CT) operations, which have received an increased emphasis since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The overall issue for Congress is how much emphasis to place on IW and CT activities in future Navy budgets, and whether decisions reached by Department of Defense (DOD) on this issue in the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) are appropriate.
- Selected Health Funding in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
- The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, which the President signed into law on February 17, 2009, provided more than $17 billion in supplemental FY2009 discretionary appropriations for biomedical research, public health, and other health-related programs within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). This report discusses the health-related programs and activities funded by ARRA, including details of how the administering HHS agencies and offices plan to allocate, award, and spend the funds.
- Navy F/A-18E/F and EA-18G Aircraft Procurement and Strike Fighter Shortfall: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the Navy's proposed FY2011 budget requests (about $1.8 billion) for the procurement of 22 F/A- 18E/F Super Hornet strike fighters and about $1.0 billion for the procurement of 12 EA-18G Growler electric attack aircraft.