Congressional Research Service Reports - 57 Matching Results

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Transportation Trust Funds: Budgetary Treatment

Description: Report on the use of transportation trust funds used to fund federal programs, including a discussion of the issues, an explanation of trust fund balances, and more.
Date: April 6, 1998
Creator: Fischer, John W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Plant Closings, Mass Layoffs, and Worker Dislocations: Data Issues

Description: For at least 15 years Members of Congress have continued to ask: How many U.S. manufacturing plants have closed? For at least 15 years they have continued to ask: How many U.S. manufacturing plants have relocated abroad, and where have they gone? For at least 15 years the answer has been: For the most part, those questions can't be answered, based on Government data. How many plants are moving to Mexico? What industries and what States are the plants from? How many U.S. workers are losing their… more
Date: March 29, 1993
Creator: Bolle, Mary Jane
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Renewable Energy and Electricity Restructuring

Description: Several electricity industry restructuring bills propose to eliminate the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA), which has been key to the growth of renewable power facilities. Bills intended to ensure a continuing role for renewable energy sources have been introduced in the 106th Congress that include some combination of a renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS),
Date: July 20, 1999
Creator: Sissine, Fred
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Electricity Restructuring Background: Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA)

Description: This report provides background information on PUHCA, including its history and impact. It also discusses how PUHCA reform fits into the current electric utility industry restructuring debate. This report will be updated as events warrant. For related information on electricity restructuring, see the CRS Electronic Briefing Book.
Date: January 7, 1999
Creator: Abel, Amy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Regulatory Structure for Egg Safety: Fact Sheet

Description: This report discusses the federal role in regulating egg safety. Although the egg industry is primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of its products, four federal agencies hold statutory responsibilities for egg safety.
Date: September 21, 1999
Creator: Vogt, Donna U.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Internet Tax Bills in the 105th Congress

Description: "This report tracks the evolution and content of the Internet tax freedom bills" (p. i).
Date: August 21, 1998
Creator: Noto, Nonna A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997 and Related Developments

Description: The Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act of 1997, enacted December 2, 1997, authorized appropriations to Amtrak through FY2002. This CRS report summarizes the provisions of the Act and discusses related developments.
Date: January 28, 1999
Creator: Thompson, Stephen J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Softwood Lumber Imports: The 1996 U.S.-Canada Agreement

Description: Many U.S. lumber producers have complained that subsidies to Canadian lumber producers give them an unfair advantage in supplying the U.S. market. The dispute has evolved through various forums over the past 15 years. Recent negotiations led to an agreement on May 28 to reduce Canadian lumber exports with a tariff rate quota (i.e., a tariff on imports above the quota) probably by about 9% from record 1995 levels, leading to expectations of trade harmony (at least on this issue) for the next 5 y… more
Date: June 13, 1996
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Advanced Technology Program

Description: The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) was created by P.L. 100-418, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988, to encourage public-private cooperation in the development of pre-competitive technologies with broad application across industries. This activity has been targeted for elimination as a means to cut federal spending. This report discusses the ATP and related issues of federal appropriations (or the lack thereof).
Date: August 10, 1999
Creator: Schacht, Wendy H.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Interstate Waste Transport: Legislative Issues

Description: This report discusses ten issues raised by proposed legislation to allow controls on interstate commerce in solid waste. Such legislation has been considered in every Congress since 1990.
Date: June 16, 1999
Creator: McCarthy, James E.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Toxics Release Inventory: Do Communities Have a Right to Know More?

Description: In 1986, Congress directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish a national inventory of toxic releases to the environment by manufacturing facilities and to use the inventory to inform the public about chemicals used and released in their communities. Since enactment of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) more than 10 years ago, manufacturers have been required to report releases of hundreds of hazardous chemicals annually. EPA compiles the repo… more
Date: October 26, 1997
Creator: Schierow, Linda-Jo
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Stormwater Permits: Status of EPA's Regulatory Program

Description: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and states are implementing a federally mandated program for controlling stormwater discharges from industrial plants and municipalities. Because of the large number of affected sources and deadline changes and extensions that have led to confusion, numerous questions have arisen about this program. Impacts of the program;s requirements, especially on cities, are a continuing concern. EPA has recently proposed permit rules to cover smaller cities and so… more
Date: June 10, 1998
Creator: Copeland, Claudia
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Competitiveness: Economic Issue or Illusion?

Description: While "competitiveness" has a clear meaning when applied to a baseball team, or a firm or industry, it is of limited usefulness when applied to a country's overall economic performance. Moreover, focussing on competitiveness can lead to questionable economic policies.
Date: May 5, 1994
Creator: Elwell, Craig K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Privatizing the United States Enrichment Corporation

Description: Legislative proposals to privatize the United States Enrichment Corporation (USEC) were introduced in the House (H.R. 1216) and Senate (S. 755) in the 104th Congress. The bills, as amended, were included in the budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 2491). It was cleared by the House and the Senate on November 17, but vetoed by the President on December 6, 1995. A substitute bill for S. 755 was introduced on January 26, 1996, by Senator Murkowski. The Murkowski substitute was included in H.R. 3019, t… more
Date: January 21, 1997
Creator: Humphries, Marc
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Online Privacy Protection: Issues and Developments

Description: It is routinely acknowledged that the success of the Internet and electronic commerce depends upon the resolution of issues related to the privacy of online personal information. This paper discusses some potential threats to the privacy of online personal information, and efforts by businesses, governments, and citizens to respond to them. The paper also provides an overview of the legal framework for the protection of personal information. Individuals and businesses increasingly rely upon com… more
Date: September 28, 1999
Creator: Stevens, Gina Marie
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Attorneys' Fees in the State Tobacco Litigation Cases

Description: In the past few years, many states have filed complaints against the tobacco industry in state court to recover Medicaid costs paid by the states to treat their citizens for tobacco related illnesses. The states are also attempting to recover other damages, such as punitive damages, against the tobacco industry. For various reasons, the states have hired private attorneys to assist the state Attorneys General in prosecuting these cases. In most cases, the retention of private counsel has includ… more
Date: September 23, 1997
Creator: Contrubis, John
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cigarette Taxes to Fund Health Care Reform: An Economic Analysis

Description: A cigarette excise tax increase of 75 cents per pack has been proposed to finance part of the President's universal health care program. The tax enjoys considerable public support, would raise about $11 billion per year, and would be relatively simple to administer because it would increase an existing manufacturer's excise tax. This report discusses these rationales, as well as other effects of and concerns about the tax, organized into topics of market failure as a justification for the tax (… more
Date: March 8, 1994
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G. & Zimmerman, Dennis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Sales of Natural Resources: Pricing and Allocating Mechanisms

Description: This report describes the systems used by the federal government to price its resources and to determine who gets access to those resources. For some (e.g., timber and leasable minerals), markets are used to set prices, but administrative systems used for some resources may result in prices substantially lower than market values.
Date: December 11, 1998
Creator: Gorte, Ross W.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Japanese and U.S. Industrial Associations: Their Roles in High-Technology Policymaking

Description: In both Japan and in the United States, industrial associations play an important role in enhancing government understanding and interaction with industries and in easing cooperative efforts among firms. This report examines the role of industrial associations and related organizations in high-technology policymaking and in accelerating technological development.
Date: June 26, 1991
Creator: Nanto, Dick K. & McLoughlin, Glenn J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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China: Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND) and Defense Industries

Description: Congressional interest in the Chinese military, or People’s Liberation Army (PLA), has increased as a result of the March 1996 tensions in the Taiwan Strait, continuing allegations of Chinese proliferation of technology useful in weapons of mass destruction, and reports that some Chinese defense-related corporations have circumvented U.S. export controls to acquire dual-use technology. The Commission of Science, Technology, and Industry for National Defense (COSTIND), an important, high-level P… more
Date: December 3, 1997
Creator: Kan, Shirley A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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DOD's Dual-Use Strategy

Description: In an effort to reduce the costs of its military systems and gain greater access to state-of-the-art technologies, the Department of Defense is pursuing what is being called a "dual-use" strategy. This strategy seeks to make greater use of the commercial sector in developing and manufacturing military goods. This report discusses issues raised over the implementation of this strategy.
Date: July 3, 1997
Creator: Moteff, John D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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