Congressional Research Service Reports - 83 Matching Results
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- The Holocaust--Recovery of Assets from World War II: A Chronology (May 1995 to Present)
- This report is a compilation of recent investigations (May 7, 1995 - July 26, 2000) into the role of Swiss banks and other institutions dealing with the recovery of hidden or stolen assets of victims of the Holocaust from World War II (1939-1945).
- Holocaust-Era Assets: A Guide for Filing Claims and a List of Compensation Programs
- This report provides the addresses, fax, and telephone numbers(including e-mail and Internet sites when available) of the major private and governmental organizations that are currently assisting with claims, compensation, and restitution of Holocaust-era assets (artworks, bank accounts, insurance claims, property, etc.)
- Africa Backgrounder: History, U.S. Policy, Principal Congressional Actions
- Congressional interest in Africa seems certain to continue, not only because the region is affected by a number of serious problems, some of which could have grave humanitarian consequences, but also because of the potential Africa offers for U.S. trade and investment should these problems ease. Africa's problems and prospects will likely assure continuing constituent interest as well, stimulated in part by the churches, relief organizations, and other non-governmental organizations active on African issues. This report is intended to introduce congressional readers to the region by providing an overview of Africa's history, a summary of U.S. policy toward Africa, and a listing of principal congressional actions affecting the region. The paper concludes with suggestions for further reading and a list of selected Congressional Research Service (CRS) products.
- Government at the Dawn of the 21st Century: A Status Report
- This report examines the history of the government from beginning of the 20th century, as the federal government entered a new phase—the rise of the administrative state, then goes on to project possible trends for the future.
- A History of Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes
- In this report, the history of the federal transfer taxes, has been divided into four parts: (1) the federal death and gift taxes utilized in the period 1789 to 1915; (2) the development of the modern estate and gift taxes from 1916 through 1975; (3) the creation and refinement of a unified estate and gift tax system, supplemented by a generation-skipping transfer tax; and (4) the phase out and repeal of the estate and generation-skipping taxes, with the gift tax being retained as a device to protect the integrity of the income tax.
- Initial Federal Budget Response to the 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor
- This report discusses initial federal budget response to attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, which occurred as the federal government was half way through FY1942.
- The Stock Market's Response to Dramatic Historical Events
- The events of September 11, 2001, have caused speculation that the U.S. stock market may crash when trading resumes. History, however, suggests that there is no uniform pattern in which bad news is followed by a stock market plunge. This report presents data on the stock market response to four episodes: Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy assassination, the October 1987 stock market crash, and the Asian financial crisis of 1997. There is, of course, no guarantee that the market will behave now or in the future as it did then.
- Legislative History of the World War II Memorial and World War II Commemorative Legislation
- This report traces the legislative history of the World War II Memorial and related legislation, from 1985 until the present day. The legislative history of forty pieces of relevant legislation and the related public events occurring simultaneously with the legislative process are examined in this report.
- Farm Commodity Legislation: Chronology, 1933-2002
- This report discusses legislation regarding commodities and price supports. Since 1933, Congress has required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to administer various price and income support programs for U.S. farmers. Some standing authority for these programs is provided by three permanent laws, from 1938, 1948, and 1949. However, Congress frequently alters the basic provisions of these laws. The omnibus law now guiding farm support (through 2007) is the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002.
- U.S. Use of Preemptive Military Force
- No Description Available.
- U.S. Use of Preemptive Military Force
- No Description Available.
- A History of Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes
- In this report, the history of the federal transfer taxes, has been divided into four parts: (1) the federal death and gift taxes utilized in the period 1789 to 1915; (2) the development of the modern estate and gift taxes from 1916 through 1975; (3) the creation and refinement of a unified estate and gift tax system, supplemented by a generation-skipping transfer tax; and (4) the phase out and repeal of the estate and generation-skipping taxes, with the gift tax being retained as a device to protect the integrity of the income tax.
- U.S. Use of Preemptive Military Force
- No Description Available.
- Historic Preservation: Background and Funding
- This report summarizes the federal role in historic preservation. It provides descriptions of and funding information for some of the major preservation programs, including the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Register for Historic Places.
- The Alien Tort Statute: Legislative History and Executive Branch Views
- The report provides a historical overview of court decisions interpreting the Alien Tort Statute (ATS), also known as the Alien Tort Claims Act (ACTA). The report then provides an overview of the positions taken by the U.S. government in published opinions of the Attorney General and in court briefs related to ATS claims.
- Iraq: International Attitudes to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Reconstruction
- Although there was widespread international disagreement in the period leading up to the U.S.-led war in Iraq, forty-nine countries demonstrated support for the coalition’s actions in Iraq by publicly agreeing to be included in the Bush Administration’s “coalition of the willing." This report tracks countries’ current political stances on the postwar situation, as well as major foreign monetary and military contributions to postwar Iraq.
- Liberia: 1989-1997 Civil War, Post-War Developments, and U.S. Relations
- This report covers Liberia’s first civil conflict (1989-1997), post-war developments until roughly 2001, and the history of U.S.-Liberian relations and U.S. policy toward Liberia.
- The Former Soviet Union and U.S. Foreign Assistance in 1992: The Role of Congress
- This report discusses the key role Congress played in formulating an aid program for the former Soviet Union in 1992.
- The Former Soviet Union and U.S. Foreign Assistance in 1992: The Role of Congress
- This report discusses the key role Congress played in formulating an aid program for the former Soviet Union in 1992. Focusing on tensions in the political and legislative system, it delineates congressional achievements — chief of which was the Freedom Support Act. The legislation that was ultimately produced became the basis on which future debate would be conducted regarding how the United States could continue to influence events in the former Soviet Union and assist its transition to an open market economy and democratic institutions.
- Military Tribunals: Historical Patterns and Lessons
- This report summarizes the types of military tribunals that have functioned from the Revolutionary War to the present time, explaining the legislative enactments that have guided these tribunals and the judicial decisions that have reviewed their constitutionality.
- Proposals for Intelligence Reorganization, 1949-2004
- No Description Available.
- Proposals for Intelligence Reorganization, 1949-2004
- No Description Available.
- Military Base Closures: A Historical Review from 1988 to 1995
- This report discusses a concerted effort to close unneeded military bases as part of wide-ranging efforts during the 1980s and 1990s to balance the budget. This effort had been supported by a broad consensus that, among the approximately 3,800 military bases (1990 est.) in the United States, many could be closed without significant detrimental effect to national security. While most analysts agreed that the department of Defense's (DOD's) base structure was larger than necessary to meet the department's needs, there were differences concerning which, if any, additional bases should be closed, at what speed, and what criteria should be used for making those decisions.
- Historic Preservation: Background and Funding
- This report summarizes the federal role in historic preservation. It provides descriptions of and funding information for some of the major preservation programs, including the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the National Register for Historic Places. Some Members of Congress have given historic preservation programs close scrutiny and have recommended that historic preservation activities be supported increasingly by the private sector.
- Military Service Records and Unit Histories: A Guide to Locating Sources
- This report is a guide to locating individual service records and military unit histories from the American Revolution to the present. This guide provides referral information for locating individual service records of discharged and deceased veterans. It includes information regarding locating and obtaining active service records. Also included are relevant addresses and websites of government agencies, historical associations, and a select bibliography. This report will be updated as needed.
- War Bonds in the Second World War: A Model for Hurricane Recovery Bonds?
- Severe damage and dislocations resulting from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have rekindled congressional interest in the concept of the sale of a Treasury security to finance recovery and relief operations. The question has been raised whether or not the issuance of war bonds during the Second World War serves as a good model for new “hurricane recovery bonds.” Two bills have been introduced that would permit the issuance of some form of hurricane relief bond: H.R. 3892 and H.R. 3935.
- Naval Transformation: Background and Issues for Congress
- This report focuses on the transformation of U.S. naval forces - the Navy and the Marine Corps, which are both contained in the Department of the Navy (DON).
- Mexico’s Political History: From Revolution to Alternation, 1910-2006
- This report provides a brief overview of Mexico's political history from 1910 to 2006, with an emphasis on electoral reforms and elections. The report demonstrates that Mexico has evolved from long-term domination by a single party to alternation and effective competition among the three major parties.
- The Group of Eight Summits: Evolution and Possible Reform
- This report discusses the Group of Eight (G8) summit, which is a forum to informally discuss and create policies on major foreign policy issues among the heads of state of the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Russia.
- The Group of Eight Summits: Evolution and Possible Reform
- The Group of Eight (G8) summit is a forum to informally discuss and create policies on major foreign policy issues among the heads of state of the United States, France, Germany, Canada, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Russia. The 2006 summit will be hosted by Russia and is scheduled to take place in St. Petersburg on July 15-17, 2006. Russian participation in the G8 has prompted congressional concern particularly over the direction of its international governance. This report discusses the evolution of the G8 and possible reform as background for the meeting. This report will not be updated. For more information on Russia.
- U.S. Occupation Assistance: Iraq, Germany, and Japan Compared
- No Description Available.
- U.S. Occupation Assistance: Iraq, Germany, and Japan Compared
- No Description Available.
- Oil Shale: History, Incentives, and Policy
- No Description Available.
- Periods of War
- No Description Available.
- Emergency Funding for Agriculture: A Brief History of Supplemental Appropriations, FY1989-FY2006
- From FY1989 through FY2006, 33 appropriations, authorization, or farm disaster acts added approximately $55.4 billion in supplemental funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. The two most recent supplemental appropriations were provided in response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in the Gulf of Mexico and in preparation for a possible U.S. outbreak of avian influenza. Some FY1989, the vast majority of the total supplemental funding has been paid directly to farmers, primarily through two mechanisms: "market loss payments" and crop disaster payments. This report includes the total annual funding additions in the 33 acts providing economic and farm disaster assistance through USDA programs since FY1989.
- A Changing Natural Rate of Unemployment: Policy Issues
- This report discusses problems in estimating the natural rate of unemployment. The contents include the natural rate concept, potential causes of a falling natural rate in the 1990s, alternative theories, and measuring the natural rate in practice.
- Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflict, and U.S. Policy
- A Congressional Research Service report for Congress detailing negotiations of an Israeli-Arab Nature. This report contains conferences, negotiation, and conflicts as well as significant agreements and documents.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- FEMA Reorganization Legislation in the 109th Congress
- In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Members of Congress and others raised questions about the scope and reach of federal emergency management policies, the procedures used to administer federal statutory authorities, the qualifications of personnel, and other issues. Most of the questions focused on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the agency primarily responsible for coordinating federal and non-federal disaster response activities. This report provides information on provisions of the Senate-approved amendment (S.Amdt. 4560) to the FY2007 appropriations bill, H.R. 5316, and H.R. 5351 that address concerns identified after Hurricane Katrina. To provide a context for information on the legislation, this report first summarizes findings and recommendations of the congressional and White House studies pertinent to the pending legislation reported from the House committees.
- Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security Organization: Historical Developments and Legislative Options
- This report provides background information about the establishment and evolution of federal emergency management and related homeland security organization since 1950. Post-Katrina assessments of current arrangements by Congress and the White House are also discussed. Finally, the report provides a brief summary of related legislation that had been introduced as of July 17, 2006.
- Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflict, and U.S. Policy
- A Congressional Research Service report for Congress detailing negotiations of an Israeli-Arab Nature. This report contains conferences, negotiation, and conflicts as well as significant agreements and documents. -Updated July 25,2006
- Israel: Background and Relations with the United States
- This report explains the background of Israel and its relation to the United States. It reviews government and politics, foreign policy, the economy, and other current issues. Updated July 26, 2006
- The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11
- This report details the total cost of counterterrorism operations in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. This report also includes descriptions of relevant budgetary legislation.
- Federal Emergency Management and Homeland Security Organization: Historical Developments and Legislative Options
- This report provides background information about the establishment and evolution of federal emergency management and related homeland security organization since 1950. Post-Katrina assessments of current arrangements by Congress and the White House are also discussed. Finally, the report provides a brief summary of related legislation that had been introduced as of July 17, 2006.
- Saudi Arabia: Current Issues and U.S. Relations
- No Description Available.
- Israeli-Arab Negotiations: Background, Conflict, and U.S. Policy
- A Congressional Research Service report for Congress detailing negotiations of an Israeli-Arab Nature. This report contains conferences, negotiation, and conflicts as well as significant agreements and documents. - Updated August 4, 2006
- Declarations of War and Authorizations for the Use of Military Force: Historical Background and Legal Implications
- This report provides historical background on the enactment of declarations of war and authorizations for the use of force and analyzes their legal effects under international and domestic law. It also sets forth their texts in two appendices. Because the statutes that confer standby authority on the President and the executive branch potentially play such a large role in an armed conflict to which the United States is a party, the report includes an extensive listing and summary of the statutes that are triggered by a declaration of war, a declaration of national emergency, and/or the existence of a state of war. The report concludes with a summary of the Congressional procedures applicable to the enactment of a declaration of war or authorization for the use of force and to measures under the War Powers Resolution.
- Commemorative Observances: A Chronological List
- Historically, national commemorative observances were recommended by Congress through the legislative process. This practice was discontinued by the House of Representatives in January 1995, although the Senate continues to issue sense of the Senate resolutions recommending the establishment of commemoratives. It has now become standard practice for special observances to be designated by a proclamation issued by the President. This report is a chronological list of these proclamations for 1997 and 1998, indicating the proclamation number and its Federal Register citation
- Israel: Background and Relations with the United States
- This report explains the background of Israel and its relation to the United States. It reviews government and politics, foreign policy, the economy, and other current issues. Updated September 21, 2006
- The Cost of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Other Global War on Terror Operations Since 9/11
- This report details the total cost of counterterrorism operations in the Global War on Terror (GWOT) since the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. This report also includes descriptions of relevant budgetary legislation.