Congressional Research Service Reports - 771 Matching Results
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- Independent Truckers: The Effects of Recent Legislation on Earnings (Effects of the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 and the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1983, as they affect highway-related taxes, two trailers, length and width of vehicles, and weights and loads)
- Congress passed legislation late in 1982 that is expected to have a significant effect on the annual net earnings of independent truckers. About 90 percent of fresh produce, most used household goods, and from one-third to one-half of all fabricated steel and other commodities transported by truck are hauled by independent truckers. The legislation raised the Federal fuel tax by 5 cents per gallon and significantly raised a highway use tax that is based on the weight of the vehicle. The legislation also allowed truckers to use two trailers, longer and wider vehicles, and carry heavier loads. This CRS report discusses these 1982 changes in Federal legislation. It also contains an estimate of the upper and lower bound of the impact that these changes could have on the annual net earnings of independent truckers.
- Pay Equity - The Comparable Worth Issue: Equal Pay for Work of Equal Value; By What Standards and By What Means?
- This report discusses the term comparable worth issue, a "theory that jobs dominated by women may be valued less not because of skills required or job content, but because they are "women's jobs (page 1)." The report analyzes historical events and lawsuits that relate to the issue of comparable worth in the workforce.
- Worker Relocation Assistance: Moving People to Jobs
- One characteristic of the dislocated worker problem is that a mismatch exists between the number and kinds of jobs offered by employers and the number and kinds of skills possessed by workers in the same geographic area. At the same time, other geographic areas have unfilled job openings and relatively low unemployment rates. Government-assisted worker relocation is one tool of employment policy that might be used to reduce these regional imbalances in labor supply and demand. This report describes the U.S. experience with both unassisted and Government-assisted worker relocation. It examines the applicability of this experience to the current dislocated worker problem, as well. In addition, the report evaluates the feasibility of establishing a nationwide worker relocation program.
- El Salvador: Policy Issues for the 98th Congress
- Since 1981 President Reagan has requested increasing amounts of military and economic aid to assist two embattled Salvadoran governments in he struggle against leftist guerrillas. While Congress has generally supported the Administration's requests for economic aid, it has regularly cut military assistance to El Salvador and has made the aid contingent upon a semi-annual Presidential certification that human rights are improving in the country.
- Social Security: Reexamining Eligibility for Disability Benefits
- No Description Available.
- Conrail Sale: Labor Aspects
- This report presents the issues discussed by Congress in regard to Conrail’s sale. In examining the issues in Conrail's sale, Congress most likely will consider the welfare of Conrail employees as affected by the terms and conditions of the sale. Should negotiations on labor conditions with the final bidder fail, Congress might be asked to include labor conditions as part of any legislation related to the sale of Conrail.
- Pay Compatibility for Federal White-Collar Workers
- This report reviews the Congress's decision to freeze federal pay for one year as part of the budget resolution for the year, 1986. It discusses the standards to determine the Federal pay rate and the levels of pay that are set in place in the Federal government.
- Polygraph Testing of Employees In Private Industry
- No Description Available.
- Polygraph Testing: Employee and Employer Rights
- No Description Available.
- Gramm-Rudman-Hollings: Potential Economic Effects of Meeting Deficit Targets
- This report discusses the reduction of federal budget deficit and the effect on the rise of interest rates.
- Parental Leave: Legislation in the 100th Congress
- The report discusses the argument for why America should set a standard long-term maternity leave and temporary medical disability leave. Then the opposition to this position discusses why maternity leave and medical disability leave should be decided by the employer, not the Federal government.
- Social Security: The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) in January 1988
- No Description Available.
- The Labor Market of the 1980s: Unemployment Omens in a Growing Economy
- This report provides discussion over the nature of job growth, the labor market of the 1980s, and the skill and pay ladder.
- The Labor Market of the 1980s: Unemployment Omens in a Growing Economy
- This report provides discussion over the nature of job growth, the labor market of the 1980s, and the skill and pay ladder.
- Legal Implications of the Contagious Disease or Infections Amendment to the Civil Rights Restoration Act, S.557
- This report discusses the civil rights restoration act, S. 557, as it passed the House and Senate. This provision would most likely be interpreted as codifying the existing standards relating to section 504 interpretation concerning discrimination against individuals with handicaps.
- Private Health Insurance Continuation Coverage
- No Description Available.
- Mandated Employer Provided Health Insurance
- No Description Available.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act: Changes Made by the 101st Congress and Their Implications
- Initially, in the 101st Congress, a measure to increase federal minimum wage (and to make numerous other changes in the FLSA) was passed by both the House and the Senate but, in June 1989, it was vetoed by President Bush. An effort by the House to override the President's veto was unsuccessful. Later, new legislation was introduced and approved both by the House and the Senate. On November 17, 1989, President Bush signed the bill (P.L. 101-107).
- Plant Closings, Mass Layoffs, and Worker Dislocations: Data Issues
- 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 jobs as a result? It appears that still, after two legislative attempts to mandate collection of these data, the Government publishes no counts of U.S. plant closings, and almost no information on plant relocations. Options for strengthening the data systems include addressing three main weaknesses: inadequate data program design, a plant closing definition that misses its mark, and publication of partial instead of complete survey results.
- Does Trade Reduce Wages of U.S. Workers?
- This report examines in some detail the hypothesis that trade is undermining the economic status of the American worker. Two questions are addressed: one, Has trade tended to reduce the average level of wages? and, two, Has trade increased the inequality of wages? The general conclusion reached is that poor wage performance is largely a problem of the domestic economy, that would have occurred with or without trade.
- The Use Of Union Dues For Political Purposes: A Legal Analysis
- This report provides a legal analysis of the use of union dues for political purposes.
- The Use of Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Legal Analysis
- No Description Available.
- Business and Labor Spending in U.S. Elections
- Federal election law has long prohibited corporate and union spending in federal elections, but distinctions in statutes and judicial rulings have opened avenues by which these groups have been able to spend money in the electoral process. Business groups make particular use of political action committee (PAC) donations to candidates and soft money donations to parties. Unions made prominent use of issue advocacy in 1996, but labor’s political strength lies in exempt activity communications with members. This report explains these tools and their use in today’s elections.
- Business and Labor Spending in U.S. Elections
- Federal election law has long prohibited corporate and union spending in federal elections, but distinctions in statutes and judicial rulings have opened avenues by which these groups have been able to spend money in the electoral process. Business groups make particular use of political action committee (PAC) donations to candidates and soft money donations to parties. Unions made prominent use of issue advocacy in 1996, but labor’s political strength lies in exempt activity communications with members. This report explains these tools and their use in today’s elections.
- Appropriations for FY1998: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
- No Description Available.
- Salaries of Federal Officials: A Fact Sheet
- No Description Available.
- Political Spending by Organized Labor: Background and Current Issues
- No Description Available.
- Immigration: The “H-2A” Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
- In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand from tobacco growers. This report provides information on the H-2A program, illustrates current trends, discusses issues raised by the proposed changes, and tracks pending legislation.
- Immigration: The "H-2A" Temporary Agricultural Worker Program
- In recent years, there have been various legislative efforts to modify or supplement the existing H-2A temporary agricultural program authorized by the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Concern has centered on making the program easier for growers to use while still maintaining protections for domestic labor. Growers have made limited use of the program in the past and a few years ago program usage was in decline. Current trends, however, show an increase due in part to increased demand from tobacco growers. This report provides information on the H-2A program, illustrates current trends, discusses issues raised by the proposed changes, and tracks pending legislation.
- Federal Regulation of Working Hours: The Ballenger and Ashcroft Proposals (H.R. 1 and S. 4)
- During the 104 Congress, legislation was considered that would have altered the 40-hour workweek and overtime pay requirements for private sector workers. In somewhat altered form, such legislation [H.R. 1 (Ballenger) and S. 4 (Ashcroft)] has been reintroduced in the 105 Congress. This report, very briefly, summarizes the issues presented by H.R. 1 and S. 4.
- Affirmative Action: Recent Congressional and Presidential Activity
- This report discusses how the Clinton administration has handled affirmative action policies. According to the report, the Clinton administration opposed efforts to terminate affirmative action and has instead suggested reforms.
- Affirmative Action: Recent Congressional and Presidential Activity
- In recent years, the U.S. Congress and the President have been reevaluating, and proposing changes to, existing affirmative action policies. Multiple bills to restrict affirmative action were introduced in the 104th Congress, but only one limited measure was enacted. Some anti-preference legislation is currently before the 105th Congress. The Clinton Administration has generally opposed efforts to terminate affirmative action programs and, instead, has proposed various reforms.
- Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 105th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Use of Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Discussion of Agency Fee Objectors and Public Policy
- No Description Available.
- Personnel Management Flexibility for the Internal Revenue Service: P.L. 105-206
- No Description Available.
- Immigration: Nonimmigrant H-1B Specialty Worker Issues and Legislation
- The 105 Congress is once again considering legislation pertaining to temporary alien workers, striving to balance the needs of U.S. employers with opportunities for U.S. workers. The largest category of these temporary alien workers are the H-1B nonimmigrants — professionals who work in specialty occupations. For the first time, the numerical limits on H-1B visas were reached prior to the end of FY1997, and the FY1998 ceiling was reached in May. Employers in “high tech” industries especially are urging Congress to eliminate the ceiling of 65,000, and legislation raising the H-1B ceiling as well as addressing other reforms has passed the Senate (S.1723).
- Appropriations for FY1999: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
- Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
- Inflation and the Real Minimum Wage: Fact Sheet
- Because the minimum wage is not indexed to the price level, it has been legislatively increased from time to time to make up for the loss in its real value due to inflation. In nominal terms, the minimum wage has risen steadily since 1938 from 25 cents an hour to $5.15 where it now stands. But the legislated adjustments to the minimum wage have occurred at irregular intervals. As a result, there has been significant variation in the purchasing power of the minimum wage.
- Federal Regulation of Working Hours: An Overview Through the 105th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Federal Regulation of Working Hours: Consideration of the Issues Through the 105th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Employment Service: The Federal-State Public Labor Exchange System
- This report describes the federal-state system of public employment service (ES) offices which was authorized by the Wagner-Peyser Act of 1933.
- Appropriations for FY2000: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
- This report is a guide to appropriations of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for FY2000.
- Awards of Attorney's Fees to Small Businesses and Labor Organizations that Prevail Against the NLRB or OSHA: H.R. 1987, 106th Congress
- H.R. 1987, 106th Congress, the Fair Access to Indemnity and Reimbursement (FAIR) Act, which was reported by the Committee on Education and the Workforce on October 14, 1999, would make it easier for small businesses and labor organizations that prevail against the NLRB or OSHA, in administrative or court proceedings, to recover their attorneys' fees from the government. It would do so by requiring fees to be awarded automatically in cases to which it applied, instead of only when the government's position was not substantially justified.
- Appropriations for FY2000: Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education
- Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and budget reconciliation bills. This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress passes each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.
- Child Labor and the International Labor Organization (ILO)
- This short report discusses the International Labor Organization (ILO) against the exploitation of children in the labor market and the rapidly growing ILO technical program that is geared toward reducing child labor around the world.
- Military Technicians: The Issue of Mandatory Retirement for Non-Dual-Status Technicians
- This report describes the mandatory retirement provisions for certain “non-dual-status” military technicians contained in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (P.L. 106-65), discusses the stated rationale behind the policy, and quantifies the impact it will likely have on individual technicians.
- Civil Service Retirement Bills in the 106th Congress
- Among the civil service retirement issues addressed in bills introduced thus far in the 106th Congress are the correction of retirement coverage errors for federal employees assigned to the wrong retirement system; immediate eligibility for federal employees to participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP); improved portability of pension benefits; and repeal of the temporary increase in employee retirement contributions that was mandated by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. Other bills would expand TSP eligibility to include members of the armed services; improve pension coverage for temporary and part-time federal employees; and designate several categories of federal employees as law enforcement officers for purposes of determining their retirement benefits.
- The Minimum Wage: An Overview of Issues Before the 106th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress
- No Description Available.
- The Use of Labor Union Dues for Political Purposes: A Legal Analysis
- By virtue of Section 224 of the USA PATRIOT Act, P.L. 107-56 (2001), several of the act’s amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, 50 U.S.C. 1801-1862, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. 2510-2522, 2701-2712, 3121-3127, were scheduled to expire on December 31, 2005, 115 Stat. 295 (2001). S. 2167 postpones the expiration dates of those provisions and of Section 6001 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (“lone wolf” amendment), 118 Stat. 3742 (2004), until February 3, 2006.