Congressional Research Service Reports - 35 Matching Results

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Cybersecurity and Information Sharing: Legal Challenges and Solutions

Description: While considerable debate exists with regard to the best strategies for protecting America’s various cyber-systems and promoting cybersecurity, one point of general agreement amongst cyber-analysts is the perceived need for enhanced and timely exchange of cyber-threat intelligence both within the private sector and between the private sector and the government. This report examines the various legal issues that arise with respect to the sharing of cybersecurity intelligence, with a special focu… more
Date: March 16, 2015
Creator: Nolan, Andrew
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Small Business Administration and Job Creation

Description: The Small Business Administration (SBA) administers several programs to support small businesses, including loan guaranty programs, disaster loan programs, management and technical assistance training programs, and federal contracting programs. Congressional interest in these programs has increased in recent years, primarily because they are viewed as a means to stimulate economic activity, create jobs, and assist in the national economic recovery. This report examines the economic research on … more
Date: January 29, 2015
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Research Tax Credit: Current Law and Policy Issues for the 114th Congress

Description: Technological innovation is a primary engine of long-term economic growth, and research and development (R&D) serves as the lifeblood of innovation. The federal government encourages businesses to invest more in R&D than they otherwise would in several ways, including a tax credit for increases in spending on qualified research above a base amount. This report describes the current status of the credit, summarizes its legislative history, discusses policy issues it raises, and describes legisla… more
Date: May 22, 2015
Creator: Guenther, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Small Business Administration Microloan Program

Description: The Small Business Administration’s (SBA’s) Microloan program provides direct loans to qualified nonprofit intermediary lenders who, in turn, provide “microloans” of up to $50,000 to small businesses and nonprofit child care centers. It also provides marketing, management, and technical assistance to microloan borrowers and potential borrowers. This report opens with a discussion of the rationale provided for having a Microloan program, describes the program’s eligibility standards and operatin… more
Date: May 28, 2015
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: Recent Activities and Ongoing Developments

Description: In the wake of the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico on April 20, 2010, federal agencies, state and local government agencies, and responsible parties faced an unprecedented challenge. An oil discharge continued for 87 days, resulting in the largest ever oil spill in U.S. waters.
Date: April 17, 2015
Creator: Ramseur, Johnathan L
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Federal Crop Insurance: Background

Description: This report provides a primer on the federal crop insurance program and highlights changes to the program by the 2014 farm bill.
Date: January 9, 2015
Creator: Shields, Dennis A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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An Overview of Air Quality Issues in Natural Gas Systems

Description: This report provides information on the natural gas industry and the types and sources of air pollutants in the sector. It examines the role of the federal government in regulating these emissions, including the provisions in the Clean Air Act and the regulatory activities of EPA. It concludes with a brief discussion of the aforementioned outstanding issues.
Date: March 23, 2015
Creator: Lattanzio, Richard K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Budget Enforcement Procedures: The Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) Rule

Description: This report explains the current features of the Senate Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) rule,describes its legislative history, inlcuding key changes to the rule since it was established in 1993, and reviews Senate procedural actions under the rule.
Date: August 4, 2015
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Legal Authorities Governing Federal Contracting and Subcontracting with Small Businesses

Description: This report provides an overview of the various legal authorities governing small business contracting and subcontracting, as well as the relationship between them. It also explains the roles of the Small Business Administration (SBA), procuring activities, Office of Hearings and Appeals (OHA), Government Accountability Office (GAO), and other tribunals in implementing and construing the law governing federal contracting and subcontracting with small businesses.
Date: February 23, 2015
Creator: Manuel, Kate M. & Lunder, Erika K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Health Insurance: A Primer

Description: This report provides information related to health insurance. The content includes what it is, why is it needed, health insurance regulation, and how are private health benefits delivered and financed.
Date: January 8, 2015
Creator: Fernandez, Bernadette & Uberoi, Namrata K.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cybersecurity Issues for the Bulk Power System

Description: This report provides information about the Cybersecurity Issues for the Bulk Power System . The cybersecurity of the electricity grid has been a focus of recent efforts to protect the integrity of the electric power system.
Date: June 10, 2015
Creator: Campbell, Richard J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The European Union’s Small Business Act: A Different Approach

Description: This report opens with a discussion of the European Commission's decision to use a size standard that is very different that the size standard used in the United States. It also discusses about European Economy.
Date: June 22, 2015
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cybersecurity Issues for the Bulk Power System

Description: This report provides information about the Cybersecurity Issues for the Bulk Power System . The cybersecurity of the electricity grid has been a focus of recent efforts to protect the integrity of the electric power system.
Date: April 16, 2015
Creator: Campbell, Richard J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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State Children’s Health Insurance Program: An Overview

Description: This report describes the basic elements of CHIP, focusing on how the program is designed, who is eligible, what services are covered, how enrollees share in the cost of care, and how the program is financed. The report ends with a brief discussion of the future of CHIP.
Date: March 20, 2015
Creator: Baumrucker, Evelyne P. & Mitchell, Alison
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Cybersecurity

Description: This report details the information related to cybersecurity, its factors, legislative issues, and long-term challenges.
Date: March 23, 2015
Creator: Fischer, Eric A. & Theohary, Catherine A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Countries: Comparative Trade and Economic Analysis

Description: This report provides a comparative economic analysis of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries and their economic relations with the United States. TPP negotiating partners encompass great diversity in population, economic development, and trade and investment patterns with the United States.
Date: July 7, 2015
Creator: Williams, Brock R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Debt Limit: History and Recent Increases

Description: This report discusses congressional restrictions on federal debt. The statutory debt limit applies to almost all federal debt. The limit applies to federal debt held by the public (that is, debt held outside the federal government itself) and to federal debt held by the government's own accounts.
Date: October 1, 2015
Creator: Austin, D. A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Internet Tax Freedom Act: In Brief

Description: This report discusses the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA; P.L. 105-277), which enacted in 1998, implemented a three-year moratorium preventing state and local governments from taxing Internet access, or imposing multiple or discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce.
Date: October 5, 2015
Creator: Stupak, Jeffrey M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Small Business: Access to Capital and Job Creation

Description: This report discusses the role of small business in job creation and retention, then provides an assessment of the supply and demand for small business loans and recently enacted laws designed to enhance small business access to capital. It also examines recent actions concerning the SBA's budget and concludes with a brief overview of legislative options available to address small business access to capital issues during the 114th Congress.
Date: November 25, 2015
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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