Congressional Research Service Reports - 771 Matching Results
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- Setting Emergency Labor Disputes: Proposals in the 92nd Congress and Their Background
- This report traces events and proposals around the time of creation that relate to the settlement of emergency labor disputes.
- UPDATE: Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part I)
- This report discusses the decision of the Supreme Court in the case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council." In a 5-4 decision, the Court held that public-sector agency fee arrangements violate the First Amendment, overruling its 1977 decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education.
- Transnational Crime Issues: Human Trafficking
- This report discusses U.S. and international responses to the issue of human trafficking. Human trafficking is a domestic and international phenomenon that refers to the subjection of men, women, and children to exploitative conditions that may be tantamount to slavery.
- Multilateral Development Banks: Overview and Issues for Congress
- This report provides an overview of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and highlights major issues for Congress. The first section discusses how the MDBs operate, and the second section discusses the role of Congress in the MDBs.
- NLRB Rejects Former Standards Following Appointment of New Members
- This report discusses recent decisions by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) after President Trump appointed two new members to the board. The decisions overturn a variety of significant past decisions and are summarized in the report.
- State Minimum Wages: An Overview
- This report begins with a brief discussion of Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) minimum wage coverage. It then provides a summary of state minimum wage laws, followed by an examination of rates and mechanisms of adjustments in states with minimum wage levels above the FLSA rate (Table 1 provides summary data). Next, the report discusses the interaction of federal and state minimum wages over time, and finally, the Appendix provides detailed information on the major components of minimum wage policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part 2)
- Second part of a report discussing the upcoming Supreme Court case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council," concerning whether requiring non-union member employees is constitutional. It begins with a brief summary of the parties' arguments, highlights some key statements from the prior decisions of Justice Gorsuch (who is likely to be a critical voice), and finally explores the potential implications of the decision.
- Public Sector Union Dues: Grappling with Fixed Stars and Stare Decisis (Part 1)
- First part of a report discussing the upcoming Supreme Court case of "Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Council," concerning whether requiring non-union member employees is constitutional. It provides general background on an earlier case regarding the issue "Abood v. Detroit Board of Education" and the case law leading up to "Janus."
- Joint Employment and the Save Local Business Act
- This report discusses the proposed "Save Local Business Act" in the House and its provisions and implications for employers and employees in businesses where unions exist. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) broadening of the definition of what constituted a joint employer in the case of Browning-Ferris Industries of California led to resist by some in the business community and the "Save Local Business Act" seeks to restore the former more narrow definition of joint employers.
- The U.S. Science and Engineering Workforce: Recent, Current, and Projected Employment, Wages, and Unemployment
- This report provides employment, wage, and unemployment information for the computer occupations, mathematical occupations, engineers, life scientists, physical scientists, and science and engineering (S&E) management occupations, as follows: The section on "Current Employment, Wages, and Unemployment" provides a statistical snapshot of occupational employment, wage, and unemployment data for the S&E workforce in 2016 (the latest year for which data are available). The section on "Recent Trends in Employment, Wages, and Unemployment" provides a perspective on how S&E employment, wages, and unemployment changed during the period 2012-2016. The section on "Employment Projections, 2016-2026" provides an analysis of projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for how the number employed in S&E occupations is expected to change during the 2016-2026 period, as well as how many openings will be created by growth, labor force exits, and occupational transfers. A final section, "Concluding Observations," provides stakeholder perspectives that Congress may consider as it seeks to ensure that the United States has an adequate S&E workforce to meet the demands of the 21st century.
- H-2A and H-2B Temporary Worker Visas: Policy and Related Issues
- This report covers the H-2A agricultural guest worker program and the H-2B nonagricultural guest worker program. It explores the statutory and regulatory provisions that govern each program, focusing in particular on the much-debated labor certification process. It discusses past and present legislative efforts to reform the H-2A and H-2B programs and to create new guest worker visas, and identifies and analyzes key policy considerations to help inform future congressional action.
- The Federal Minimum Wage: In Brief
- This report discuses the federal minimum wage and the various groups of workers who are covered and not covered by minimum wage requirements. Arguments for and against raising the federal minimum wage are also discussed.
- Workers' Compensation: Overview and Issues
- This report discusses workers' compensation in the United States beginning with a brief history of its origins and its elements. Costs, federal oversight of state programs, and Texas and Oklahoma's noncompulsory workers' compensation programs are also discussed.
- Human Trafficking: New Global Estimates of Forced Labor and Modern Slavery
- This report discusses a new report by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Walk Free Foundation that estimates that 40.3 million people worldwide were victims of modern slavery (including forced labor run by individuals and governments, forced marriages, and sex trafficking) which used a new methodology that combined multiple data sources and statistical probability calculations. A brief overview of the findings, past reports and variance between State Department Trafficking in Persons (TIP reports and other reports such as this one, and varying definitions of the terms modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor are discussed. Current bills to reauthorize the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) in Congress are also discussed.
- Migratory Agricultural Labor: References to Books, Periodicals, and Films, 1959-1969
- This report and bibliography contains references to books, documentaries, and magazine articles that study migrant workers. It also contains information on specific issues that affect migratory agricultural workers, such as the Bracero program, the California grape strike, education, health, housing, and welfare, income, and more.
- Migrant Labor Law and Relations: Selected References, 1960-1969
- This report provides a bibliography of sources related to migrant labor law and relations that were published between 1960 and 1969.
- Migratory Agricultural Labor: References to Federal Publications, Studies and Reports, 1959-1968
- This report contains references to publications related to Migratory Agricultural Labor.
- The Mexican Farm Labor Program: References, 1951-1965
- This report cites the references related to the Mexican Farm Labor Program.
- Department of Labor's 2016 Fiduciary Rule: Background and Issues
- This report discusses fiduciary standard with respect to his or her advice, an individual had to, which include: (1) make recommendations on investing in, purchasing, or selling securities or other property, or give advice as to the value (2) on a regular basis (3) pursuant to a mutual understanding that the advice (4) will serve as a primary basis for investment decisions, and (5) will be individualized to the particular needs of the plan regarding such matters as, among other things, investment policies or strategy, overall portfolio composition, or diversification of plan investments.
- Labor Day Speech Resources: Fact Sheet
- This report provides Members of Congress with resources for information and speech samples for use at Labor Day celebrations.
- Job Creation in the Manufacturing Revival
- This report examines the current status of the manufacturing sector in the U.S., which is a subject of ongoing interest in Congress. After rebounding from the 2007-09 recession, U.S. manufacturing output has grown little since the second half of 2014 while employment in the U.S. sector has been flat. These trends defy expectations that forces such as higher labor costs, heightened concern about the risk of disruptions to complex supply chains, and the development of inexpensive domestic supplies of natural gas.
- The Unionization of Farm workers
- This report is about the unionization of Farm workers with the background and alternative federal approaches.
- Protection of Employees Affected by Railroad Consolidation: The Washington Job Protection Agreement and Major ICC Protective Conditions
- This report discuses protection for employees of railroads undergoing consolidation and the Washington Agreement of 1936.
- Unionism and Collective Bargaining for Agricultural Workers: A Selective Bibliography
- This report provides a bibliography of resources related to unions for agricultural cultural workers and their activities.
- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters: an Historical and Bibliography Review
- This report investigates the International Brotherhood of Teamster, the largest trade union at that time, along with a bibliographic essay to look over some materials involved with dealing with the Teamsters.
- Organized Labor and The Antitrust Laws: A Continuing Controversy
- This report is on Organized Labor and The Antitrust Laws: A Continuing Controversy.
- Section 14(b) of the TAFT-HARTLEY act and state right-to-work laws: An inquiry into their effects
- This report presents right to work laws to make an evaluation of the effects of these laws and of section 14(b) and to indicate some possible effects.
- Inmate Employment Programs in Federal and State Correctional Institutions
- This report discusses inmate employment programs in federal and state prisons and provides the results of a CRS survey of federal and state prisons regarding the types of inmate employment available, how many inmates were employed, and the wages for employment.
- The Labor Movement in the United States: Annotated Bibliography
- This report is a bibliography with citations related to the Labor Movement in the United States
- Labor-Related Legislation of the 92nd Congress
- This report discusses proposed and passed legislation in the 92nd Congress related to labor.
- The Humphrey-Hawkins Bill: Summary, Major Issues, and Contending Arguments
- This report is a comprehensive outline of the Full Employment and Balanced Growth Act of 1976.
- Hispanics in the U.S. Labor force: A brief Examination
- This report is about Hispanics in the U.S. Labor Force: A brief examination
- The Fair Labor Standards Act Amendments of 1977 Discussion With Historical Background
- This report presents a brief history of the Act, discusses the major changes made by the 95th Congress (or, in some instances, considered but not adopted), and suggests certain sources which might be useful in providing a reader with diverse interpretations of the Act and its impact.
- The Comprehensive and Employment and Training Act of 1973, As Amended; A Brief Summary
- This report contains the conditions of the Comprehensive and Employment and Training Act of 1973.
- Provisions in the United States Constitution,Federal Statutes and Rules of the House and Senate Governing the Conduct and Activities of Members of Congress and Their Staff with Appropriate Annotations of Cases
- This report is about the provisions in the United States Constitution, Federal statutes and rules of the house and senate Governing the conduct and activities of Members of Congress and their staff with appropriate annotations of cases.
- American Labor Institutions and Their Historical Development: An Annotated Bibliography of Books
- This report provides an annotated bibliography of books related to the historical development of labor institutions and unions.
- Labor Issues Likely to Arise in the 93rd Congress
- This report discusses labor related topics of interest to the 93rd Congress.
- U.S. Manufacturing in International Perspective
- This report is designed to inform the debate over the health of U.S. manufacturing through a series of charts and tables that depict the position of the United States relative to other countries according to various metrics. Understanding which trends in manufacturing reflect factors that may be unique to the United States and which are related to broader changes in technology or consumer preferences may be helpful in formulating policies intended to aid firms or workers engaged in manufacturing activity.
- Workers' Compensation: Overview and Issues
- This report discusses workers' compensation, which provides cash and medical benefits to workers who are injured or become ill in the course of their employment and provides benefits to the survivors of workers killed on the job. Benefits are provided without regard to fault and are the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths.
- Trafficking in Persons and U.S. Foreign Policy Responses in the 114th Congress
- This report provides an overview of recent global trends and U.S. foreign policy responses to address human trafficking. The report focuses in particular on efforts conducted by the State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (J/TIP) and the President's Interagency Task Force (PITF) on human trafficking, as well as discussion of the 2016 TIP Report.
- Numerical Limits on Permanent Employment-Based Immigration: Analysis of the Per-country Ceilings
- The report opens with brief explanations of the employment-based preference categories and the per-country ceilings governing annual admissions of lawful permanent residents (LPRs). It continues with a statistical analysis of the pending caseload of approved employment-based LPR petitions and concludes with a set of legislative options to revise per-country ceilings that are meant to serve as springboards for further discussions.
- Social Security: Cost-of-Living Adjustments
- This report discusses the issues surrounding Social Security recipients that usually receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
- How Much Slack Remains in the Labor Market?
- The amount of "slack" in the labor market--jobless or underemployed workers--has consequences for the appropriate stance of monetary policy, the future path of the budget deficit, and counter-cyclical spending on programs such as unemployment insurance. This report briefly examines this concept in the context of the current economy.
- Unemployment Benefits: Legislative Issues in the 108th Congress
- This report discusses the federal-state unemployment compensation (UC) system, which pays benefits to covered workers who become involuntarily unemployed for economic reasons and meet state-established eligibility rules.
- The Buy American Act--Preferences for "Domestic" Supplies: In Brief
- This report discusses the Buy American Act of 1933, which is the earliest and arguably the best known of various statutes regarding federal procurement of domestic products. The act attempts to protect U.S. businesses and labor by restricting the acquisition and use of end products or construction materials that are not "domestic."
- The Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR)
- This report introduces the adverse effect wage rate (AEWR) and the concerns out of which it grew, from the perspective of labor policy (not of immigration policy). American agricultural employers have long utilized foreign workers on a temporary basis, regarding them as an important manpower resource. Often employed at low wages and under adverse conditions, such alien workers, some argue, may compete unfairly with U.S. workers. To mitigate any "adverse effect" for the domestic workforce, a system of wage floors was developed that applies, variously, both to alien and citizen workers.
- The Davis-Bacon Act: Issues and Legislation During the 108th Congress
- This report discusses the debate surrounding the Davis-Bacon Act (1931, as amended), which requires, among other things, that not less than the locally-prevailing wage be paid to workers employed in federal contract construction. Through recent decades, the Act has become a continuing source of contention, particularly regarding its impacts, whether it should be modified, strengthened, or repealed, and if it is being administered effectively.
- U.S. Manufacturing in International Perspective
- This report is designed to inform the debate over the health of U.S. manufacturing through a series of charts and tables that depict the position of the United States relative to other countries according to various metrics. Understanding which trends in manufacturing reflect factors that may be unique to the United States and which are related to broader changes in technology or consumer preferences may be helpful in formulating policies intended to aid firms or workers engaged in manufacturing activity.
- Social Security Reform: Economic Issues
- This report tackles the issue of Social Security reform from an economic perspective that focuses not merely on reform that achieves programmatic sustainability (sustainability within the trust fund), but reform that achieves sustainability for the government and economy as a whole. The President has indicated that Social Security reform will be a major issue in the 109th Congress. For some time comprehensive reform has been an issue of debate in Congress, but no major action has occurred.
- OSHA State Plans: In Brief, with Examples from California and Arizona
- This report examines various state plans under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act), which authorizes states to establish their own occupational safety and health plans and preempt standards established and enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). OSHA must approve state plans if they are "at least as effective" as OSHA's standards and enforcement. The report provides specific examples from California and Arizona