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CRS Issue Statement on Climate Change
This report discusses the congressional activities that have included ratification of the UNFCCC (1992), enactment of implementing legislation and funding of research and development of climate change.
Deregulating Genetically Engineered Alfalfa and Sugar Beets: Legal and Administrative Responses
Monsanto Corporation, the developer of herbicide-tolerant varieties of genetically engineered alfalfa and sugar beet petitioned USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service for the regulation of the items. Deregulation of genetically engineered plants is the final step in the commercialization process. Monsanto filed a petition for deregulation of its genetically engineered alfalfa in 2004, and for genetically engineered sugar beets in 2005.
Committee System Rules Changes in the House, 108th Congress
This fact sheet details changes in the committee system contained in H. Res. 5, the rules of the House for the 108th Congress, adopted by the House January 7, 2003. It contains information on the committee organization and structure, committee procedure, and committee staff.
Child Labor in America: History, Policy, and Legislative Issues
The history of child labor in America is long and unsavory. It dates back to the founding of the United States. Traditionally, most children, except for the privileged few, has always worked - either for their parents or for an outside employer. Through the years, however, child labor practices have changed. This report details the history of child labor in American, the Child Labor Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the re-emergence of the child labor issue in the late 20th century, and child labor initiatives in the 108th-112th Congresses.
Conservation Compliance and U.S. Farm Policy
The report discusses the Food Security Act of 1985 that included a number of significant conservation provisions designed to reduce production and conserve soil and water resources. It points out Conservation Compliance Today and Issues for the Next Farm Bill.
Critical Infrastructures: Background, Policy, and Implementation
The nation's health, wealth, and security rely on the production and distribution of certain goods and services. The array of physical assets, functions, and systems across which these goods and services move are called critical infrastructures. This report discusses in more detail the evolution of a national critical infrastructure policy and the institutional structures established to implement it. The report highlights five issues of Congressional concern: identifying critical assets; assessing vulnerabilities and risks; allocating resources; information sharing; and, regulation.
Leaving Congress: House of Representatives and Senate Departures Data Since 1989. June 2013
This report provides data on those Members who have announced an intention to retire at the completion of the 113th Congress (2013-2014)
Criminal Prohibitions on the Publication of Classified Defense Information
This report discusses the statutory prohibitions that may be implicated, including the Espionage Act; the extraterritorial application of such statutes; and the First Amendment implications related to such prosecutions against domestic or foreign media organizations and associated individuals.
Consumer Product Safety Commission: Current Issues
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, one of the agency's two current Commissioners stated recently, is at a crossroads. According to Commissioner Thomas Moore, either Congress will reverse the agency's steady decline or the Consumer Product Safety Commission will become so weakened as to be irrelevant. This report details a background of the commission, recent recalls, congressional concerns, and more as related to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Head Start: Background and Issues
Head Start is a federal program that has provided comprehensive early childhood development services to low-income children since 1965. Services provided to preschool-aged children include child development, educational, health, nutritional, social and other activities, intended to prepare low-income children for entering kindergarten. This report provides an overview of Head Start, along with a list of its issues.
The Congressional Research Service and the American Legislative Process
This report includes a description of the Congressional Research Service and it's benefits to the American Legislative Process
Generalized System of Preferences
This report provides information about the Generalized System of Preferences which provides duty-free treatment for products that are imported from some designated countries. The main purpose is to promote economic growth.
Libya: Background and U.S. Relations. February 2011
This report provides background information on Libya and U.S.-Libyan relations.
9/11 Commission: Legislative Action Concerning U.S. Immigration Law and Policy in the 108th Congress
From Summary: "This report discusses some of the major immigration areas that were under consideration in the above-mentioned comprehensive reform proposals, including asylum, biometric tracking systems, border security, document security, exclusion, immigration enforcement, and visa issuances."
Andean-U.S. Free-Trade Agreement Negotiations
This Report is categorized into four categories: (I) Background, (II) U.S.-Andean Trade, (III) Selected Issues in the Negotiations and (IV) Prospects.
Bills and Resolutions: Examples of How Each Kind Is Used
This report provides background information regarding the bill and joint resolution, which must be passed by both houses in identical form, then presented to the President for his approval or disapproval.
Federal White-Collar Pay: FY2004 Salary Adjustments
This report provides the details related to Salary adjustments of Federal white-collar employees for the Fiscal Year 2004
Iran: Current Developments and U.S. Policy
This report includes information regarding Iranian current developments and U.S. policy. Iran's strategic buildup, Iranian foreign policy and terrorism involvement, and human rights concerns are among topics discussed in this report.
Child Welfare Issues in the 108th Congress
This report discusses child welfare services that seek to protect children who have been abused or neglected or who are at risk of maltreatment. It also point out child welfare financing and other child welfare issues.
Chinese Economic Growth: How Will It Affect the U.S. Gains from Trade?
This report is categorized into six categories: (I) Economic Growth and the Gains from Trade, (II) The Economic Significance of the Terms of Trade, (III) What will change the U.S. Economy's Terms of Trade?, (IV) China's effect on the U.S. Terms of Trade, (V) Economics Policy and the terms of trade and (VI) Conclusion.
Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting, 1993-2000
This report describes executive and legislative activities relating to research and development budgets and priority-setting that occurred primarily during FY1993 to FY2001, the period of the two Clinton Administrations.
Freedom of Speech and Press: Exceptions to the First Amendment
This report provides an overview of the major exceptions to the First Amendment — of the ways that the Supreme Court has interpreted the guarantee of freedom of speech and press to provide no protection or only limited protection for some types of speech.
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Aging Infrastructure
This report describes Reclamation's approach to managing aging infrastructure as well as that of two other agencies--- the army corps of engineers and the natural resources conservation service--involved with significant portfolios of dams and related infrastructure.
S. 2262, Shaheen-Portman Bill 2014: Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act
This report reviews the Senate bill S.2262 and considers the contentious pieces of the bill. Moreover, the report addresses possible amendments to the bill. The report also covers the budget of S. 2262 and describes the expansions it aims to make with energy restrictions and the enforcement of those restrictions.
Appropriations for FY1998: Defense
The report discusses national defense foreign affairs. It also points out defense budget trends, key budget and policy issues and legislation.
DHS Headquarters Consolidation Project: Issues for Congress
The purpose of this report is to outline the policy considerations to be evaluated in deciding whether to continue funding the consideration of the remaining DHS headquarters functions at St. Elizabeth's, and to explore some of the benefits and consequences of several possible ways forward.
Characteristics of and Reporting Requirements for Selected Tax-Exempt Organizations
This report addresses the differences among the tax-exempt organizations described in Internal Revenue Code subsections 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(5), 501(c)(6), and section 527. Each type of organization has a unique statutory definition, enjoy benefits from obtaining tax-exempt status, is subject to statutory limitations on its activities, and must disclose certain information to the IRS and the general public. At the end of the report is a chart that summarizes the organizations' characteristics and reporting requirements.
Foreign Direct Investment in the United States: An Economic Analysis
Foreign direct investment in the United States declined sharply after 2000, when a record $300 billion was invested in U.S. businesses and real estate. In 2004, according to preliminary data, foreigners invested about $100 billion. Foreign direct investments are highly sought after by State and local governments that are struggling to create additional jobs in their localities.
FY2003 and FY2004 State Allocations for Selected Homeland Security Assistance Programs
This report shows the state allocations for DHS and HHS homeland security assistance programs, as reported by theur department documents or press reeases.
Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants
Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify water that is impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, states must establish a total maximum daily load of pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained. This report contains background information, implementation, and issues for Congress as relating to the Clean Water Act.
The Congressional Budget Process Timetable
The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 established the congressional budget process, which coordinates the legislative activities on the budget resolution, appropriations bills, reconciliation legislation, revenue measures, and other budgetary legislation. This report provides a timetable in which the congressional budget process takes place.
Campus-Based Student Financial Aid Programs Under the Higher Education Act
This report describes the FSEOG, FWS, and Federal Perkins Loan programs, as amended by the HEOA. It also presents historical information on appropriations provided for the programs and the federal student aid that has been made available to students through the programs.
Postal Reform
This report includes background and analysis of the United States postal reform. Causes of financial crisis, transformative plans, and activity from past congresses are also discussed in this report.
India’s New Government and Implications for U.S. Interests
This report reviews the major current issues in U.S. -India relations, including areas of both cooperation and contention, the latter most visible in trade and economic engagement in recent years.
Aviation Taxes and Fees: Major Issues
This report provides an overview of the existing aviation tax structure and provides a brief discussion of some of the issues associated with it.
Charitable Contributions of Food Inventory: Proposals for Change
Major legislation involving changes to tax incentives for charitable giving has been introduced in the first session of the 109th Congress. Both S. 6, the Family and Community Protection Act of 2005, and S. 94, the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Taz Incentive Act, were introduced to encourage gifts of food by businesses for charitable purposes. These bills propose to expand current law, which provides an enhanced deduction only to C corporations, to include all business entities.
Health Insurance Coverage: Characteristics of the Insured and Uninsured Populations in 2001. November 2002
This report examines characteristics of both the insured and the uninsured populations in the United States.
Global Climate Change
This report includes information regarding global climate change and its recent developments, background, science and policy, and international action being taken.
The Budget for Fiscal Year 2003
This report discusses the policy, economic, and technical factors that contributed to higher spending and lower receipts, raising the deficit substantially from what was originally proposed.
Nuclear Nonproliferation Issues
This report includes information regarding nuclear proliferation issues. Aspects of this report discuss international nonproliferation structures, U.S. policy, and nuclear proliferation in specific regions.
The Amending Process in the Senate
This report addresses the amending process in the Senate.
Clean Water Act and Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) of Pollutants
Section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act requires states to identify water that is impaired by pollution, even after application of pollution controls. For those waters, states must establish a total maximum daily load of pollutants to ensure that water quality standards can be attained. This report contains background information, implementation, and issues for Congress as relating to the Clean Water Act.
Amendments in the House: Types and Forms
This report addresses Types and Forms of Amendments in the House.
Human Rights in China and U.S. Policy. July 2011
This report examines human rights conditions in China, including the 2011 crackdown on rights activists and dissent.
Electrical Power: Overview of Congressional Issues
This report provides an overview of the Congressional issues on electrical power. It also discusses about Adequacy and Reliability of the Grid.
Franking Privilege: Historical Development and Options for Change
This report contains an overview of the historical development and options for change on the franking privilege.
The Davis-Bacon Act and Changes in Prevailing Wage Rates, 2000 to 2008
This report contains the information about The Davis-Bacon Act. It further discusses the comparison of Davis-Bacon Prevailing wages with Average Hourly Wages from the Occupational Employment Statistics (OES) Survey.
Foreign Assistance: Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)
This report Discusses about Evolution of the Private Sector Role in U.S. Development Assistance, U.S. Government Development Partners, Potential Benefits of Public-Private Partnerships and Issues for Congress.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Appropriations for FY2011
This document provides the appropriations for FY2011. A comparison is shown in the amount of funding given throughout the years and how the President is wanting to decrease the funding presently (2011). The document continues to describe in detail the funding given for clean water and drinking water along with its changes. The appropriations for prominent issues such as, climate change, hazardous waste clean-up, and the restoration of The Great Lakes are also described.
Appropriations for FY1998: Department of Transportation and Related Agencies
This report is the synopsis of selected DOT Programs and the House and Senate funding recommended for those programs.
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