Congressional Research Service Reports - 518 Matching Results
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- Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress
- This report discusses the United States and Mexico relations and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The major issues discussed by Congress are trade, migration/border security, drug trafficking, and political issues.
- 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.
- Social Security Reform
- This report examines the debate over the future of the Social Security system. It includes discussion of recent developments; background and analysis with information about the basic debate, specific area of contention, reform initiatives; and relevant legislation.
- Natural Resources: Selected Issues for the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Trade Negotiations During the 109th Congress
- This report discusses trade issues in the 109th Congress. For over 50 years, U.S. trade officials have negotiated multilateral trade agreements to achieve lower trade barriers and rules to cover international trade. During the 108th Congress, U.S. officials negotiated and Congress approved four bilateral free-trade agreements with Australia, Chile, Morocco, and Singapore.
- Membership of the 109th Congress: A Profile
- No Description Available.
- Transportation Security: Issues for the 109th Congress
- The nation’s air, land, and marine transportation systems are designed for accessibility and efficiency, two characteristics that make them highly vulnerable to a terrorist attacks. While hardening the transportation sector from terrorist attacks is difficult, reasonable measures can be taken to deter terrorists. The focus of this issue brief is how best to construct and finance a system of deterrence, protection, and response that effectively reduces the possibility and consequences of another terrorist attack without unduly interfering with travel, commerce, and civil liberties.
- Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade: Key Issues for the 109th Congress
- This report provides key issues for the 109th Congress regarding Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade. Among the 109th Congress' first orders of business will be dealing with the policy priorities - both domestic and foreign, as well as issues of business including U.S. foreign and security policy, global issues, defense policy, and more.
- Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress
- This report discusses major decisions on clean air issues facing the courts and the executive branch in 2006. One focus will be EPA's recent proposal to strengthen air quality standards for fine particles. Other issues of continuing interest are EPA's 2005 decisions limiting interstate transport of air pollution and establishing cap-and-trade systems for emissions from coal fired power plants, and the agency's proposed changes to New Source Review.
- Water Resource Issues in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Committee System Rules Changes in the House, 109th Congress
- This fact sheet details changes in the committee system contained in H.Res. 5, the rules of the House for the 109th Congress, agreed to by the House January 4, 2005, and the Speaker’s announced policies.
- Major Tax Issues in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Mexico-U.S. Relations: Issues for the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- House Rules Changes Affecting the Congressional Budget Process in the 109th Congress (H.Res.5)
- On the opening day of the 109th Congress, the House made several rules changes affecting the congressional budget process. The House amended its standing rules regarding the composition of the Budget Committee to provide for the inclusion of a Member “designated by” each party’s elected leadership, instead of a Member “from” each party’s leadership.
- Organization and Mission of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate: Issues During the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Cuba: Issues for the 109th Congress
- This report, which will be updated regularly, examines issues in U.S.-Cuban relations and tracks legislative initiatives on Cuba in the 109th Congress. The 109th Congress will likely continue an active interest in Cuba concerning human rights, debate over economic sanctions (especially on travel), food and agricultural exports to Cuba, terrorism issues, Radio and TV Marti, bilateral anti-drug cooperation, and migration issues.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 109th Congress
- Over the past two decades, the Latin America and Caribbean region has made enormous strides in terms of political and economic development. Legislative and oversight attention to Latin America and the Caribbean in the 109th Congress has focused on continued counternarcotics efforts; trade issues; challenges to democracy, especially in Venezuela; efforts to bring political stability and ameliorate poverty in Haiti; efforts to foster political change in Cuba; and cooperation on migration and border security, especially with Mexico. This report provides an overview of U.S. relations with Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on the role of Congress and congressional concerns.
- Latin America and the Caribbean: Issues for the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Trade Negotiations During the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Energy Policy: Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress
- While introduction of energy legislation in the 109th Congress is pending, it remains unclear what its course may be. Some believe that the results of the fall 2004 election have heightened prospects for opening up the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas development, and the Republican leadership has indicated that ANWR is to be included in the budget resolution that will come before Congress. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Pete Domenici has indicated that the committee will mark up a comprehensive bill in February. However, Senator Domenici also expressed openness to considering individual bills; he and others are interested in legislation to establish a long-term leasing plan for natural gas resources.
- Clean Water Act Issues in the 109th Congress
- This report discusses various issues in the 109th Congress pertaining to water infrastructure and water quality standards. Legislative initiatives to comprehensively amend the Clean Water Act (CWA) have stalled for some time as interested parties have debated whether and exactly how to change the law. Congress has recently focused legislative attention on narrow bills to extend or modify selected CWA programs, rather than taking up comprehensive proposals.
- Continuity of Operations (COOP) in the Executive Branch: Issues in the 109th Congress
- Spurred in part by occasional warnings of potential terrorist threats in the post- 9/11 era, some policymakers have intensified their focus on continuity of operations (COOP) issues. COOP planning is a segment of federal government contingency planning linked to continuity of government (COG). Together, COOP and COG are designed to ensure survival of a constitutional form of government and the continuity of essential federal functions. This report focuses primarily on executive branch COOP activities.
- Consumer Bankruptcy Reform in the 109th Congress: Background and Issues
- This report reviews the historical context which forms the background for renewed consideration of consumer reform legislation, including a review of the current law and a survey of selected issues that have been the focus of legislative debate in the part, such as the scope of the homeland exemption, nondischargeability for liability current by violent activity, and the protection of child support payments.
- Food Safety Issues in the 109th Congress
- This report provides an overview of federal food safety activities and issues of concern to Congress
- Detection of Explosives on Airline Passengers: Recommendation of the 9/11 Commission and Related Issues
- This report discusses options for airline passenger explosives trace detection, ongoing federal R&D efforts and pilot equipment deployments, and policy issues related to the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458). The legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to place high priority on developing and deploying equipment for passenger explosives screening; requires TSA to submit a strategic plan for deploying such equipment; and authorizes additional research funding.
- Major Tax Issues in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005,” S. 256, in the 109th Congress
- This reports surveys selected provisions that have been of interest to past congresses that have considered comparable legislation.
- The Endangered Species Act in the 109th Congress: Conflicting Values and Difficult Choices
- No Description Available.
- Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
- No Description Available.
- House Rules Changes Affecting Floor Procedures in the 109th Congress
- On the first day of the 109th Congress, the House agreed to H.Res. 5, which made several rules changes affecting floor proceedings. These modifications include allowing committees to adopt rules giving chairs the general authority to make the motion necessary to send a measure to the conference; adding Wednesdays to the permissible days on which suspension motions may be entertained; eliminating the Corrections Calendar; amending the rules of decorum and debate regarding references to the Senate and its members; and granting the Speaker added authority to postpone votes on certain questions.
- Membership of the 109th Congress: A Profile
- No Description Available.
- Class Actions and Legislative Proposals in the 109th Congress: Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
- This report addresses Class Actions and Legislative proposals in the 109th Congress of Class Action Fairness Act of 2005.
- Clean Air Act Issues in the 109th Congress
- This report provides background and analysis on several issues related to the Clean Air Act, including: Clear Skies / Multi-Pollutant Legislation, Mercury from Power Plants, New Source Review (NSR), MTBE and Ethanol, Ozone Nonattainment Area Deadlines, and Conformity of Transportation Plans and SIPs. It also discusses the most recent developments.
- Amtrak: Budget and Reauthorizaton
- This issue brief discusses reform proposals from both the Administration and Amtrak in the 109th Congress. It addresses the appropriations requested by Amtrak, the reluctance of the Administration to provide aid, and its willingness to let Amtrak enter bankruptcy, resulting in restructuring and reform of inefficient operations.
- Freedom of Information Act Amendments: 109th Congress
- This report discusses the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which was designed to enable any person — individual or corporate, regardless of citizenship — to request, without explanation or justification, presumptive access to existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records on any topic.
- Rehabilitation Act of 1973: 109th Congress Legislation and FY2006 Budget Request
- The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the nation’s major program to provide comprehensive vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to help persons with physical and mental disabilities achieve employment goals and full integration into society. Authorization of appropriations for the Rehabilitation Act expired in FY2003. Although the 108th Congress considered legislation to reauthorize the Act, no final action was taken.
- Senate Committee Funding Resolutions, 109th Congress, and Funding Authorizations 104th-109th Congresses
- All standing and select committees of the Senate (except for the Appropriations and Ethics Committees) obtain their operating budgets pursuant to a biennial committee funding resolution.
- House Committee Funding Legislation, 109th Congress
- This report provides committee funding requests for the 109th Congress and authorizations for House committees in the 104th - 108th Congresses.
- Medical Malpractice Liability Reform: H.R. 534, 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- The National Preparedness System: Issues in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR): Controversies for the 109th Congress
- This report discusses the ongoing debate about whether or not to approve energy development in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Current law forbids energy leasing in the Refuge. This report addresses several legislative options on the issue, as well as policymakers' arguments for and against development, especially in the wake of increasing terrorism since 2000-2001.
- Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board: 109th Congress Proposed Refinements
- No Description Available.
- The “Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005” in the 109th Congress
- This report discusses about Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005.
- Tax Preferences for Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs): Current Law and Legislative Initiatives in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2005 (H.R. 1360, 109th Congress)
- No Description Available.
- Federal Research and Development: Budgeting and Priority-Setting Issues, 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): Army Corps of Engineers Authorization Issues in the 109th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Membership of the 109th Congress: A Profile
- No Description Available.
- Trade Issues in the 109th Congress: Policy Challenges and Opportunities
- The 108th Congress completed a full trade agenda with the passage of legislation on a broad spectrum of issues. The 109th Congress is expected to face a trade agenda that will be at least as extensive, covering a wide range of issues, from the extension of presidential trade promotion (fast track) authority to consideration of more free trade agreements and oversight of the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations. In some respects, these issues are distinct, each with its own policy and economic implications. In other respects the issues are interrelated. They have emerged from common sets of domestic politics, foreign policy, and economic factors and affect or are affected by the concerns of Members of Congress, of other policymakers and of many interest groups. These issues and how policymakers deal with them will define overall U.S. trade policy.
- Air Quality: Multi-Pollutant Legislation in the 109th Congress
- This report discusses air pollutants (petroleum, natural gas, and coal), which account for about two-thirds of U.S. electricity generation. These gases include several pollutants that directly pose risks to human health and welfare. The report also discusses the utilities that are subject to an array of environmental regulations.