Congressional Research Service Reports - 14,864 Matching Results
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- Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and Its Role in U.S. Trade Policy
- This report covers the origin and history of the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA), created by Congress in the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 to help workers and firms adjust to economic dislocation that may be caused by trade liberalization. The report also covers Congressional disagreements over the effectiveness of TAA, and whether it should be renewed when it expires in February 2012.
- The UNESCO World Heritage Convention: Congressional Issues
- No Description Available.
- Cuba's Offshore Oil Development: Background and U.S. Policy Considerations
- This report looks at the background of Cuba's oil industry, and also three legislative initiatives introduced by the 112th Congress which take different approaches toward Cuba's offshore oil development.
- Fish and Wildlife Service: FY2012 Appropriations and Policy
- The annual Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriation funds agencies and program in three federal departments, as well as numerous related agencies and bureaus. Among the more controversial agencies represented in the bill is the Fish and Wildlife Service, in the Department of the Interior. This report analyzes the Fish and Wildlife Services funding levels contained in the FY2012 appropriations bill.
- Mail and Wire Fraud: A Brief Overview of Federal Criminal Law
- This report discusses ways in which mail and wire fraud can be federal crimes and penalties for conducting such crimes. It is a federal crime to devise a scheme to defraud another of property, when either mail or wire communications are used in furtherance of the scheme. Misconduct that constitutes mail or wire fraud may also constitute a violation of one or more other federal crimes.
- Mail and Wire Fraud: An Abridged Overview of Federal Criminal Law
- This report discusses ways in which mail and wire fraud can be federal crimes and penalties for conducting such crimes. It is a federal crime to devise a scheme to defraud another of property, when either mail or wire communications are used in furtherance of the scheme. Misconduct that constitutes mail or wire fraud may also constitute a violation of one or more other federal crimes.
- U.S. Nuclear Cooperation with India: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the United States' relationship with India as it regards nuclear nonproliferation and cooperation. It particularly looks at agreements made between the Bush administration and India, and the Obama administrations continuation of these policies.
- Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians
- This report presents statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001, and is ongoing. OEF actions take place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also includes American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.
- Africa Command: U.S. Strategic Interests and the Role of the U.S. Military in Africa
- This report provides information on U.S. Africa Command or (AFRICOM), including AFRICOM's mission, structure, interagency coordination, and its basing and manpower requirements. The report also gives a broad overview of U.S. strategic interests in Africa and the role of U.S. military efforts on the continent as they pertain to the creation of Africa Command.
- China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress
- The report discusses the question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort, including its naval modernization effort, that has emerged as a key issue in U.S. defense planning. The question of how the United States should respond to China's military modernization effort is of particular importance to the U.S. Navy, because many U.S. military programs for countering improved Chinese military forces would fall within the Navy's budget.
- International Criminal Court Cases in Africa: Status and Policy Issues
- The International Criminal Court (ICC) has, to date, opened cases exclusively in Africa. Cases concerning 25 individuals are open before the Court, pertaining to crimes allegedly committed in six African states: Libya, Kenya, Sudan (Darfur), Uganda (the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA), the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. This report provides background on current ICC cases and examines issues raised by the ICC's actions in Africa.
- State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs: FY2012 Budget and Appropriations
- This report focuses on the $59.65 billion requested for programs and activities funded through the State-Foreign Operations appropriations bill, which excludes some portions of the International Affairs request such as certain commissions and foreign food aid requested as part of other budget functions.
- U.S.-Mexican Security Cooperation: The Mérida Initiative and Beyond
- No Description Available.
- Afghanistan: Post-Taliban Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
- This report discusses the current political state of Iran, focusing particularly on the influence of the Taliban and other militant groups and on the leadership of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. This report also discusses the U.S.-Iran relationship and U.S. efforts under the Obama Administration to provide military, reconstructive, and stabilization aid.
- Challenge to the Boeing-Airbus Duopoly in Civil Aircraft: Issues for Competitiveness
- This report covers a major issue for policymakers: whether the United States can sustain its preeminent position in aerospace, given the intentions of numerous foreign manufacturers to enter the small commercial jet aircraft segment by 2016.
- The Republic of South Sudan: Opportunities and Challenges for Africa's Newest Country
- This report discusses the situation in South Sudan as it faces a number of challenges in the coming years. Relations between Juba, in South Sudan, and Khartoum are poor, and there are a number of unresolved issues between them. The crisis in the disputed area of Abyei remains a contentious issue, despite a temporary agreement reached in mid-June 2011.
- Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response: The SAFER Grant Program
- No Description Available.
- Treasury Securities and the U.S. Sovereign Credit Default Swap Market
- This report explains how the sovereign credit default swap (CDS) market works and how such CDS price trends may illuminate fiscal stresses facing sovereign governments. Although CDS prices may be imperfect measures of the federal government's fiscal condition, some investors may try to glean information from those price trends. CDS prices have been playing an important role in the European government debt markets and could potentially affect U.S debt markets in the future. European policymakers have debated certain restrictions on types of sovereign CDS trading, and such calls for reform may be of interest to U.S. lawmakers.
- Cyprus: Reunification Proving Elusive
- Attempts to resolve the Cyprus problem and reunify the island have undergone various levels of negotiation for over 45 years. Talks between Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have thus far failed to reach a mutually agreed settlement leaving the country with a solution for unification far from being achieved and raising the specter of a possible permanent separation. This report provides a brief overview of the early history of the negotiations, a more detailed review of the negotiations since 2008, and a description of some of the issues involved in the talks. A side issue involving trade between the European Union and Turkish Cyprus is also addressed.
- Freedom of Information Act (FOIA): Background and Policy Options for the 112th Congress
- The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA; 5 U.S.C. §552) enables any person to access—without explanation or justification—certain existing, identifiable, unpublished, executive branch agency records. Pursuant to FOIA, the public has presumptive access to requested agency records unless the material falls within any of FOIA's nine categories of exemption from disclosure. This report discusses FOIA's history, examines its implementation, and provides potential policy approaches for Congress.
- Guinea: Background and Relations with the United States
- This report gives an overview of Guinea and discusses the background information and relations with the United States
- Inflation: Causes, Costs, and Current Status
- This report describes the causes, costs, and current status of inflation.
- International Violence Against Women: U.S. Response and Policy Issues
- "This report addresses causes, prevalence, and consequences of violence against women (VAW). It provides examples of completed and ongoing U.S. activities that address VAW directly..." (from Summary) Updated July 26, 2011
- Statutory Limits on Total Spending as a Method of Budget Control
- No Description Available.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions
- No Description Available.
- U.S.-China Military Contacts: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses policy issues regarding military-to-military (mil-to-mil) contacts with the People's Republic of China (PRC) and provides a record of major contacts and crises since 1993.
- U.S.-Vietnam Relations in 2011: Current Issues and Implications for U.S. Policy
- No Description Available.
- The Gray Wolf and the Endangered Species Act (ESA): A Brief Legal History
- This report provides a brief history of the laws, regulations, and lawsuits related to the wolf's protected status.
- Legislative Procedure in Congress: Basic Sources for Congressional Staff
- Written for congressional staff, this report identifies and provides details on how to obtain official government sources of information on the legislative process and the rules and procedure of the House and Senate. References to selected CRS products are also provided, as well as a listing of selected titles for supplementary reading.
- Reaching the Debt Limit: Background and Potential Effects on Government Operations
- No Description Available.
- Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
- No Description Available.
- The Debt Limit: CRS Experts
- This report contains the names and contact information for CRS experts on policy concerns relating to the debt limit and legislative proposals to raise the debt limit.
- Kuwait: Security, Reform, and U.S. Policy
- No Description Available.
- Pakistan: U.S. Foreign Assistance
- This report discusses U.S. aid to Pakistan including an overview of current developments, a discussion of aid rendered before and after 9/11, the objectives of requesting aid during FY2012, and various issues that Congress needs to consider relating to this topic.
- The Supreme Court Decision in Microsoft v. i4i: Implications for Innovation Policy
- No Description Available.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Block Grant: An Introduction
- This report provides a nontechnical introduction to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant.
- U.N. System Development Assistance: Issues for Congress
- No Description Available.
- Brazil-U.S. Relations
- This report analysis Brazil's political, economic, and social conditions, and how those conditions affect its role in the world and its relationship with the United States.
- Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: Background, Recent Changes, and Current Legislative Issues
- This report discusses The Federal Pell Grant program, authorized by Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965. It also discusses about Program Funding, Current Legislative Issues and Budget Control Act of 2011.
- Foreign Assistance Act of 1961: Authorizations and Corresponding Appropriations
- This report presents the authorities of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended, and correlates those authorities with the operative appropriations measure that funds those authorities.
- Military Funeral Honors and Military Cemeteries: Frequently Asked Questions
- This report is written in response to frequently asked questions about military funeral honors and military cemeteries. It provides information on the eligibility criteria, required components of the honor detail, and the funeral ceremony. It also cites legislation that mandates that the Department of Defense (DOD) make military funeral honors available to every eligible veteran upon request.
- The Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Proposal: Criminal Provisions
- No Description Available.
- U.S. Agricultural Trade: Trends, Composition, Direction, and Policy
- No Description Available.
- Veterans' Medical Care: FY2012 Appropriations
- This report focuses on the VHA. The VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through the nation's largest integrated health care system. Veterans generally must enroll in the VA health care system to receive medical care. Eligibility for enrollment is based primarily on previous military service, disability, and income. VA provides free inpatient and outpatient medical care to veterans for service-connected conditions and to low-income veterans for nonservice-connected conditions.
- Youth Transitioning from Foster Care: Background and Federal Programs
- No Description Available.
- Railroad Retirement Board: Trust Fund Investment Practices
- No Description Available.
- Social Security: What Would Happen If the Trust Funds Ran Out?
- No Description Available.
- Taiwan: Major U.S. Arms Sales Since 1990
- This report, updated as warranted, discusses U.S. security assistance to Taiwan, or Republic of China (ROC), including policy issues for Congress and legislation.
- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Primer on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements
- No Description Available.
- Afghanistan Casualties: Military Forces and Civilians
- This report presents statistics from a variety of sources on casualties sustained during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF), which began on October 7, 2001, and is ongoing. OEF actions take place primarily in Afghanistan; however, OEF casualties also includes American casualties in Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Yemen.