Congressional Research Service Reports - 35 Matching Results

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Small Business Size Standards: A Historical Analysis of Contemporary Issues

Description: This report provides a historical examination of the Small Business Administration's SBA size standards, and assesses competing views concerning how to define a small business. It also discusses H.R. 585, the Small Business Size Standard Flexibility Act of 2011, which would have authorized the SBA's Office of Chief Counsel for Advocacy to approve or disapprove a size standard proposed by a federal agency if it deviates from the SBA's size standards.
Date: January 3, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

International Corporate Tax Rate Comparisons and Policy Implications

Description: This report focuses on the global issues relating to tax rate differentials between the United States and other countries. It provides tax rate comparisons; discusses policy implications, including the effect of a corporate rate cut on revenue, output, and national welfare; and discusses the outlook for and consequences of a revenue neutral corporate tax reform.
Date: January 6, 2014
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Role of Trade Secrets in Innovation Policy

Description: This report provides an overview of the law and policy of trade secrets. It discusses the role of trade secrets in six sections: Trade Secrets and Innovation Policy, An Overview of Trade Secret Law (Basic Principles, and Sources of Law), The Economic Espionage Act, Trade Secrets and Patents (Introduction to the Patent System, Trade Secrets and Patents Compared, and The Prior Commercial User Defense), Congressional Issues and Options, and Concluding Observations.
Date: January 15, 2014
Creator: Thomas, John R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Legal Protections for Subcontractors on Federal Prime Contracts

Description: This report provides an overview of the payment and other protections for subcontractors on certain federal prime contracts under the Miller Act, the 1988 amendments to the Prompt Payment Act, and the Small Business Act.
Date: January 27, 2014
Creator: Manuel, Kate M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Obama Administration's Proposal to Establish a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation

Description: This report discusses the proposed creation of the National Network for Manufacturing Innovation (NNMI), which would help accelerate innovation and support manufacturing technology commercialization. The report includes an overview of the topic as well as discussion on the Administration's proposal, preliminary activities, legislative status, and issues for consideration.
Date: January 29, 2014
Creator: Sargent, John F., Jr.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Independence of Federal Financial Regulators

Description: This report discusses institutional features that make federal financial regulators (as well as other independent agencies) relatively independent from the President and Congress.
Date: February 24, 2014
Creator: Hogue, Henry B.; Labonte, Marc & Webel, Baird
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

SBA Assistance to Small Business Startups: Client Experiences and Program Impact

Description: This report examines small business startups' experiences with the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) management and technical assistance training programs, focusing on Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women Business Centers (WBCs), and SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives); the 7(a), 504/CDC, and Microloan lending programs; and the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) venture capital program.
Date: February 26, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Training Programs

Description: This report examines small business startups' experiences with the Small Business Administration's (SBA's) management and technical assistance training programs -- focusing on Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs), Women Business Centers (WBCs), and SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) -- the 7(a), 504/CDC, and Microloan lending programs; and the Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) venture capital program.
Date: March 24, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Small Business Management and Technical Assistance Training Programs

Description: This report examines the historical development of federal small business management and technical assistance training programs; describes their current structures, operations, and budgets; and assesses their administration and oversight and the measures used to determine their effectiveness. It also discusses several bills introduced during the 111th and 112th Congresses that would have authorized changes to the SBA's management and technical assistance training programs in an effort to improv… more
Date: March 24, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert Jay
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers

Description: This report discusses the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) program for firms (TAAF). The TAAF program provides technical assistance to trade-affected firms to help them develop strategies and make other adjustments to remain competitive in the changing international economy.
Date: March 26, 2014
Creator: Jurenas, Remy
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Small Business Administration Trade and Export Promotion Programs

Description: This report begins with the history, role, and scope of SBA's export promotion activities, and the creation of OIT. Next, quantitative data from SBA and qualitative data from other sources are used to provide performance analysis of SBA's international programs. This report concludes with a presentation of three issues for consideration during an era where concerns of fiscal responsibility and economic recovery are high priorities for many policy makers.
Date: April 2, 2014
Creator: Lowry, Sean
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Oil Sands and the Keystone XL Pipeline: Background and Selected Environmental Issues

Description: This report focuses on selected environmental concerns raised in conjunction with the proposed pipeline and the oil sands crude it will transport. As such, the environmental issues discussed in this report do not represent an exhaustive list of concerns and issues. Moreover, many of the environmental concerns are not unique to oil sands. One could compose analogous lists for all forms of energy: coal, natural gas, nuclear, biofuels, conventional crude oil. Therefore, the oil sands/pipeline issu… more
Date: April 14, 2014
Creator: Ramseur, Jonathan L.; Lattanzio, Richard K.; Luther, Linda; Parfomak, Paul W. & Carter, Nicole T.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Selected Recently Expired Business Tax Provisions ("Tax Extenders")

Description: This report briefly summarizes and discusses the economic impact of selected business-related tax provisions that expired at the end of 2013 and that are being considered for extension.
Date: April 30, 2014
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Marples, Donald J. & Sherlock, Molly F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The Power to Regulate Commerce: Limits on Congressional Power

Description: This report discusses the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution, which provides that the Congress shall have the power to regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
Date: May 16, 2014
Creator: Thomas, Kenneth R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

SBA Veterans Assistance Programs: An Analysis of Contemporary Issues

Description: This report opens with an examination of the current economic circumstances of veteran-owned businesses drawn from the Bureau of the Census 2007 Survey of Business Owners, which was administered in 2008 and 2009, and released on May 17, 2011. It also provides a brief overview of veteran employment experiences, describes the employment assistance programs offered by several federal agencies to assist veterans in their transition from the military to the civilian labor force, and examines related… more
Date: June 5, 2014
Creator: Dilger, Robert J. & Lowry, Sean
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

The U.S. Wine Industry and Selected Trade Issues with the European Union

Description: This report provides an overview of issues pertaining to the U.S. wine industry within ongoing U.S. trade negotiations in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the proposed Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP).
Date: July 24, 2014
Creator: Johnson, Renée
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Algeria: Current Issues

Description: Report discussing the Algeria's current political and social issues and the effects they have on United States and Algerian relations.
Date: July 29, 2014
Creator: Arieff, Alexis
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms: Economic, Program, and Policy Issues

Description: This report discusses the Trade Adjustment Assistance for Firms (TAAF) program and policy issues, as well as legislation to reauthorize the TAAF program. It provides technical assistance to help trade-impacted firms make strategic adjustments to improve their global competitiveness.
Date: August 4, 2014
Creator: Harrison, Glennon J.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Grants Work in a Congressional Office

Description: This report provides information about the Grants Work in a Congressional Office. An internal grant manual is a valuable tool for grants staff to develop. It can also outline office proceedings and policies.
Date: August 14, 2014
Creator: Gerli, Merete F.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
open access

Offshore Drilling Safety: A Status Report

Description: This report describes selected Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) safety reforms, provides a concise summary of relevant offshore safety milestones, and offers insights about policy discussions related to safety. As part of overseeing DOI safety reforms initiated in 2010, the 113th Congress is placing an emphasis on agency performance associated with implementing reforms to improve safety initiated in 2010.
Date: August 14, 2014
Creator: Hagerty, Curry L.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Government Assistance for GMAC/Ally Financial: Unwinding the Government Stake

Description: This report explains the governments relationship with Ally Financial (formerly known as General Motors Acceptance Corporation, or GMAC). Under the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) the government purchased preferred shares in Ally Financial, acquiring a 73.8% ownership state. This report discusses the reasoning behind this assistance to Ally and the ultimate costs.
Date: September 3, 2014
Creator: Webel, Baird & Canis, Bill
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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