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open access

Climate Change: The Role of the U.S. Agriculture Sector

Description: This report is organized in three parts. First, it discusses the extent of GHG emissions associated with the U.S. agriculture sector, and cites current and potential estimates for U.S. agricultural soils to sequester carbon and partly offset national GHG emissions. Second, the report describes the types of land management and farm conservation practices that can reduce GHG emissions and/or sequester carbon in agricultural soils, highlighting those practices that are currently promoted under exi… more
Date: May 5, 2008
Creator: Johnson, Renée
open access

Coal Mine Safety and Health

Description: This report begins by reviewing the record of working conditions in the coal mining industry. It then describes the regulatory regime and recent funding of the U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration. The report closes with an analysis of current regulatory and legislative initiatives.
Date: September 5, 2008
Creator: Levine, Linda
open access

Congressional Influence on Rulemaking and Regulation Through Appropriations Restrictions

Description: This report examines the Consolidated Appropriations Act for 2008, and identifies four types of such provisions: (1) restrictions on the finalization of particular proposed rules, (2) restrictions on regulatory activity within certain areas, (3) implementation or enforcement restrictions, and (4) conditional restrictions (e.g., preventing implementation of a rule until certain actions are taken). The report then examines appropriations acts in nine previous fiscal years, noting that some provis… more
Date: August 5, 2008
Creator: Copeland, Curtis W.
open access

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Congressional Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and describes its background, objectives, and structure, including the role of the Convention's monitoring body, the CEDAW Committee. It examines U.S. policy and issues in the U.S. ratification debate, including the Convention's possible impact on U.S. sovereignty, its effectiveness in combating discrimination, and its role as an instrument of U.S. foreign policy.
Date: August 5, 2008
Creator: Blanchfield, Luisa
open access

Economic Slowdown: Issues and Policies

Description: This report first discusses the current state of the economy, including measures that have already been taken by the monetary authorities, and assesses the need for and potential consequences of fiscal stimulus. The second part of the report reviews the proposals discussed during debate on the recently enacted fiscal stimulus, both those adopted and those considered but not adopted.
Date: September 5, 2008
Creator: Gravelle, Jane G.; Hungerford, Thomas L.; Labonte, Marc; Weiss, N. E. & Whittaker, Julie M.
open access

Emergency Communications Legislation: Implications for the 110th Congress

Description: This report discusses the legislation addressing communications among first responders focused first on interoperability -- the capability of different systems to connect -- with provisions in the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296).
Date: August 5, 2008
Creator: Moore, Linda K.
open access

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Legislation in the 110th Congress

Description: This report summarizes action on more than 360 energy efficiency and renewable energy bills introduced during the 110th Congress.1 These bills cover a wide range of policy and issue areas that include appropriations, authorizations, budget, research and development (R&D), grants, loans, financing, regulation (including a renewable fuel standard), tax incentives, goals, plans, impacts, and the environment/climate change.2 Most of these bills have focused on grants and tax incentives. The bills a… more
Date: June 5, 2008
Creator: Sissine, Fred; Cunningham, Lynn J. & Gurevitz, Mark
open access

Federal Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Taxes: A Description of Current Law

Description: This report contains an explanation of the major provisions of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. The discussion divides the federal estate tax into three components: the gross estate, deductions from the gross estate, and computation of the tax, including allowable tax credits. The federal estate tax is computed through a series of adjustments and modifications of a tax base known as the "gross estate." Certain allowable deductions reduce the gross estate to the … more
Date: January 5, 2008
Creator: Luckey, John R.
open access

Federal Research and Development Funding: FY2008

Description: This report discusses the U.S. research and development (R&D) enterprise, and its support for federal R&D activities.
Date: February 5, 2008
Creator: Sargent, John F.; Matthews, Christine M.; Moteff, John D.; Morgan, Daniel; Smith, Pamela W. & Morrissey, Wayne A.
open access

Health Insurance: Uninsured by State, 2005-2007

Description: This report is based on data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey (CPS), an estimated 45.7 million people lacked health insurance coverage in 2007, representing 15.3% of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population.
Date: September 5, 2008
Creator: Peterson, Chris L. & Grady, April
open access

Heritage Areas: Background, Proposals, and Current Issues

Description: This report focuses on heritage areas designated by Congress and related issues and legislation. Over more than two decades, Congress has established 40 National Heritage Areas (NHAs) to commemorate, conserve, and promote areas that include important natural, scenic, historic, cultural, and recreational resources.
Date: September 5, 2008
Creator: Vincent, Carol Hardy & Whiteman, David L.
open access

Intelligence Reform at the Department of Energy: Policy Issues and Organizational Alternatives

Description: This report analyzes two consolidations of separate counterintelligence (CI) office — the first authorized by Congress at the Department of Energy's (DOE) request; the second initiated by DOE — and examines the impact of each on the effectiveness of the Department's CI program. A major oversight issue for Congress is whether either, or both, organizational changes will strengthen the Department's CI program as intended. Some observers are concerned that the two consolidations may have undercut … more
Date: December 5, 2008
Creator: Cumming, Alfred
open access

Military Funeral Honors and Military Cemetaries: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report is written in response to frequently asked questions about military funeral honors and military cemeteries. The report also 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.
Date: February 5, 2008
Creator: Oboroceanu, Mari-Jana "M-J"
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