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open access

U.S.-EU Cooperation on Ukraine and Russia

Description: This report examines the U.S. and EU reactions to the crisis in Ukraine, focusing on the EU's hesitation to issue severe sanctions on par with the U.S. prior to the crash of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. The report discusses the EU's new, wider-ranging sanctions in the wake of MH17 and its implications on U.S.-EU relations.
Date: August 7, 2014
Creator: Archick, Kristin & Mix, Derek E.
open access

Reform of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC): Selection of Judges

Description: This report surveys the process of "designation," an alternative method used by Congress that allows current federal judges to serve temporarily on another federal court without undergoing a separate constitutional appointment. It explores how a reviewing court might evaluate the constitutionality of these proposals that would shift the authority to select Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) judges away from the Chief Justice alone, and vest it in other officials within the judicial, e… more
Date: May 7, 2014
Creator: Chu, Vivian S.
open access

The Military Commissions Act of 2009 (MCA 2009): Overview and Legal Issues

Description: This report provides a background and analysis comparing military commissions as envisioned under the revised Military Commissions Act (MCA) to those established by the MCA 2006. After reviewing the history of the implementation of military commissions in the armed conflict against Al Qaeda and associated forces, the report provides an overview of the procedural safeguards provided in the MCA. Finally, the report provides two charts comparing the MCA as amended by the MCA 2009 to the original M… more
Date: March 7, 2014
Creator: Elsea, Jennifer K.
open access

Federal Pollution Control Laws: How Are They Enforced?

Description: This report focuses on enforcement of federal environmental pollution control requirements under the Clean Air Act (CAA); the Clean Water Act (CWA); the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund); and other statutes for which EPA is the primary federal implementing agency.1 The report provides a brief synopsis of the statutory framework that serves as the basis for pollution control enforcement, including an overview of the key players responsibl… more
Date: October 7, 2014
Creator: Esworthy, Robert
open access

Low-Income Assistance Programs: Trends in Federal Spending

Description: This report examines the spending trends of 10 major need-tested benefit programs or groups of programs: (1) health care from Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP); (2) the refundable portion of the health insurance tax credit enacted in the 2010 health care reform law; (3) the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); (4) assisted housing; (5) financial assistance for post-secondary students (Pell Grants); (6) compensatory education grants to school districts; (7)… more
Date: May 7, 2014
Creator: Falk, Gene
open access

Congressional Budget Resolutions: Historical Information

Description: This report provides current and historical information on the budget resolution. It provides a list of the budget resolutions adopted and rejected by Congress since implementation of the Budget Act, and describes their formulation and content. The report also provides information on the consideration and adoption of budget resolutions.
Date: February 7, 2014
Creator: Heniff, Bill, Jr.
open access

Forestry Assistance Programs

Description: This report describes the current forestry assistance programs and presents basic information on the programs to assist forestry practices, forest protection, forest recovery, and rural economies
Date: January 7, 2014
Creator: Hoover, Katie
open access

Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism

Description: This report provides background information regarding the prison population in the United States that has been growing steadily for more than 30 years. The report presents correctional system statistics and discusses the federal government's involvement in offender reentry programs and the Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) that was enacted on April 9, 2008.
Date: January 7, 2014
Creator: James, Nathan
open access

What Is the Farm Bill?

Description: This report discusses the farm bill, which is an omnibus, multi-year piece of authorizing legislation that governs an array of agricultural and food programs.
Date: April 7, 2014
Creator: Johnson, Renée & Monke, Jim
open access

Iran Sanctions

Description: This report discusses the recent development regarding the negotiations with Iran about its nuclear program. It provides background information on Iranian nuclear program and debates the November 24 Joint Plan of Action Elements.
Date: May 7, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
open access

Oman: Reform, Security, and U.S. Policy

Description: This report describes the relationship between the United States and the Sultanate of Oman, especially with respect to Oman's support of U.S. efforts toward peace in the Middle East, the U.S. free trade agreement with Oman, and Oman's relatively close relations with Iran.
Date: July 7, 2014
Creator: Katzman, Kenneth
open access

An Introduction to the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit

Description: This report discusses the low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) program, which is one of the federal government’s primary policy tools for encouraging the development and rehabilitation of affordable rental housing. These non-refundable federal housing tax credits are awarded to developers of qualified rental projects via a competitive application process administered by state housing finance authorities.
Date: November 7, 2014
Creator: Keightley, Mark P. & Stupak, Jeffrey M.
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