Congressional Research Service Reports - 113 Matching Results
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- 21st Century Community Learning Centers: Evaluation and Implementation Issues
- The 21st CCLC program was originally authorized as Part I of Title X, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), as amended. This program was reauthorized as part of the reauthorization of the ESEA by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, P.L. 107-110, and was signed into law on January 8, 2002. This report discusses implementation of the reauthorized 21st CCLC program, and the recent evaluation of the program and its implications.
- Abortion Services and Military Medical Facilities
- The purpose of this report is to describe and discuss the provisions for providing abortion services to military personnel, their dependents, and other military health care beneficiaries at military medical facilities. The report describes the history of these provisions, with particular emphasis on legislative actions. Finally, this report discusses a number of proposals to modify the law, as well as other related legislative and administrative actions.
- Accounting Problems at Fannie Mae
- This report summarizes the critiques the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Supervision (OFHEO) made of accounting practices at Fannie Mae. The OFHEO's two main issues are under the domains of: amortization of discounts, premiums, fees involved in the purchase of home mortgages, and the other being accounting for financial derivatives contracts. The report emphasizes that these discrepancies created a false image of the company's earnings and in one case was the cause of the company's executives to receive bonuses.
- Afghanistan: Politics, Elections, and Government Performance
- This report discusses the current political state of Afghanistan, as well as the Afghan government. This report also discusses Afghanistan's relationship with the United States, particularly U.S. efforts to urge President Hamid Karzai, to address corruption within the Afghan government. The report also includes discussion of election fraud and corruption in Afghanistan.
- Afghanistan: Post-War Governance, Security, and U.S. Policy
- The United States and its allies are helping Afghanistan emerging from more than 22 years of warfare, although substantial risk to Afghan stability remains. Before the U.S. military campaign against the orthodox Islamist Taliban movement began on October 7, 2001, Afghanistan had been mired in conflict since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979. The defeat of the Taliban has enabled the United States and its coalition partners to send forces throughout Afghanistan to search for Taliban and Al Qaeda fighters and leaders that remain at large, including Osama bin Laden. As the war against remaining Al Qaeda and Taliban elements winds down, the United States is shifting its military focus toward stabilizing the interim government, including training a new Afghan national army, and supporting the international security force (ISAF) that is helping the new government provide security.
- “Agricultural Commodity,” “Agricultural Product,” “Farm Product” and Related Terms: Definitions for Federal Policy
- This report defines a number of terms within the realm of agricultural production.
- Animal Waste and Hazardous Substances: Current Laws and Legislative Issues
- This report is about the animal sector of agriculture and rise of concerns over the management of animal wastes and potential impacts on environmental quality.
- Anthrax-Contaminated Facilities: Preparations and a Standard for Remediation
- This report provides background information on the 2001 anthrax incidents and federal preparedness plans, but it focuses primarily on preparations for future remediations and considerations for setting a remediation standard.
- 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.
- Aviation and Climate Change
- This report discusses the impact airplane gas emissions has on climate change and CO2 levels.
- Balancing Scientific Publication and National Security Concerns: Issues for Congress
- There is a lack of consensus regarding the best method of balancing scientific publishing and national security. The current federal policy, as described in National Security Decision Directive 189, is that fundamental research should remain unrestricted and that in the rare case where it is necessary to restrict such information, classification is the appropriate vehicle to do so. Other mechanisms restrict international information flow, where Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) control export of items and technical information on specific lists. Both EAR and ITAR contain a fundamental research exclusion, but this exclusion is lost if prepublication review of research results for sensitive information occurs.
- Bank Loan Denial for Nuclear Proliferation under Section 102(b) of the Arms Export Control Act as Applicable to India and Pakistan
- This report discusses Bank Loan Denial for Nuclear Proliferation under Section 102(b) of the Arms Export Control Act as Applicable to India and Pakistan.
- Big Deal? U.S. Changes Stance on Cruelty Prohibition
- This legal sidebar outlines a change in the U.S. interpretation regarding aspects of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT); these comments were presented as part of the U.S. periodic report to the U.N. Committee Against Torture.
- Can the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Be Restored to Financial Health?
- In 2003, the Bush administration made a proposal for reform to strengthen pension plan funding and the financial condition of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Various bills with the goal of reforming the PBGC were proposed in the 108th Congress but none were enacted into law. The doubling of the PBGC deficit from fiscal 2003 to fiscal 2004, has heightened awareness about the PBGC deficit situation. Congressional leaders from both parties have announced their intention to move aggressively on legislative solutions in the 109th Congress.
- Child Support: An Overview of Census Bureau Data on Recipients
- This report provides an Overview of Census Bureau Data on Recipients for child support.
- Child Support: An Overview of Census Bureau Data on Recipients
- This report is an overview of Census Bureau data on recipients related child support.
- Child Support Enforcement: $25 Annual User Fee
- The report discusses the Child Support Enforcement. It is categorized into three categories: (I) Background, (II) New Annual CSE User Fee and (III) Implementation of CSE User Fee.
- Child Welfare: Health Care Needs of Children in Foster Care and Related Federal Issues
- This report deals with Health Care needs of children in Foster Care and related Federal issues related to Child Welfare.
- China/Taiwan: Evolution of the “One China” Policy – Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei
- This report provides information about the Evolution of the “One China” Policy and Key Statements from Washington, Beijing, and Taipei. Policy on "one China " covers three major aspects like sovereignty, cross-strait dialogue, PRC use of force.
- China-U.S. Trade Issues
- This report discusses the U.S.-China economic relationship and China's rapid expansion as a global economic market, both with respect to the current global economic crisis. It also examines major U.S.-China trade issues and related legislation.
- Civilian Nuclear Waste Disposal
- The Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (NWPA) calls for disposal of spent nuclear fuel in a deep geologic repository that is unlikely to be disturbed for thousands of years. Low-level waste sites are a state responsibility under the Low-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Act of 1980. Pursuant to that act, 10 regional compacts for disposal of low level waste have been approved by Congress. Three commercial low-level waste sites are currently operating, in the states of South Carolina, Utah, and Washington.
- A Comparative Analysis of Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3962 and S.Amdt. 2786 to H.R. 3590
- This report compares many of the private health insurance provisions of H.R. 3962 and the Senate Amendment. For each of the major private health insurance reforms, the report first gives a narrative description of the context and current law, then describes where H.R. 3962 and the Senate Amendment make similar reforms and how their approaches differ.
- A Consumer’s Access to a Free Credit Report: A Legal and Economic Analysis
- This report provides a brief legal analysis of the FACT Act provision in requiring annual free credit reports to be disclosed on request, and from an economic perspective, offers one approach to assessing the potential costs of this requirement to the credit reporting industry.
- The Copyright Royalty and Distribution Reform Act of 2004
- No Description Available.
- Corporate Tax Reform: Issues for Congress
- This report discusses the arguments for lowering the corporate tax rate that includes the traditional concerns about economic distortions arising from the corporate tax and newer concerns arising from the increasingly global nature of the economy.
- Cost Growth in Weapon Programs
- This report describes how the high cost of weapons in recent years has seriously tested the country's ability to provide arms in sufficient quantities to meet defense requirements.
- Cybersecurity Issues and Challenges: In Brief
- The information and communications technology (ICT) industry has evolved greatly over the last half century. The technology is ubiquitous and increasingly integral to almost every facet of modern society. ICT devices and components are generally interdependent, and disruption of one may affect many others. Over the past several years, experts and policy makers have expressed increasing concerns about protecting ICT systems from cyberattacks, which many experts expect to increase in frequency and severity over the next several years. This report discusses the concept of cybersecurity, the management of cybersecurity risks, and the federal government's role in managing such risks.
- Data Mining: An Overview
- Data mining is emerging as one of the key features of many homeland security initiatives. Often used as a means for detecting fraud, assessing risk, and product retailing, data mining involves the use of data analysis tools to discover previously unknown, valid patterns and relationships in large data sets. This report discusses the data mining uses (i.e. Terrorism Information Awareness (TIA) Program) and issues (i.e. data quality, interoperability, privacy), as well as the limitations of data mining.
- Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill: The Fate of the Oil
- This report highlights actions taken and issues raised as a result of the April 20, 2010, explosion on the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig, and the resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
- Defense: FY2014 Authorization and Appropriations
- No Description Available.
- Digital Television: An Overview
- Digital television (DTV) is a new television service representing the most significant development in television technology since the advent of color television in the 1950s. DTV can provide sharper pictures, a wider screen, CD-quality sound, better color rendition, and other new services currently being developed. A successful deployment of DTV requires: the development by content providers of compelling digital programming; the delivery of digital signals to consumers by broadcast television stations, as well as cable and satellite television systems; and the widespread purchase and adoption by consumers of digital television equipment. A key issue in the Congressional debate over the digital transition has been addressing the millions of American over-the-air households whose existing analog televisions will require converter boxes in order to receive digital signals when the analog signal is turned off.
- Director of National Intelligence Statutory Authorities: Status and Proposals
- This report discusses the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) position created by the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458). It includes an overview of the authorities granted to the DNI by legislation in 2004 and later as well as the varying opinions of Congress regarding new DNI authorities, as well as related legislation from FY2010 through FY2012.
- Disconnected Youth: A Look at 16- to 24-Year Olds Who Are Not Working or In School
- This report provides information about 16- to 24-Year Olds Who Are Not Working or In School on Disconnected Youth. Policymakers and youth advocates have begun to focus greater attention on young people who are not working or in school.
- Discretionary Funding in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
- No Description Available.
- Ebola: Selected Legal Issues
- Several West African countries are currently grappling with an unprecedented outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD). Here in the United States, where Ebola is not endemic, a handful of EVD cases have been diagnosed, and domestic transmission of the virus has occurred in only two cases to date. This report provides a brief overview of selected legal issues regarding measures to prevent transmission of Ebola virus and the civil rights of individuals affected by the disease.
- Economic Development Administration: Overview and Issues
- The Economic Development Administration (EDA), targeted for elimination or major “reinvention” early in the 104th Congress, gained a new lease on life in the waning days of the 105th. Having been kept alive via appropriations bills since its last authorizing legislation expired in 1982, P.L. 105-393 reauthorized the EDA and its programs for 5 years. On October 27, Congress approved a conference agreement recommending $286.7 million for EDAP and $28 million for S&E, for a totalFY2001 appropriation of$411.9 million for EDA. It became part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 4942, P.L. 106-553) signed into law on December 21, 2000.
- Economic Sanctions and the Former Yugoslavia: Current Status and Policy Considerations Through 1996
- No Description Available.
- Electricity: The Road Toward Restructuring
- The Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 (PUHCA) and the Federal Power Act (FPA) were enacted to eliminate unfair practices and other abuses by electricity and gas holding companies by requiring federal control and regulation of interstate public utility holding companies. Comprehensive energy legislation has passed the House and Senate. The House passed H.R. 6 on April 11, 2003. On July 31, 2003, the Senate suspended debate on S. 14, inserted the text of H.R. 4 (107th Congress) as a substitute, and passed H.R. 6. A conference agreement was reached November 17, 2003, and passed by the House the next day. H.R. 6 includes an electricity title that would, in part, repeal PUHCA, would prospectively repeal the mandatory purchase requirement under PURPA, and would create an electric reliability organization. On June 15, 2004, H.R. 4503, a comprehensive energy policy bill, passed the House.
- Energy and Water Development: FY2006 Appropriations
- No Description Available.
- Expiration and Extension of the 2008 Farm Bill
- This report provides information about the Expiration and Extension of the 2008 Farm Bill which is politically sensitive and complicated which is taking longer to enact in previous decades.
- The Fair Labor Standards Act: Minimum Wage in the 108th Congress
- No Description Available.
- Federal-Aid Highway Program (FAHP): In Brief
- This report discusses the major characteristics of the federal highway program that have been constant since the early 1920s. Generally, federal money can be spent only on designated federal-aid highways, which make up roughly a quarter of U.S. public roads.
- Federal Civil and Criminal Penalties Possibly Applicable to Parties Responsible for the Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
- The Deepwater Horizon oil spill that began on April 20, 2010 lead Congress to give attention to the compensatory liability provisions of the Oil Pollution Act and, to a lesser extent, those of the Jones Act and the Death on the High Seas Act. However, federal laws possibly relevant to the oil spill also impose civil and criminal money penalties, which may reach dollar amounts in connection with the Gulf spill greater than those for compensatory liability. This report summarizes selected federal civil and criminal penalty provisions that may be found violated in connection with the Gulf spill and related worker fatalities.
- Federal Civil Aviation Programs: In Brief
- This report discusses the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) programs and activities are funded under four broad budget accounts: operations and maintenance (such as air traffic control and aviation safety functions); facilities and equipment (such as control towers and navigation beacons); grants for airport improvements under the airports improvement program (AIP); and civil aviation research and development conducted or sponsored by FAA. Additionally, aviation programs fund aviation programs administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) Office of the Secretary, including the Essential Air Service Program that subsidizes airline service to certain small and isolated communities.
- The Federal Food Safety System: A Primer
- This report discusses concerns about food safety, the resources required to ensure food safety, and whether federal food safety laws themselves, first enacted in the early 1900s, have kept pace with the significant changes that have occurred in the food production, processing, and marketing sectors since then.
- Federal Freight Policy: In Brief
- No Description Available.
- Federal Pell Grant Program of the Higher Education Act: Background and Reauthorization
- This report reviews how the program works and provides analysis of program funding, recipients (numbers and characteristics), and the role being played by the program in the distribution of federal student aid. It concludes with an examination of several Pell-related issues that may be considered by the 108th Congress in the HEA reauthorization process.
- Federal Pollution Control Laws: How Are They Enforced?
- This report provides an overview of the statutory framework, key players, infrastructure, resources, tools, and operations associated with enforcement and compliance of the major pollution control laws and regulations administered by EPA. It also outlines the roles of federal (including regional offices) and state regulators, as well as the regulated community.
- Federal Railroad Safety Program and Reauthorization Issues
- The Federal Railroad Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation is the primary federal agency that promotes and regulates railroad safety. To implement its safety responsibilities, the Federal Railroad Administration uses numerous strategies including the Safety Assurance and Compliance Program, field inspections; and to help improve its regulations, the administration uses the Railroad Safety Advisory Committee. This report contains information on the Federal Railroad Administration's Safety Program, railroad safety statistics, key reauthorization issues, and related information.
- The Federal Trade Commission’s Regulation of Environmental Marketing Claims and Related Legal Issues
- This report examines the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC's) role in regulating environmental marketing claims under the FTC Act and other federal laws. It begins with an overview of the FTC's enforcement powers under the FTC Act, including their potential extraterritorial application to unfair or deceptive claims made by foreign entities outside of the United States' territorial jurisdiction. It then examines how the FTC has exercised its powers under the act and other laws in the environmental marketing context. The report concludes by considering legal issues potentially implicated by regulating environmental marketing claims, including questions involving the First Amendment, international trade law, and federal preemption of state law.